Tribes 2
Categories: 2001 computer and video games | First-person shooters | Linux games | Science fiction computer and video games | Sierra games | Windows games
| Tribes 2 | |
| Image:Tribes2box1.jpg | |
| Developer(s) | Dynamix |
| Publisher(s) | Sierra On-Line |
| Release date(s) | 2001 |
| Genre | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Platform(s) | Windows, Linux |
Tribes 2 is a sci-fi first-person shooter (FPS) computer game, the second game in the Tribes series. It was developed by Dynamix and published by the company then known as Sierra Entertainment in March 2001.
Although focused mainly on multiplayer, the game also includes a training mode in the Solo/LAN mode of the game, with 5 missions to train players in bomb placement, vehicle piloting and weapons training.
What made the series stand out from most online FPS is the fact that it features a seamless combination of ground and air combat, as well as indoor and outdoor combat. Each player is given a jetpack, giving them the ability to soar over and across varying terrain. Skiing is another unique feature of the Tribes series. Players can hold down a key and glide down slopes at high speeds. Because of the variety of combat techniques, Tribes has been considered to have one of the hardest learning curves for beginners. Late comers to the game often faced a hard experience early on, and some even quit because of this.
Another unique feature of Tribes 2 is the Community Browser and GUI. It included News, Forums, T-Mail, Chat, and Browser. Early on, T2 included a full-featured clan support system, but due to abuse and inactivity of news updates, both the forums and news features were removed. While the user and clan pages were a way of spreading information and recruiting members, the Browser had many bugs and downtimes during its run throughout the years. It is currently up and functional.
Like most online games, Tribes 2 had a heavy focus on clan competition. While there were a number of ladders out there, Team Warfare was the landmark site for most teams. While still active today, competition has dwindled in matches since the release of Tribes: Vengeance. With Tribes 2's powerful in-game clan support, it made it easy for leaders to set up scrimmages and practices with other teams.
Both Tribes and Tribes 2 were designed to be highly modifiable by players. A powerful scripting language built into the game engines have allowed prospective "modders" to alter many aspects of gameplay; since the textures and 3D models can also be replaced, games that bear little resemblance to the Tribes titles can be created. The "modding" community surrounding these games have created a large number of custom levels, vehicles, weapons, skins, voice file sets, and mission types.
Contents |
Story
Set in the year 3941, Tribes 2 allows the user to play as a soldier in one of several factions, such as the Diamond Sword, the Blood Eagle, or an alien race called the BioDerms. None of the factions differ from each other in strengths or weaknesses, but each has a distinctive look.
The maps where the battles take place are set on multiple planets far from Earth, which humanity has abandoned in favor of other star systems and planets available to them.
Armor
The three familiar armor types from Tribes are available:
Peltast / Scout Armor / Light
Allows the player to jetpack higher than other armor types, but weapon carrying capacity is limited to three weapons. Players in light armor are the only ones who can pilot the Wildcat hovercycle, wield a laser rifle (requires energy pack) or use a cloaking pack, but they cannot place deployable stations or turrets. Favored by most players for speed and capping.
Hoplite / Assault Armor / Medium
Strikes a good balance between firepower and mobility. Weapon capacity is higher than that of the Scout. This armor can absorb significantly higher levels of damage than the Scout, and the wearer can pilot any vehicle except the Wildcat. This armor has decent jetpacking ability, is well-suited for deploying turrets and best for the average player. It should be noted that it seems this armor has excellent forward jetting power.
Myrimidon / Juggernaut Armor / Heavy
The ultimate in assault capability. The wearer can carry a great deal of weaponry, but can not pilot any vehicles. The Mortar weapon is exclusive to this armor; the explosive shells leave a distinctive green trail of smoke and can devastate groups of enemies or equipment. Sadly, movement in this armor is excruciatingly slow and is best reserved for close-quarters combat. Jetpacking is a frustrating task, as the wearer can only rise a few feet off the ground. If the player needs to get to the other side of the map or another place of battle, a player in a lighter armor can fly them in a Havoc Heavy Transport. It is suggested that skiing be utilized when possible.
Vehicles
T2 modified several of the original vehicles from Tribes and introduced a few new ones. The vehicles included several hovering ground vehicles and high flying turbogravs.
Wildcat Grav Cycle
A light, one-person, weaponless vehicle that hovers just above the ground. Extremely fast and difficult to pilot but ideal for flag capturing or quick-strike assaults. Some players use these for ramming enemies on the ground.
Shrike Scout Fighter
Fast and packing a considerable punch, this one-person vehicle is armed with dual unlimited-ammo energy blasters. (Note that these blasters draw energy from the shields.) It can fly at high altitudes to avoid enemy fire. Useful for attacking bombers and transports, as well as a quick escape for cappers. An onboard AWAC system extends the sensor net significantly and can easily detect incoming hostiles.
It should be noted that many players use the Shrike's blasters to take out various assets (turrets, sensors, etc.) by hovering and shooting.
Havoc Gunship Transport
This slow-moving hovership has no weapons, but four forward passengers and one tailgunner can use their own weapons while riding. Even heavy-armored players can jump in. Players can bring flare grenades to distract missiles and wear Sensor Jammer packs to avoid sensor detection and foil the automatic detection of enemy turrets.
The main weakness of this gunship is the vulnerability to Shrikes. Though five missile toting Juggernauts can ride, obtaining missile lock on a Shrike right behind you is difficult. If a pilot manages to get 5 Juggernauts within striking distance of the enemy base, the pay-off is immense.
Beowulf Assault Tank
A heavily shielded hovertank. One player pilots the vehicle while a second can man the two weapons. A turret mounted on this tank fires mortars which explode on contact with anything, due to being fusion mortars. A Vulcan chaingun is also mounted on, much more powerful than hand-held chainguns.
Occasionally this turbograv goes out with a lone pilot, just for some easy ramming. The tank is shielded but highly vulnerable against missiles. Its shields can take a couple missiles before starting to take physical damage. Skilled pilots can dodge Shrike fire and occasionally the missile.
Thundersword Bomber
This turbograv is manned by a pilot, a bombardier, and a tailgunner. The bombardier can switch between firing an energy turret and dropping powerful bombs. He can even use the onboard targeting laser to designate enemy targets. The tailgunner is essential for defending the ship against enemy turrets, missiles, and Shrikes. The tailgunner generally carries either an ammo pack or sensor jamming pack. The latter is carried to keep enemy turrets from picking the bomber up.
This devastating vehicle is also vulnerable to Shrikes, so it is best to bomb the vehicle pad as much as possible to keep the enemy from getting some resistance out.
Jericho Mobile Base
This is tortuously slow-moving but well-shielded ground vehicle. It is the only one on wheels and not hovering. Additionally, it can jam enemy sensors within a limited radius. When "deployed", it contains a full inventory station and stationary turret on top. Note that enemies can "hijack" this vehicle while it is the the process of deploying and the cockpit has not yet been shielded.
Weapons
Tribes 2 includes a diverse list of weapons ranging multiple roles:
Spinfusor
The most popular weapon in the series and the bread-and-butter weapon in Tribes. A slow-reloading, disc projectile launcher. For most people, the spinfusor is included in every loadout because it has an above-average damage rating and large explosive splash area. Known for being one of the most difficult weapons to master in online gaming, players are complimented for "Mid-Airs" (or "MAs"), hitting another player with a disc while they are in flight. It is considered a staple of the Tribes Universe.
Chaingun
A machine gun featuring the highest rate of fire in T2, the chaingun is another popular weapon. Relatively easy to use, it is primarily used at close to medium range. The spread of bullets becomes very erratic over long distances. Whoring is player slang for unloading many bullets at the same player in a short amount of time. Some players, especially "Arena pubbers" (players who frequent public servers using the Arena mod), consider this tactic to be an unfair advantage.
Grenade Launcher
Basically what the name implies: a grenade-launching weapon capable of inflicting critical damage if used correctly. An above-average reload rate and long range capability make it a key tool for all positions. The projectile is lobbed in an arc from the weapon instead of travelling in a straight line, which distinguishes it from most other weapons (apart from the Fusion Mortar). Many players find it difficult to aim the launcher accurately when first playing T2. Best used indoors, where the grenades can bounce around corners before detonating. If the grenade travels over enough distance, it will not bounce.
Laser Rifle
Can only be used by light armor while wearing the Energy Pack. The laser rifle fires a red beam of energy as soon as the player presses the trigger. The shot drains the wielding player's energy reserves completely, which can be a problem if enemies are close. "O-Sniping", or persistent sniping of the opposition's defense, is despised among some players and is grounds for being "booted" from some servers. This rifle is most effective with headshots, and can reduce a Scout's health to a few millimeters of red.
Shocklance
The only one-hit kill weapon in the game. While damaging a decent amount from the front, the shocklance can kill any non-shielded player from behind. High energy consumption and slow recharge rate, this weapon is favored to cloaked infiltrators. The distinct electric buzzing of this weapon being used and charged up can alert enemies. This is a very short range weapon, so one must be very accurate and careful.
Plasma Rifle
Players can shoot hot balls of slow-moving plasma with a good rate of fire. This can be a deadly indoor weapon despite its small splash damage radius, and is often used to destroying base assets due to it's high ammo capacity. Striking a moving target, such as a vehicle or player, is very difficult due to the projectile's low speed.
Electrical Flux (ELF)
Shoots a lightning-like beam at a target, automatically locking on if they are in range. Drains the target's energy reserves very quickly. Best suited for preventing flag stealers from jetting; its use is complicated, however, because it locks onto anything closest, teammates as easily as enemies. Those skilled with this weapon are devastating, but it is a very difficult weapon to master.
Blaster
Spawning players start out with the blaster as their primary weapon. It fires a small, fast moving ball of energy that does minimal damage. Widely regarded as useless, but it is the only weapon that can bypass the protection of an opponent's shield pack.
Fusion Mortar
Can only be used by heavy (Juggernaut) armor. An extremely powerful gun that lobs a shell in the direction the player is facing. Slow reload rate, but its behavior is similar to that of the grenade launcher, but slower, more powerful, and requiring a higher angle for distance. Best used while another player uses a targeting laser, but many players can simply eye it. This gun kills light armors in a single green explosion, and is commonly used for "base raping" in conjunction with a shield pack.
Targeting Laser
This object is not a weapon as such (and does not count as a weapon when selecting inventory), but it can greatly assist teammates wielding grenade launchers or fusion mortars. It emits a thin, green beam of light; teammates see "markers" indicating the angle at which they can fire their current weapons to strike the target. It is automatically placed in a slot, but not taking up any space.
Packs
Instead of player-specific classes, Tribes 2 features a wide range of packs which can be used to customize any loadout.
Energy
The most widely used pack in T2, the energy pack gives the operator a faster recharge rate for energy. This can boost the effectiveness of both flying and shooting energy-based weapons. Required for scout armors (light) to use a laser rifle. This pack is always active, and gives the illusion that one has a greater energy reserve.
Shield
When activated, the shield pack slowly drains the player's energy; any damage that would normally have been inflicted on the player instead further drains the energy supply. The exception to this is the blaster, which can penetrate the shield at close distances. When the player has no energy left, the shield deactivates and the player resumes taking damage normally. Favored by "base rapers" due to its shielding capabilities for extended sieges.
Repair
The repair pack projects a red beam of energy at the target the player is currently facing. This beam repairs damage to stations, generators, vehicles, or players. Note that many levels in T2 have repair packs placed somewhere inside each base, since players can not buy them at stations when the base's generator has been destroyed.
Sensor Jammer
A pack that, when activated, disrupts the other team's sensor network within a 50-meter radius. Any players or vehicles within the jammer's radius will not show up on enemy radar or have "friend or foe" identifiers within visual range. These can be very useful for tailgunners of Bombers and Havoc Transports, since they can prevent turrets from firing at the vehicles.
Cloaking
When activated, the cloaking pack makes the user invisible, both visually and to sensor networks. This pack consumes energy very quickly, only enabling players to use it for short durations between "recharging". This cloak pack does not make one invulnerable to motion detectors.
Base Assets
In CTF, each team has a base and flagstand. Some maps include forward attack outposts for gearing up. The base has a generator power system, usually located at the heart of the indoors. If destroyed, the team's power is shut down and must be repaired in order to use inventory stations and power base equipment. Inventory stations are used to give the player their selected loadout. Turrets are usually located near the base or flag and fire a projectile automatically depending on what type they are. The sensor network runs along the base's perimeter, and provides targets for the turrets. Players can retrieve all base information from within their CC (Command Circuit) screen. Note that turrets can be controlled via the CC, at the expense of the player being unaware of his surroundings.
Game engine
While Tribes 2 was nearing completion, several employees left Dynamix to form their own company, GarageGames. They negotiated an agreement with Sierra for the source code to the T2 game engine. After reworking the code, GarageGames released it as the Torque Game Engine, or TGE. The source code for TGE, a professional-grade 3D engine, is available to nearly anyone for fees starting at USD$100.
GarageGames recently introduced a new 2D engine called Torque 2D, for the same price. Details are vague at this point and it is unclear whether or not the 2D engine is based upon TGE. Note that an upgraded and updated version of TGE has been created, dubbed the Torque Shader Engine. This revolutionary and cheap engine is availible, but not yet completely done.
Fan Reaction
Some fans believed that Tribes 2 did not live up to the original because of limitations set on speed (Tribes had no such limits), a perceived over-emphasis on vehicles, the increased size of maps (some up to eight times larger), and the "dumbing down" of skiing. Other players praised the sequel for gameplay which was more interesting and more balanced than in the original.
Whether frustrated or pleased, many players were eager for more; sadly, Dynamix was shut down shortly after Tribes 2 was released. The number of T2 players dropped immensely when Tribes Vengeance was released and Sierra "sabotaged" the T2 servers to hopefully have T2 players go to T:V. Though the servers are now back up, needless to say, many players were angered.
Legacy
On November 20 2002, Sierra released an update for Tribes 2. This update contained two new game types, new maps and updates to address several issues, including those that had originally turned off many Starsiege: Tribes players. This was the last update they would do for Tribes 2.
Although the Tribes Universe is now considered "elderly" (the original Tribes was released in 1998 and the Earthsiege/Starsiege universe in which it takes place is much older), many players can still be found on her servers. Some independent servers still regularly show 50 people or more (of a possible 64 per server) playing. Currently there are only considered to be two active servers. The 32 person =Rebels= Katabatic server plays only Katabatic and the gameplay is slightly modified. The Miami Vehicles tribe server is very active with a server limit of 80 people, and regularly around 20-30 people playing at any one time. Special "Event Nights" on the server may feature well over 100 people.You can visit their website at http://www.miamivehicles.com Every other server in tribes has either less than 10 people (one of the few remaining "duel" servers) or is filled with bots (computer controlled opponents).
Sierra, which is now part of Vivendi Universal, licensed the franchise to Irrational Games for a third installment; Tribes: Vengeance was released in October 2004. In an effort to increase interest in the upcoming sequel, Sierra released both the original Starsiege: Tribes and Tribes 2 for free download on May 4, 2004. Sierra is now no longer offering Tribes 2 keys. The installer is downloadable, but keys needed for online play are not being distributed for free any longer.
External links
- Guides
- UpsetChaps Tribes 2 Guide is part of their very sucessful guide site (Doom3, Quake4, Quake3, Tribes2, Tribes Vengeance). In depth tips, tricks and tweaks make all of these guides a must have 'bookmark'.
- Websites
- Tribes 2 official site (Sadly, this page has been replaced by Tribes Vengeance's page.)
- Tribes 2 at SavageUK
- Tribes 2 at MobyGames
| Tribes series |
|
Starsiege: Tribes | Tribes 2 | Tribes Aerial Assault (PS2) | Tribes: Vengeance |