I’ve become somewhat of a shut-in recently. Having been thrown a variety of epic single player games to catch up on before my inevitable return to full-time work, I managed to neglect some of the casual multiplayer experiences that I used to pride myself on mastering and enjoying with friends. Monday Night Combat appeared to be a shooter in the vein of Team Fortress, with several cel-shaded different combat classes and the overall aim of thumping the other team through effective communication and explosives to the face. I was pleasantly surprised to find that wasn’t the case.
First of all, MNC is, at its fundamental core, a tower defense game in which you’re tasked with defending a “money ball” from wave after wave of robots. You can choose between 6 classes that accomplish that task in very different styles, and earn money from kills that can be invested in class abilities, mounted turrets or other obstacles. In the competitive mode against other players, your role is to escort your robots to the opposing teams ball to disable the shields, and then to blow the crap out of it. Obviously the other team is doing the same thing, so a tense back-and-forth balance ensues in which players are deciding between attack and defense, upgrades or turrets, escort or solo. All things considered, it’s a riot.
The one key choice is which class to play as. Each of them allows a unique play experience, from traditional soldier roles through to support and stealth, with the ability to improve attributes that you find most effective for your play style. With the option to customise your own class, there’s a lot of room to turn your own party into a selection of players that compliment each other well.
As a budding games designer, I have often thought about how to create an online game that encourages team work whilst providing enough scope for each player to play the game as an individual. Uber entertainment have struck a perfect balance from the off; it works when playing solo, and builds to a more frantic experience as the player and bot numbers increase. The online modes are great fun, and at no point did I end up cursing the oppsition; even whilst being repeatedly mauled by stealthy Assassins. A simple change of class, and you can give them a taste of their own medicine.
As such, it’s a game I would encourage any tower defense fan to trial if not purchase outright. The action is fast, the art style is excellent, and the multiplayer has proven itself as one of the best games to allow you to learn the ropes before developing individual strategies for combat, classes, bots and how best to compliment your team mates. I would hope to see a few more maps and modes being introduced, as well as Uber listening to fan feedback for class alterations and gameplay suggestions; but if online competitive play can be this enjoyable for all downloadable titles in the future, I’ll find little to draw me back to the flaming, frustrating environment of COD.
Long time gamer and budding games designer, Steve was created back when 8-bit was the height of technology and a d-pad provided unparalleled interaction. This is his first foray into games journalism and hopes to one day teach kids the do's and don'ts of gaming. "
One Comment
Soon as pay day rolls around, this is mine. And Lara Croft: GoL as well.