If the thought of 256 player deathmatches has long left you salivating in anticipation you will be happy to hear that the wait is over. MAG provides the functionality for 128 member teams to wage brutal war upon each other. You might be sceptical that such a monumental feat for the PlayStation 3 could actually have been achieved without the constant threat of enormous lag, but the good news is that not only does this title work, it actually works well.
Before jumping into the action you will have the option to choose one of three factions to align with, Raven, Valour or S.V.E.R., based on a short introductory video. There’s not really a lot in it, different appearance and guns will help you to find appropriate targets to kill when thrust into the game itself, but with relatively similar routes of progression and arsenals you aren’t likely to feel underprivileged with any of the three sides on offer. Make sure that you are happy with your choice though, you won’t have the option to change it, short of deleting your character or reaching level 60 (not a quick job). This is in an attempt to build a sense of loyalty to your particular faction, and even to make it more likely that you might run into a fellow member along the way.
Don’t expect MAG to open the door to 256-player matches to you at the outset. You’ll need to earn the right by increasing your level through the other game modes on offer. Initially you will have access to just two of these modes, Suppression and Sabotage, 64 player modes that you will soon learn are essentially training grounds for newcomers to the game. Some hot competitions are almost certain to ensue, but it’s when you reach the Acquisition (up to 128 individual players) and Domination (featuring up to a massive 256 players at a time) modes that MAG really starts to shine.
Though MAG only boasts ten maps, each is split into different fronts and, with so much going on at any one moment in time, you are unlikely to notice much repetition. While the wave upon wave of soldiers that you might expect to face aren’t entirely likely to emerge, the knowledge that around every corner your enemy is sure to lie in wait increases the anticipation and excitement within each and every match.
Unlike many deathmatch games, you’ll find that you can actually earn experience points by healing and helping your fellow man, and even in following instructions. This is in an attempt to discourage the big gun fanatics that are purely out to destroy as much life as humanly possible throughout the duration of the campaign. It’ll take tactics, skill and excellent communication to raise your faction to total domination.
MAG has opened the door to something entirely new on the PS3. Never before have so many players from around the globe been able to come together, for a real sensation of being a nameless soldier in a convincing war setting. With great graphics and a huge variety of weaponry to enhance the many other positives on offer, you’ll soon find yourself spending many an hour of your time plugged into your console.