Last Update: 11/30/07
Tribes 2
The ultimate team-based action experience for you and up to 60 others. Tribes 2 is a sci-fi first-person shooter (FPS) computer game, currently the second-latest game in the fictional Earthsiege universe . It was developed by Dynamix and published by the company then known as Sierra Entertainment in March 2001.
Publisher: Sierra
More About Starsiege: Tribes 2
Although focused mainly on multiplayer, the game includes a training module in the Solo/LAN mode of the game, with 5 missions to train players in bomb placement, vehicle piloting and weapons training. While simple online modes like Deathmatch exist, Tribes is generally played as a team-based Capture the Flag game with up to 32 vs. 32 players on a single server. Other popular gametypes include Rabbit and Siege.
What made the futuristic series stand out is that it was the first online team-based FPS shooter to feature a seamless combination of indoor and outdoor combat, as well as vehicular and troop (both ground and air) combat.
Tribes also introduced deeper strategy elements to the FPS genre, including deployable items like sensors, turrets, and remote inventory stations. The Tribes series also featured different player classes before they became widespread in online shooters. Classes can further be customized by configuring weapon "load-outs" with different enhancement packs and choice of weapons.
As the terrains are generally vast, each player is equipped with a jetpack, the defining point of the Tribes series, giving them the ability to soar over and across terrain (and enemies). Jetpacks take a critical role in combat, giving incredibly mobility. Skiing allows a smooth transition from air to land, allowing players to hold a key down in order to "slide" across the terrain at high speeds.
Because of the strategy elements, customized load-outs, complex combat tactics, and use of jetpacks, Tribes has been considered to have one of the hardest learning curves for beginners. Latecomers to the game often faced a hard experience early on, and many quit because of this. The game's built-in taunt system (including animated gestures) can add to a newbie's frustration.
Another unique feature of Tribes 2 is the Community Browser and GUI. It included News, Forums, T-Mail, Chat, and Browser. Early on, T2 included a full-featured clan support system, but due to claims of abuse by its publisher, Sierra Entertainment, the forum feature was removed. The claimed abuse was largely limited to user criticism of game features. After the closure of Dynamix, the game's maker and a Sierra subsidiary, the news feature was removed. While the user and clan pages were a way of spreading information and recruiting members, the Browser had many bugs and downtimes during its run throughout the years. It is currently up and functional.
Like most online games, Tribes 2 had a heavy focus on clan competition. While there were a number of ladders out there, Team Warfare was the landmark site for most teams. While still active today, competition has dwindled in matches since the release of Tribes: Vengeance. With Tribes 2's powerful in-game clan support, it made it easy for leaders to set up scrimmages and practices with other teams.
Both Tribes and Tribes 2 were designed to be highly modifiable by players. A powerful scripting language built into the game engine, the Torque Game Engine, have allowed prospective "modders" to alter many aspects of gameplay; since the textures and 3D models can also be replaced, games that bear little resemblance to the Tribes titles can be created. The "modding" community surrounding these games have created a large number of custom levels, vehicles, weapons, skins, voice file sets, and mission types.
What made the futuristic series stand out is that it was the first online team-based FPS shooter to feature a seamless combination of indoor and outdoor combat, as well as vehicular and troop (both ground and air) combat.
Tribes also introduced deeper strategy elements to the FPS genre, including deployable items like sensors, turrets, and remote inventory stations. The Tribes series also featured different player classes before they became widespread in online shooters. Classes can further be customized by configuring weapon "load-outs" with different enhancement packs and choice of weapons.
As the terrains are generally vast, each player is equipped with a jetpack, the defining point of the Tribes series, giving them the ability to soar over and across terrain (and enemies). Jetpacks take a critical role in combat, giving incredibly mobility. Skiing allows a smooth transition from air to land, allowing players to hold a key down in order to "slide" across the terrain at high speeds.
Because of the strategy elements, customized load-outs, complex combat tactics, and use of jetpacks, Tribes has been considered to have one of the hardest learning curves for beginners. Latecomers to the game often faced a hard experience early on, and many quit because of this. The game's built-in taunt system (including animated gestures) can add to a newbie's frustration.
Another unique feature of Tribes 2 is the Community Browser and GUI. It included News, Forums, T-Mail, Chat, and Browser. Early on, T2 included a full-featured clan support system, but due to claims of abuse by its publisher, Sierra Entertainment, the forum feature was removed. The claimed abuse was largely limited to user criticism of game features. After the closure of Dynamix, the game's maker and a Sierra subsidiary, the news feature was removed. While the user and clan pages were a way of spreading information and recruiting members, the Browser had many bugs and downtimes during its run throughout the years. It is currently up and functional.
Like most online games, Tribes 2 had a heavy focus on clan competition. While there were a number of ladders out there, Team Warfare was the landmark site for most teams. While still active today, competition has dwindled in matches since the release of Tribes: Vengeance. With Tribes 2's powerful in-game clan support, it made it easy for leaders to set up scrimmages and practices with other teams.
Both Tribes and Tribes 2 were designed to be highly modifiable by players. A powerful scripting language built into the game engine, the Torque Game Engine, have allowed prospective "modders" to alter many aspects of gameplay; since the textures and 3D models can also be replaced, games that bear little resemblance to the Tribes titles can be created. The "modding" community surrounding these games have created a large number of custom levels, vehicles, weapons, skins, voice file sets, and mission types.
Tribes 2 Download
If you have an account and your disk is broken, don't fret you can download the client here, if you have a friend with an extra account or key you can also use this client to play.
