Tabula Rasa service guarantees Beta citizenship

“I need a corporal. You’re it, until you’re dead or I find someone better.” Tabula Rasa is accepting recruits for the imminent war against the Bane, bug brains with enough smarts to warp matter and energy leaving humanity in a crisis, there is only one option: eradicate the enemy. “These are the rules. “Everybody fights, nobody quits. If you don’t do your job I’ll kill you myself!” Would you like to know more?

Injected with smattering bits and pieces I longed for more details, most information about this game was strictly classified. I knew it was a sci-fi shooter, which instantly conjured comparisons to Planetside in the back of my mind. I knew most of the hype behind it wasn’t about the game itself, but the illustrious Richard Garriot; I wasn’t Ultima geek, I’m not going to play a game just because Lord British is the visionary maestro behind it.

I knew the design was having identity problems - it was taken back to the drawing board and reassembled, an audacious move I appreciate - I’m fed up with halfway-cobbled mmogs which are radicalized with crucial changes during the first make or break year, but is too late for Tabula Rasa? What a difference two years can make and during that time I still haven’t seen a lot of pre-beta excitement outside the obligatory press. Maybe, I’m looking in the wrong places, I think this game would be better received if it were cross platform on the 360 like Huxley (mmo fps) will be or maybe the fps crowd will get their grubby paws on it after beta rolls out, that is if they’re ready to shell out a monthly fee - it has to be more than good, it has to be remarkable.

From gatehred initial impressions, the world is dynamic; this isn’t groundhog day where the same static enemies dangle as piñatas waiting to be smashed for experience. There won’t be running and gunning with meaningless resistance either, the Bane will be pushing back constantly, vying for land control in a never-ending tug o’ war. Reactionary abilities like counter and dispells are a thing of the past - in Tabula Rasa combat is tactical, elements such as cover, accuracy and the lay of the land play a pivotal role and influence the outcome of battles redefine reactionary elements. Players face ethical and moral dilemmas with branching story-lines, dripping players in substance, providing a deeper and more engaging purpose.

I’ll be sure to emit my own first impressions after I ship out, my orders came in not long ago. It should be any week now.