This weekend we were lucky enough to get into TERA for a preview of the game, during which I learned a lot about the game and the world that it exists in. For MMO fans, the game has a lot to offer and players will enjoy a high level of action combat. However, there were some interesting low points as well that I will try to explore. Let’s go through what we saw and work our way through this upcoming title.
For starters, the world of TERA is amazing. The colors and design of the zones truly are breathtaking and the environment will certainly appeal to aesthetic players. The game starts smoothly with character selection and creation. There are plenty of options for players, but some of the character models seemed a bit too over the top for Western audiences.
I created an Amani Archer and Warrior, and ran into my first complaint: the starting armor, it was some kind of jump suit with shorts. This style of clothing did not seem to work for a dual wielding Dragon Warrior. I expected something tougher and more rugged looking. As I browsed through the other races and classes(Tera Gold), I saw similar styles which might appeal to some, but they definitely had a strong anime feel to them. This may cause an issue for some players who expect a much harder edge to their character. If anime is what you’re looking for though, thumbs up.
Once I entered the world, the game played extremely smoothly. Some players in the test were complaining about lag, but I did not have any issues. I spent some time exploring the opening zone and have to say again it looked amazing. Once I picked up my quests I was ready to go out and fight some monsters. The town set up was easy to figure out and NPCs had clear indicators on quests and rewards. Also the transparent map on the UI was great and helped you accomplish your goals easily. The set up has plenty or options to check your UI and create a play set up that works for you.
