Title Team Fortress 2 Date 11.23.2007 Genre Online FPS Platform PC Developer Valve Publisher EA Games

Team Fortress Classic. Three little words, so much joy. Many will cite this game for uncompleted homework, late term papers, and strained relationships. Like Counter-Strike, Team Fortress Classic (hereafter called TFC) started as a simple mod for Half-Life. Counter-Strike was great in every right. The premise of Counter-Terrorists vs. Terrorists is a simple one involving guns, knifes, and cold hard cash. On the other hand, TFC wasn't that simple. The game had multiple classes that were each crafted for a certain style of play. The class-based shooter was born. The genius concept actually added an element of planning and strategy to a First Person Shooter (hereafter FPS). While TFC went on to be a successful game with a wide array of fans, Counter-Strike exploded. This is understandable as Counter-Strike could be picked up and played, whereas TFC had a much bigger learning curve. The new genre seemed to die out until Battlefield 1942 gave the series a jolt. Battlefield added vehicles of all kinds and larger battlefields to the genre and was a hit, spawning expansions and sequels. When TF2 was announced, old and new fans alike became excited at the prospect of a true stand-alone Team Fortress. The next seven years became quite the trip. The game went through many redesigns, countless changes, and was almost scrapped all together. The year is now 2007. The Orange Box, TF2 inside, has finally been released to the public. Prepare for the Great Awakening of the class-based shooter.

Graphics
The graphics have been the topic of much debate over the TF2 development cycle. Originally, TF2 was meant to be done in a realistic style, a la Battlefield. While the decision to move to the more (hate to call it cartoon-like, but it can't be avoided) cartoon-like style was a good call on Valve's part, it was not initially accepted. Many found it a great irony that a game with a great deal of blood and body parts flying from a well placed rocket should choose to have such an innocent looking graphical style. That said, after playing TF2 for quite some time, one begins to see that the decision was for the best. The first reason Valve gave for changing the style was that classes could more easily be distinguished from a distance. Truer words have never been spoken. Even from across the map the big, bulky Heavy is easily distinguished from the thin as a rail Scout. Secondly, the irony issue is actually one of the game's unique attributes. There is a certain sadistic thrill gained from turning the corner and finding a Heavy, laughing over a pile of bodies, and shooting a rocket at him. Just remember your umbrella. The textures are clean and polished, with lots of nice little details all over.

Sound
This game has one of the best theme songs ever. It's not orchestral like Halo's, nor tense like Silent Hill, nor is it epic like Metal Gear. It just fits the game. Before you even start, you know what you're in for. The in-game sound is great. The different guns sound genuinely different. The pistol sounds like a pistol should, while Sasha sounds like she could really rip you in half. The sound also adds to the gameplay. Get a good surround sound setup, and you'll be able to fully appreciate the game. Distant footsteps around a corner, the revving of Sasha, all alluding to your impending demise. Echoes surround you in the tight spaces, keeping you on your toes. There are some drawbacks to the sound. TF2 lacks the dynamic sound of many new games. Meaning, a far away shot sounds the same as a point blank one, unlike Halo where a close up sniper shot has a dull throaty sound and a distant shot cracks and whips at your head. There is also a notable lack in the bass area. (Note, that this may just be my sound system. If it is, feel free to correct me on the forums.)

Gameplay
This is were TF2 shines. There are 9 classes, each with a unique playing style. A Heavy is a great room clearer, the Scout a good runner, and Spies sneak around them all, clearing the way of turrets/heavier infantry, and allowing the main force to move in. All 9 classes are nearly perfect in their balance. If one wants to succeed, play the class the way its designed. This is where many new players fall short. They think that a Pyro should just run on in instead of ambushing his prey.  Each class is designed to fill a certain niche on the battlefield. That's not to say there is no variety. For example, while Engineer is categorized as a defensive class, an offense-minded Engineer can be a very valuable member to the team. He can use turrets and dispensers to create a forward base, and teleports to link players to the main base. Another thing to remember, the game is named Team Fortress 2 for a good reason. This isn't the kind of game that benefits from teamwork, it NEEDS it. Say is with me now. "Communication is the key, to success for you and me!!!" Play it how it’s made, and hours of entertainment await.

Replayability
Being an online game, the potential for a long life is great. Add in user created maps, Valve's history for great post-release support, and a growing fanbase, and you have a game that will last until Team Fortress 3. I haven't discussed the difference between the PC and 360 versions simply because they are negligible. That is, except for here. The PC benefits from instant access to user created material. And while the PC version can be patched with little update as frequently as one every week, the 360 version requires a full update, which obviously takes a while longer. On the other hand, the 360 version benefits from having Valve choose the best content to give us. On the other hand, only time will tell if this content will be free or pay to play. On the other hand, major updates will help prevent what I call "Battlefield 2 Reverse Update Syndrome". BRUS is aptly named after a problem Dice had with Battlefield 2. One update would up a gun's damage, while the next one would nerf it. All the while, certain bugs would be fixed, only to cause new ones. Then those would be fixed, and old ones would resurface. The less frequent 360 updates could help this. This factors into how replayable the game is. The 360 version has the benefit of voice chat out of the box, and a unified friend system. The PC obviously has more content available, but if you want to play as a group, an independent website needs to be created to keep everyone together. Both are great in their own right. Pick whichever suits you.

To wrap up, there are three words. BUY THIS GAME!!!!. Team Fortress 2 is a breath of fresh air in a genre crammed full of sequels and retreads. The FPS has gone back to the "start the same and run to all the power weapons" formula from the Unreal Tournament days. This formula, while undeniably successful, is really an excuse for pumping out the same crap every few months. Buy Team Fortress 2. Grab some drinks and munchies, find a good server, make a few friends, and be ready for a ride. Throw out that homework, forget the term paper, and forget that second date. IT’S TEAM FORTRESS TIME, BABY!

Game Score

A

Reviewed By: Contributed