Online multiplayer shooters have almost thoroughly exhausted the possible variants for gameplay modes over the years.  You’ve got your standard Death Match, Team Death Match, Capture the Flag, Domination, and the list goes on – but is more or less made up of variations on those core themes.  I’ve been putting in some solid time with Crytek’s Multiplayer Beta for their upcoming CPU killer Crysis – and, though the beta currently consists of only one mode and one map, MP_shore – it is Crytek’s approach to blending these classic themes, dubbed Power Struggle, that could help the offering stand out in this Holiday’s crowded multiplayer space .  But is it enough to make anyone care?

The Prestige

You know – it’s the final part of the magic trick – the bit that is actually unexplainable – the actual magic bit in ‘magic trick’.  And The Prestige is also a core element of the multiplayer game mode that Crytek is hoping will provide the magic for Crysis Multiplayer mode to gather enough interest to extend its shelf-life.   Much like the cold, hard cash earned in the classic multiplayer title Counter-Strike, players earn Prestige based upon their performance during the round.  Capture a power station, earn prestige.  Kill an opponent, earn prestige – and so on.   It’s how Crytek allows the player to manage Prestige that sets it apart.

At the start of each round players are granted a small amount of Prestige with which to purchase their load-out (weapons, equipment, add-ons etc.)  Unlike Counter-Strike however, Prestige can be spent throughout the length of a match at any BuyZone currently under your team’s control.  These BuyZones can be found inside any Control Point. Just whip out your handy dandy PDA and let your stylus do the walking.

Next, Crytek layers the Prestige concept with a non-persistent, round-based, ranking system- similar to that found in Enemy Territory: Quake Wars.  As you succeed in taking over key control points on the game map – you’ll rise in rank.  And with each new level – your minimum and maximum Prestige levels rise, enabling the purchase of increasingly more expensive equipment or the ability to spawn with at bit more buying power.  There’s even a simple ‘Last Purchase’ option that – assuming you have enough remaining Prestige – will allow to purchase your last ‘order’ with the click of a button. Take that Amazon!

Mission Impossible?

So what to do when you’ve got all that Prestige and nowhere to go?  First off, you’ll need to decide if you’d prefer to play on the side of North Korea or the United States.  Oddly enough, most players gravitate to the United States (go figure) – hopefully – an auto-level balancing option will be in effect as a server option in the dedicated server release. 

As the US your objective is to surround and control a Korean peninsula where the aliens in the backstory made ‘first contact.’ The Koreans…well…you know…they defend the area.  The peninsula contains several Control Points made up of Bunkers (which become spawn points when under your team’s purview), Power Sites (alien crash sites that have been rigged up to draw power from the fallen craft), a War Factory (once controlled you can purchase various armored vehicles) and finally the Prototype Facility (where futuristic alien weaponry can be ‘developed’ (read: bought) by the highest bidder – or rather – he who has the most Prestige.

The End-Game

The first goal within Crysis Multiplayer is to control the various Power Sites long enough to drive your team’s power meter to the 90% level. Once you hit this magic level – and you simultaneously control the Prototype Facility – the nuclear option will be ‘on the table’ and End-Game vehicles, such as the Singularity Tank, will become available for purchase, offering you the ability to rain down the hellfire on your opponent’s base. And this s no easy task as each base is surrounded by powerful automated turrets which often score one hit kills on standard vehicles.  Though, I’ve seen a single tank take out the US submarine base while sustaining numerous turret rounds – go figure. 

The problem with Power Struggle -  at the moment – is it’s just not clear what you need to be doing from moment to moment – especially for newcomers.  Most rounds you’ll find yourself simply glancing at the map and trying to “turn them red eyes blue.”  As a result - most rounds tend to center around the teeter-totter of lost control over the various control points, with the Prototype Facility and War Factory often taking center stage until time runs out; and let it be noted, rounds often last as long as 50 minutes.

Nano Nano

The Nanosuit from the single-player campaign is at everyone’s disposal in Crysis multiplayer and this adds a nice layer to player strategy.  Once you begin to think of your body as yet another extension of your arsenal – and master the finger gymnastics needed to quickly snap through the suit’s various power-ups – you will notice a significant increase in your Prestige.  One of my favorite strategeries is to call up Maximum Strength just before entering a building or other close-quarters location.  By the time your opponents can react you’re often upon them and a single punch will take down the most heavily armored goon. Very satisfying that.