Gamescom 2011

TERA Hands-On

Guy Cocker
By Guy Cocker, Editor

We went raiding with developer Bluehole Studio in a new build of TERA, the company's upcoming MMORPG.

After an impressive showing at E3 2010, developer Bluehole Studio came to this year's Gamescom with a fresh demo of TERA to show the public. The game is an action-oriented MMORPG, and the section we played saw us taking the role of a warrior, supporting two Bluehole reps as we went on a dungeon crawl. It was a good chance to find out more about the mechanics of the game, which is due to launch next year, as well as talk to its creators about their aims for the project.

One thing's for certain: TERA is an action-focussed massively multiplayer online game if ever we saw one. Our gameplay session was spent hammering the mouse buttons and furiously tapping the number keys to unleash a constant barrage of attacks and spells. The game relies on the player to direct the action--there's no autotargeting, meaning that aiming your attacks while dodging those of your opponents is key to survival. Our character was good at brute force, but he also had a spell at his disposal to stun enemies, allowing him to get in there with the sword.

The control system is simple enough--the WASD keys control movement, while the mouse moves your viewpoint. The left mouse button activates a simple attack--in the warrior's case, a quick sword swipe--while the right mouse button unleashes a series of swipes and results in a large amount of damage if landed. However, TERA piles in a bunch of encounters with smaller enemies who will surround you and hold you in one place, allowing the bigger enemies to pummel you in your static position.

The warrior is quick and powerful, meaning that he has to charge in and lead the attack, which holds the attention of the enemies while the rest of your team attacks from afar. We were supported on our mission by a couple of the developers, who were able to heal us as we fought. We were playing as a level-30 character, halfway along to the level-60 cap, so we were fairly powerful, but the sheer size of the enemies meant that we needed to erect campfires between battles to regenerate our health.

If you're coming to Gamescom this weekend, then you'll be able to see the character customisation on the show floor. If not, stay tuned to GameSpot, and we'll endeavour to bring you more on the game when we next see it.

Guy Cocker
By Guy Cocker, Editor

Guy Cocker is the Editor of GameSpot UK, a handheld gaming fan, and someone who actually managed to use video games to lose weight. He recently took up the position of games expert on BBC 5 live and is a BAFTA games judge.

24 Comments

  • mhaneline

    Posted Dec 18, 2010 4:13 pm GMT

    After beta testing RIFT, I'm sold.

  • TJamesA

    Posted Dec 10, 2010 12:14 pm GMT

    This game looks good and worthy, however it should not have monthly fees imo, nothing here that special to make me want to pay to play. As for an example of the kind of caliber a pay to play mmo should be, well SWTOR is the type of mmo that i would pay for monthly. As for this one I would be more happy playing current f2p's and wait for SWTOR and GW2. Just sharing my feelings.

  • zackssss

    Posted Nov 13, 2010 3:45 pm GMT

    yeah sure BotZakefein too bad for you tho TERA is the first big mmo comin....GW2 comes out months months later

  • BotZakafein

    Posted Sep 8, 2010 12:54 am GMT

    Getting guild wars 2 instead, no monthly fees If all MMOs were like that, than there would probably be more fans.

  • bodylotion

    Posted Aug 27, 2010 5:22 pm GMT

    I understand why developers would create MMORPG's because if the MMORPG is succesful it can make you a lot of money. On the other hand if a MMORPG fails you can also lose a lot of money. Ofcourse this also counts for single player games but less. People just won't pay for 2 MMO games and probably won't play 2 either. I think all these developers started creating MMO's when WoW and GW were succesful or something..... Ofcourse this game can also be one of the greatest MMORPG's but right now the only MMORPG i maybe would buy will be The Old Republic.

  • idontlivehere11

    Posted Aug 27, 2010 4:45 am GMT

    Because we totally need more MMO games. -_-

  • Viktormon

    Posted Aug 26, 2010 7:04 am GMT

    @ coolee67
    It will be P2P, like any AA game.

  • in_fallenangel

    Posted Aug 26, 2010 3:48 am GMT

    Will have to check if this is the one.... as such right now GUILD WARs II is what has impressed me a lot

  • UniqueName2

    Posted Aug 26, 2010 3:24 am GMT

    That's a lot to live up to, but I really, really hope it works.

  • BubuGamer posted Aug 26, 2010 12:37 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    BubuGamer

    Posted Aug 26, 2010 12:37 am GMT (hide)

    i will....play wow cataclysm thumbs down !

  • organbank

    Posted Aug 25, 2010 11:07 pm GMT

    @Albaficas well that explains why EA/Bioware is one of the worst developers in the gaming industry today. Thks didn't know that, I'll have to tag this one.

  • Albaficas

    Posted Aug 25, 2010 12:15 pm GMT

    tera will be the best mmo of 2011 along with GW2 no doubt about that...and btw only pros are workin for tera...companys like EA-microsoft-Ncsoft-ArenaNet-Bioware old staff that used to work there made a new company know todays as bluehole studios.

  • coolee67

    Posted Aug 23, 2010 11:59 pm GMT

    Looks good. But the question is does it have a monthly payment?

  • ShotgunStalker

    Posted Aug 23, 2010 6:01 am GMT

    I have followed this game for a while, looks good

  • Battlemed

    Posted Aug 23, 2010 2:47 am GMT

    Please! Let it not be a failure like Aion!! I am really interest in this new title, such as Aion at the beginning but towards the end it became a game where you HAD to have super-costy-gear, unrewarding dungeons and laggy wars... boring!!!!

  • TheClown24

    Posted Aug 22, 2010 4:20 pm GMT

    Sounds good actually, ill keep an eye on this one

  • Seifer24

    Posted Aug 22, 2010 5:51 am GMT

    enough with combat what about the skill tree system if any and and what about making each player unique from other as for the class combinations.
    I think rift planes of telara has more character specialization.
    Take for example aion every templar was the same templar with so little difference to 3-4 skills wich was modified using the stigma stones.rediculous.
    While rift planes of telara offers so many customizations that makes it very cool.although i dont know about the gameplay as i haven't test it yet but we ll see in the near future!
    I may try both planes of telara and tera and may the best win my subscription if any again !

  • Binzen

    Posted Aug 22, 2010 1:22 am GMT

    @uberjannie and ThePurpleBubble.

    Nah. The PvP combat is what I'm after with this game. SKILL, not f'n GEAR and free movement. If it delivers what I'm expecting, then it'll be the best MMORPG I will have ever played, thus far.

  • ThePurpleBubble

    Posted Aug 21, 2010 9:20 pm GMT

    @uberjannie

    This'll be worse than that - it's an MMO based around pure combat. (And 3/4 naked females, but... that's a different sotry, for a different time.)

    But, yes, I agree - Bioware doesn't make RPGs, they make art. The Old Republic will likely be no different.