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Star Wars: The Old Republic : Critical Missions in Space
Posted Sep 03, 2010 by Suzie Ford
Devs have updated the official Star Wars: The Old Republic site with a page devoted to space combat. During ship encounters, players will have the opportunity to blast through asteroid fields on their way to 'hot spots' that developers say will evoke memories of epic battles from the movies. The page has wallpapers, concept art, the original space combat trailer and more.
Traveling through space is an exciting part of the Star Wars: The Old Republic experience. Not only will you navigate the stars to visit new planets, but you can also choose to undertake critical missions in the depths of space where you'll maneuver through chaotic asteroid fields, blast enemy fighters, and engage in epic, large-scale fleet battles reminiscent of those from the classic Star Wars™ films.
In keeping with the original Star Wars films, the Space Combat system in Star Wars: The Old Republic is designed to make travel times literally fly-by, while combat runs and space battles put you in the pilot's seat for a fast-paced and highly cinematic experience. Like Luke Skywalker in the original assault on the Death Star, you'll also discover that even a lone starship can change the course of galactic history.
Read more here.
You know what was classic about the original Star Wars films?
They took place in the original Star Wars film era.
imo TOR's era is a lot more exciting than the films era.
If space is on rails, That would be the nail in the coffin to me for this game. Ground game already lost me. I was at least hoping for a good space side.
It's amazing what people while whine about in a game that is NOT even out yet. Evile if the ground game had you lost there was no way even space battle would have saved this game for you, take your trolling else where.
Well, it sure looks good. But who will play it, I wonder? Casual gamers will try it a few times and move on. Hardcore space enthusiasts will skip it altogether. So why waste time and money for space on rail game? I just don't see whats to gain, even if it does look visually good.
So instead of getting a cut scene when teleporting from one world to the next you will get a rail shooter? Is that correct!
The space minigame looks like a fun diversion to me. I don't know why people ever expected it to be more. I didn't, and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised, as I expected it to be mroe of a turret game.
Actually this space combat system and it being used to travel and such is what has attracted me to the game lately. I had mostly written it off. I figured I would play it at some point because of how much I loved KOTOR, but I guess it is Starfox flashbacks or something.
Oh my, how horrible, someone is criticizing a MMO. Oh yeah, that is what a forum is about, looking at both sides. You rather have to be critical of anything in this genre as of late because the track record of these major studios has just been appalling
They should have left the space portion of this game in the video arcade. If I wanted to play an arcade game I would buy one.
Personally I think they should spend the time advertising the ground portion of the game, that is where their major time investment is.
Most likely we will get something akin to Galaxy Map in KOTOR/Mass Effect, which can be explored and includes things like planets, asteroids, other points of interest (like space stations, derelict ships etc) and of course space battle locations. Further we get with the story, various missions and levels, more locations will open up. Some places might be unique to class/faction/companion/choices.
As an example, we might get a mission from Planet A that says to investigate something in Location X, which is somewhere in space. Next we have to use our ship to get there. This happens by using the Galaxy Map (SW:TOR) and selecting the location that has now appeared on it. After that you press the Travel-button (KOTOR). Once at the location, the content might include a space mission, a landing/docking location, or both. Or when travelling to the said location, something might go wrong along the way...like a hyperdrive malfunction that forces us to land in the middle of nowhere. Before we can get to our final destination, we may have to play through a short mini scenario/zone.
All the above is just speculation from me. But after seeing an early picture of Galaxy Map in SW:TOR and remembering how it worked in both KOTOR and Mass Effect series, it led me to believe that this might be the case.
gawd i cant wait for this game to come out. everything about it looks awesome. pretty sure this will be the last game i ever play lol
I think it looks good, plan to play it as often as I can, and I'm far from casual.
If you aren't even excited about the Bioware-style ground game, I will say it is a safe bet that there is nothing in this game you will enjoy...
None of us know how it feels yet. I seriously doubt Bioware would spend so much time and energy crafting something so cinematic if they didn't think people would enjoy it...
I for one am looking forward to this game. The space combat seems like a great side game, something to keep me entertained while waiting on guildies or something. The graphics in space looks wonderful and the Tunnel (Rail) system adds a touch of the cinamatic experience to the whole thing, and its lightyears from the horrid experience of Star Trek, so A+ there. Anyway, I'm betting on Bioware for this game, they have yet to dissapoint in any game of theirs I have played, from Baldur's Gate to Mass Effect 2, I have loved everything they have put out and I'm confident this will not dissapoint.
It's on rails. That page is chock full of marketing B.S. to hide that fact.
That's why they're adding rewards for the ground game to it and making several missions mandatory to progress your quest lines. If you won't voluntarily play the rail shooter, they're going to force you.
Oh no you may have to play it a few times.
No casual gamers will play it if there is a reward. And hard core space enthusiasts will go play EvE or STO.
It's a fantastic read if you want to study how marketing can completely fool you into thinking something is better than it really is. I'd swear SWTOR was the socond coming of X-Wing from reading that... but I know that it's the same rail shooter they "debuted" three weeks ago.
Something like the space combat in Halo:reach would have made SWTOR incredibly awesome. I hope for Bioware's sake their ground game isn't yet another WOW clone, since the rail shooter isn't going to do much to keep subs.
when you add in the fact that each space bit only lasts 2 to 8 minutes.. its not exactly awesome.. though apparently its infinitely repeatable.. with varying objectives each time you go through it.. but as its single player only.. kind of wonder why they even bothered.. but Anubisan is correct.. if the ground bit isnt all that interesting, the space portion isnt going to make the game any more enjoyable. I hope Biowares fortunes arent tied to this game really, as i dont see it being all that hugely popular, particularly if it handles pvp the same way STO does.... i've yet to see any features in this game that would encourage me to believe it would be fun (for me) .. as a Star Wars fan, i was really hoping for more out of this game, or perhaps not so much more, but something more like 'Star Wars' although perhaps that was too much to hope for given that the game is based on KOTOR.. kind of wonder if we will ever see another Star Wars genre game, SWG failed miserably, and SW:ToR doesnt really take place in it... though considering the only thing the Trekkies have to show for it, is STO.... guess i'll stick with Eve, at least Rifters/Wolf's look a bit like X wings.. if you squint...
It's on rails, so what!
The vids look damn fun, personally speaking I'm looking forward to having a go at the space combat as it looks far more exciting and action packed than when I popped into any of the other space sim games out there right now, no more wandering aimlessly about space looking for something to do, with this approach I get into the action from the very start.
If this is on rails then this will do just fine for me, I guess those that think the idea is taking the game in the wrong direction have a very simple choice, don't buy the game and you won't have to deal with the intolerable space combat now will you =)
I have enough respect for Bioware to give them the benefit of the doubt on making a great RPG. They have not let me down yet so I will definitley give this game a try. Bioware has been turning out classics for years.. no reason to doubt them now.
No offense... but any Space Game making STO look hardcore does something utterly and completely WRONG, lol.
It was sad they didnt release more information about the space in cluding what kind of items you can earn for other parts of the game. All and all I am super happy with space comabt.
I've never seen a more exact explanation than this, congrats! :)
It's a rail shooter.. they've been around for over 30 years. And there's no magic formula that can make them any more than the anachronisic shallow gameplay model they are.
I would not call 'Critical' an event that changes NOTHING in your pre-laid quest line.
I disagree There is alot of ppl who played SWG Just for Space because Ground sucked. So u might want to rething that statement.
[Mod Edit]
I will play the Ground and skip space. I love space. If they would gave us even a WC type space I would be over joyed but this is just Junk plain and simple.
Would someone explain what "Rails" is? Sorry for the noob question but I wish to know.
when SWG first game out there was NO space combat. So all them space people waited around this one gives it to you right up front, not the way many want it but you get something for space combat.
I very much doubt they will keep space combat on this rail for very long. perhaps they should have delayed the space part of this game a bit. BUT they didn't and they wanted to give your ship a little more use then just as a moving house.
My biggest worry right now is that they will over use the instances or as they call them here, flashpoints. It was my biggest disappointment in WoW, their over use of instances. I mean how epic is it really when you have each and every guild out there that can face the Lich King. I don't mind respawns on bosses but when there are 1500 copies of this "boss" how special is that really?
In this case it refers to the ship you control flying on a predetermined course and you cannot control which direction to fly. You can move your ship around to avoid asteroids or enemy ships and shoot stuff but you are always being driven in the one direction.
You people do realize that 'on rails' is exactly how the movies depict space combat from Luke attacking the Death Star to Obi-Wan and Annakin attacking Count Duku's ship?
Straight in until you get to or achieve your objective.
Looks exactly like space combat in SW is supposed to look. Star Wars isnt about exploring; sounds like some of you are looking for Star Trek Online.
no one is looking for startrek online. I think people would apreciate it though if the combat was so much like starfox
Yeah. Right. Once your "story" is done...over...finished...got no more classes to play... what do you do? Raid? PVP? Decorate your Rail Car (ship)? Exploring is one of those staples that use to be important to a MMO. SWG had classes that supported such activity (Scout and Ranger) but games are better without it ... I am told.
TOR, I hope, will be a good game. Its just not going to be the MMO of everyones dream.