Auto Assault: Auto Assault Preview

This spring NetDevil and NCSoft will be releasing a brand new game to the MMORPG market. If you want to play elves, gnomes, kittens or any other sort of cute species this isn't the game for you, but if you want to run down anything that is too cute and then back over it a few times just to make sure it's ground into a gooey paste, you might have just found your game.

Auto Assault is every road rager's fantasy brought to life. Set in a post-apocalyptic world (as if you expected different), think "Mad Max" in a RPG. Netdevil has blended classic RPG elements of character progression and mission lines with the fun and mayhem of an FPS. Players have the choice of 3 different races and 4 different classes within each race. Each of the 12 different combinations has unique vehicles and special abilities.

When you first log in you choose one of the three playable races, Human, Mutant, and Biomek. Within each race you have the choice of being a warrior (Commando, Champion, or Terminator respectively), a healer/buffer (Engineer, Shaman, or Constructor), a creature handler of sorts (Lieutenant, Archon, MasterMind), or finally a rogue type character (Bounty Hunter, Avenger, Agent). Once you choose what race/class you can do some limited customization of your character in 8 different categories.

Now it's on the action. Almost immediately you are sent out to begin with the killing and pillaging. Thanks to the Havok physics engine NetDevil has used, you can shoot, torch, or just run things down at your whim. Almost every building in the game is able to be destroyed as well as collision with mob's causes damage, and is encouraged with the ability to add melee weapons to your vehicles chassis.

Missions are both in the open world as well as instanced for a nice variety. Many of the instanced missions are persistent taking you to the same instance several times with differing objectives, while in the normal world everything you destroy respawns within a few minutes. While most of the missions take place in the outside world, several delivery type missions are available for players to run around on foot in the towns. However no combat exists outside of the vehicles as far as I've seen.
The game also has a relatively in depth crafting system that lets players learn new recipes as well as experiment to create their own custom items. Components are gotten through the destruction of objects in the world as well as dropping off of mobs you kill. Players are also able to learn to "tinker" on an item to open up slots to put gadgets into, upgrading the items stats.

Like many other MMORPG games on the market this game is centered on loot which both drops off of monsters in the world, but can also be found on random vendors within cities and at outposts. Just try not to think about the fact that the tiny little man you just turned into a slimy puddle was toting around a large piece of armor just perfect for your car, or that the really annoying bug you roasted with that flame thrower just happened to have a killer set of monster wheels for you.

The cities themselves are one my favorite parts of the game. In particular the Biomek cities really make you feel like you are a part of this huge machine. The drone of the voices in the background and the bustle of activity of blend with original music to give the feeling you are living in Orwell's "1984".

All in all, this is a fresh look at the classic RPG and should be a fun diversion from the typical fantasy genre that is so popular. And lets be honest, there is a little part in all of us that just wants to go on a rampage in a large car with lots of guns on it. Or perhaps I should just go make an appointment with my therapist.