Team Fortress 2 review

Team Fortress 2 is a first person class based free 2 play shooter. There are two teams that go head to head ia myriad of game modes. Currently there is : Arena, Capture the Flag, Control Point, Attack/Defend, Medieval Attack/Defend, King of the Hill, Mann vrs. Machine, Payload, Special Delivery, Territorial Control, Training, as well as other varied smaller modes. Providing much variety 3234

The game features 9 distinctly different player classes. Each having its own set of strengths and weaknesses as well as tons of possible loadouts. Although every class is useful there are classes more or less considered vital to a team. The Medic, Demoman, Soldier, Scout form the core of a competitive team. Other classes fill niche roles situationally. Of the 4 core classes, the Medic is the team healer running around zapping people with a medi-gun, the Demoman provides explosive ummmph in the form of stickybombs and a grenade launcher, the Soldier is the all purpose rocket launcher classes providing backbone to the team, Scouts are the hit and run harasser capable of capturing points and or grabbing a flag and high tailing it to safety

Another interesting aspect of the game is the items. Each classes is capable of several possible load outs, not to mention hats, cosmetics, dueling games etc. There are literally tons and tons of items in the game. All available to free 2 play users via the in game drop system. Off course if your the impatient sort you can always visit the Mann Co. Store and purchase with real money whatever your heart desires. Bare in mind thein game store charges a premium for items, and you will pay significantly higher prices as opposed to trading with other players. All of the weapons have uses although some more than others. For example the degreaser and axtinguisher combo is very effective for the pyro due to the extremely fast weapon switch and critical hits to burning players. Ones such as the Rainblower are more or less there for fun. One interesting aspect to note is many of the items are submitted via actual players of the game. It speaks volumes about Valve's commitment to their community when almost 7 years after the games release people are still commited to contributing item and hat designs.

Now onto the fun part and the reason Team Fortress 2 continues to bring new players. The gameplay is excellent. Apart from the standard shooter mechanics all of the classes feel very balanced.  Granted the core four classes will be the back bone of most teams, all classes have a distinct and well defined role. The weapons are solid and you can go very far on just the standard loadouts. Which brings me to my one critique and also main gripe with this game. The games biggest strength the balance also becomes its greatest weakness. None of the weapons in my opinion are particularly satisfying on their own. Nothing feels very powerful based on its own merits. Theres no satisfying pop pop pop of a machine gun riddling holes into enemies. For example the soldier who is the games basic assault class wields a rocket launcher. Well shooter 101 says a rocket launcher should produce massive damage and piece of enemy team members everywhere. This is just not the case here, it will take multiple, perhaps even upwards of 4 rockets to take out the games tank class (the Heavy). Owing to the premise and title of the game "Team" Fortress, those looking for the instant gratification and death match style shooting need look elsewhere. This game just doesn't provide that, what it does provide is a well balanced, team objective shooting experience where the game will live and die by the team.

In closing Team Fortress 2 is the game that competitive gamers dream of. It has all the mechanics of a good shooter game mixed with excellent team based objectives and Valve's tight production. It also keeps players comming back with its plethora of ingame items, fresh updates, and a very polished and refined game system. In large part the success of Team Fortress 2 is due not only to Valve's excellent support of their games and also the community who continues to contribute new and meaningful content keeping the game fresh.