After months of buildup towards it, Line of Defense from developer 3000AD is available on Steam through Early Access. In essence, it’s a massively multiplayer online (MMO) free-to-play game, though this version only comes with paid versions.
As a futuristic space war title, this giant open world is reminiscent of Planetside 2, for those who need a point of reference. Still, the game will have a few ideas of its own.
You’ll eventually be able to travel between different regions, each with their own topology, but also explore the decks from massive spacecrafts in a persistent world. Combat features vehicles and aircraft and can be done in third person or first person.
An interesting planned design is that you’ll be able to build fireteams, not only from other humans in the same way guilds work, but also from non-playable troops. Skills, equipment, character enhancement and customization are also planned.
Though that sounds promising, there is some fine print to take into account. While the intro trailer on the Steam page shows epic fights, parachuting troops and so on, in reality, the opening build of Line of Defense is detailed as such:
The first Early Access Build (internal: EAB01) unlocks one planetary scene (Heatwave) and all three decks of the carrier (GCV-Starguard). Since this is a world testing build, no weapons, vehicles, aircrafts, inventory items etc are player usable.
We’re reassured that you can walk around, if that’s your thing. Also, subsequent builds will have actual weapons and such.
If that’s all you need to get cracking, you can choose from three paid tiers that grant instant access, which are sadly not well-scaled for European audiences either. Prices of $39.99, $69.99 or $99.99 are only minimally reduced to €36.99, 64.99 or €92.99, though it’s better than nothing.
Additionally, the paid tiers have a 50% discount until September 16, 2014.
Line of Defense Tactics, which served as a prelude to the MMO, was the previous project from 3000AD. It was generally poorly received, standing at a 47 Metacritic rate.
Better not be too critical of Line of Defense though, since the project is lead by infamously mouthy developer Derek Smart, who with Line of Defense Tactics also did their share of silencing and audience bashing. This attitude is so indicative of the developer that their Wikipedia page reflects it, though Smart’s Steam post history is always good for a taste of that as well.
