Tribes: Ascend

Tribes: Ascend
Developer(s)	Hi-Rez Studios
Publisher(s)	Hi-Rez Studios
Designer(s)	Scott Zier
Programmer(s)	Mick Larkins
Artist(s)	Sean McBride
Composer(s)	Chris Rickwood
Series	Tribes
Engine	Unreal Engine 3
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	April 12, 2012
Genre(s)	First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Multiplayer

Tribes: Ascend is a free-to-play first-person shooter developed and published by Hi-Rez Studios for Microsoft Windows, as part of the Tribes series. Aspects from previous Tribes games such as jetpacks and skiing are featured in the game.^[1] The game was released on April 12, 2012.^[2] In February 2013, HiRez released a Game of The Year Edition, which unlocked all classes, weapons, equipment, and perks in a single package.^[3][4] In July 2013, Hi-Rez halted further development on Tribes: Ascend to focus on other titles, though a small team resumed development in August 2015.^[5] In December 2015, Hi-Rez Studios announced a new patch for the game which introduced major changes to the game. Due to the nature of the new patch, the company reverted all previous in-game purchases.^[6] On September 28, 2016, Hi-Rez Studios released the final patch for Tribes: Ascend.^[7]

Gameplay

The player is in Temple Ruins map using the Light Spinfusor weapon.

Loadouts and Classes

Tribes: Ascend features a class-based loadout system. Each loadout specifies what type of armor the player has, along with what weapons and items they carry. Each loadout supports two in-hand weapons, a set of belt items such as grenades or mines and a pack. There are three possible sizes of armor to choose: light, medium and heavy, with three loadouts in each weight group (for a total of nine). Players can select which loadout to use either when first joining a game, respawning, or at an inventory station. Loadouts may be acquired either through an upfront payment, or through playing the game and earning experience points, which can be used to purchase classes, weapons, perks, and upgrades.^[8] Paid-for loadouts are available to the user immediately, while those who unlock them through playtime have a much longer wait. Upgrades to armor, weapons and perks are unlocked based on how much you use them in-game, but can also be purchased by experience points. Players are given three free classes: the Pathfinder, Soldier, and Juggernaut, when they first start playing the game, each wearing light, medium and heavy armor respectively.^[9]

Hi-Rez also sells cosmetic items such as player skins, along with boosters that allow players to gain experience points at a faster rate. Players earn in-match credits during matches for killing enemies, repairing structures or capturing objectives. Credits are then used to buy vehicles, supply drops, Tactical and Orbital strikes and base upgrades.^[10]

On February 22, 2012, the game entered open beta. Arena 5v5 was added and Rabbit was disabled during this phase of the beta, though would later return as a private server option.^[11]

Game modes and maps

Hi-Rez Studios released Capture the Flag, Team Deathmatch, Rabbit (only available in private servers), Arena, and Capture & Hold game modes.^[12] While some maps have retained the classic nature of the Tribes franchise with large open areas and base structures, others have a more urban feel to them, featuring buildings and streets. The map Katabatic, which originally appeared in Tribes 2, has been remade in Tribes: Ascend,^[12] along with a revamped version of Broadside called Crossfire. The Twinfusor Update released in late July 2012 added two new capture-the-flag maps called Permafrost and Dangerous Crossing.

Ranking system

The ranking system is a vanity reward for players and also serves a functional purpose for the in-game queue system. Each level of a rank has a unique rank title and insignia. Players begin as a rank 1 ("Recruit") and earn ranks as they play the game. Each players' current rank insignia is displayed next to their name on the in-game scoreboard. Rank title and insignia are shown to an enemy player that you have recently killed (displayed on the kill-cam screen). A summary report of rank experience earned is displayed on the post-match scoreboard screen at the end of each map. An experience bar is also displayed and grows in a horizontal direction as rank experience accrues.

Player performance (e.g., highest position on the scoreboard, highest amount of earned points) does not increase the amount of rank experience that is earned because rank experience is earned on a time basis (time spent playing the game). However earning badges (achievements in the game with a set objective, example: "Marksman I" requires you to hit 50 headshots) does increase the rank experience earned. The amount of rank experience that is earned from badges is unconfirmed and unknown. Rank experience is not modified by purchasable Boost (+100% experience) or the VIP bonus (+50%) which was awarded to players in the beta who purchased Tribes gold currency and/or Tribes Boost.^[13] However, Boost and VIP both affect Badge experience, but it's unconfirmed and unknown whether this consequentially affects the rank experience that is earned from an earned Badge.

Arena game type requires a mild amount of familiarity with the game, so players may only queue for an Arena game when they have attained rank 7 ("Squad Leader").

Reception

Tribes: Ascend was met with positive reception, with IGN giving the game a 9/10.^[18] It has a Metacritic rating of 86.^[20]

References

External links

• Official website