While I did not have the privilege to experience TERA’s Korean Closed Beta 3, I kept myself occupied by reading various reviews from websites and players. Tons of improvements were added into the core game while there were some issues which still need to be addressed. One such issue which bothered me will be written below. This translated review is from thisisgame.com.
After receiving feedback that the initial requirements for the game is too high, Bluehole Studio lowered the requirements in Closed Beta 3. making it possible even for a GeForce 7600 to play the game. There is a trade-off of course, players will have to lower much graphical options to play the game.
The most significant difference in graphics occur is when the glow option is turned on and off. When on, the game uses much more resources which might cause the game to slow down (graphical lag). When off, the graphics is not much of a looker, but the game can be played smoother. Below is a comparison, with the first picture taken with the glow effect on.
This should be the main feature of TERA, and often used to promote the game in various websites. With this system, players will have more freedom when attacking instead of the regular point-and-click. The real-time action will also add a new dimension to the overall killing experience.
And here is my main worry. When players attack, they can’t move. My point is, there is not moving attack function available. If a monster runs away, you can’t really attack it as you have to stand still to attack. While every weapon has a certain range of attack area (melee is 2m, ranged is 20m), its not feasible to deal with fleeing monsters.
First, the new Party Notice Board. Players can now look for party or look for party members on this notice board. There is a small bug in Closed Beta 3, requests on the board which are already fulfilled were not able to be deleted.
Secondly, the Auction House. Players can use the Auction House to bid for various items. The above 2 systems are not developed finish yet, so expect more changes in the next beta phase.
There are various Player Vs Environment (PvE) instances available, including underground dungeons and some in the wilderness. At level 10, players will have the opportunity to enter their very first instance. Due to the non-target system, narrow pathways and walls which cannot be seen through, the camera angle will be a hassle to some players. It will sometimes enlarge players’ views, sometimes missing out on mobs nearby.
One of the more notable features will be monsters seldom dropping the equipments for your class. This will “force”, or encourage, players to trade equipments and improve the overall community experience.
Overall, TERA’s Closed Beta 3 had its share of hits and misses, but with the players’ feedback, the game will no doubt be iron out for a great launch in 2010 (Korea).
Official English TERA website – http://tera-online.com/
