Credit to Team

Emphasis on TEAM!

I finally started playing Team Fortress 2. Yeah the game that came out 2007, we're so topical on this blog. (We just finished Avatar and I just started TF2.)

If you are one of the three PC gamers out there not playing this game, stop reading this review, and download this game from Steam. It will cost you $10, and yes an online First person shooter (FPS) that is approaching its 4 year mark is actually still worth picking up.

I've primarily been a console gamer in my life. I was pretty good at Goldeneye and Perfect Dark but that's about where my FPS skills maxed out. My problem is that FPS on average are games you have to learn by playing other humans. Where I like to get the basics down versus the computer and refine my skills against humans type of player. This game is (should that be was at this point?) a game changer. Not good at sniping, that's fine, be a medic, or build turret guns, or man the flamethrower. This game is not a first person shooter in the traditional format, you have a class it has strengths and weaknesses, and your team instead of an individual will be the deciding factor of a match.

The effect of an individual was what kept me out of games like Counter-Strike for years, and coincidentally away from PC gaming in that period. I didn't have the time or inclination to get my ass handed to me for hundreds of hours before I could start doing the owning. Besides I like a cooperative game better anyway. I love being the hero of the team, or the guy who does something really useful for the team more then I like owning noobs. And that's what surprised me first on this game, a great player can be like a force of nature. But since every class has a rock-paper-scissors element to it, there is a class that can cancel you out, and you will eventually run into it. When that happen you need a teammate.

The other thing that amazed me with this game is the attention to detail. You get hidden weapons just for playing every couple of deaths you'll get a screen saying you got a new item. It's random, but you can trade or melt down weapons to make others, or outright buy what you need. But the impressive part is none of these weapons are super weapons, they all have positives and negatives. It's more so you can tailor the class to your playing style. Also the attention to detail shows in how the levels are made so that they are easy to navigate after your 2nd or 3rd time in them. Ask me about the Caves in Goldeneye, not all FPS are worried about this. The art is made so you can identify what class is approaching, and what they're carrying even at a distance.

If you would like to see the rest of the "Meet the..." videos you can find them here. The videos are probably the best example of the in game humor, and graphics. Both of which I was a fan of long before I played the game. Warning: The in game graphics are slightly worse then the videos but not by much. So seriously give this game a chance even if you hate first person shooters. If you love FPS's you've probably already played this game.