One Year Later, MAG Isn't The Game You Remember

MAG is celebrating its one-year anniversary and just as a reminder, this really isn't the same game that launched last January.

Any avid player will spend quite a long time telling you how far the game has come, and just how much work developer Zipper Interactive has done. They've dedicated a huge amount of time enhancing and improving this massive 256-player online multiplayer experience, and it shows. When we did the review last year, the game had only just arrived and we could easily spot the promise and potential. We also knew it would take some time before MAG truly shone... Well, that time has come and gone and as of now, it's a game you absolutely can't ignore any longer. If you're even remotely interested, you should check out the new level of depth, stability, and oh wait...did I already say depth? There's just so much to like, even if you're not the biggest fan of shooters.

And by the way, now's a great time to get involved because Zipper and Sony are celebrating the one-anniversary in fine style. They've got a couple cool new promotions taking place, which are great for the hardcore. But we thought we'd take some time and say that MAG deserves attention it hasn't yet received; it is so not the same game you may have sampled a year ago.

Related Game(s): MAG

Tags: mag, zipper interactive, mag update

1/25/2011 9:01:09 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (56 posts)

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frylock25
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 9:30:24 PM
Reply

those changes are that all game bonuses get a +256% xp, acquisition and domination will be faction neutral and zipper will be playing tomorrow. this all runs til sunday. mag is for sure one of the best online experiances i have had. the team work required to take or defend your objectives is vital.

if anyone wants to play hit me up psn is the same.

see you on the battlefield.

0 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 9:36:54 PM
Reply

Why don't you guys do a second review? It wouldn't be the first time you've done so, and it would certainly raise awareness for the changes made to the game over time.

And I found out today that I may not be able to get a broadband connection here... How bollocks is that? I'm going to call them soon and find out for certain. Few other things I have to do first, but I'll get back to you on how it goes when I've called.
Peace.

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 9:42:47 PM

Zipper should request (via booze and strippers) that all major outlets do an updated review.

8 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 10:20:31 PM

In that case, I'd have to join a games journalism company... to uphold the integrity, of course. <.<

EDIT: Well, I called them, they said they're not sure if we can get it... But they put the order through anyway, and I have to get back to them in 3-5 working days... Ridiculousness.

Last edited by Lawless SXE on 1/25/2011 11:43:04 PM

0 up, 0 down

natho86
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 12:40:06 AM

Hey lawless is that through Telsta or optus?

0 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 12:59:24 AM

Telstra, I know for a fact that Optus won't supply us.

0 up, 0 down

maxpontiac
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 7:48:07 AM

Agreed. PSX should do a second review on the game.

In my hundreds of hours logged on the game, one thing remains a constant though..

SVER sucks.

0 up, 0 down

spiderboi
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 9:53:48 AM

I second that..errmmm... second review :)

Raven FTW :) add me up guys: spiderboi56

this is the only thing that I'm playing these days. GT5, I'm scared to play coz my PS3 YLOD'ed right after I played it (must've been strained on processing or somethng, or maybe my imagination..) LBP2, savin' up the playtime for sometime special. Oh, and the sackboy looks sweet!

0 up, 0 down

Sol
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 9:44:18 PM
Reply

I wanted MAG but there was too much on my plate already, and college eating through my funds. I will get it eventually.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 9:47:01 PM
Reply

That's great and all but this is a fast moving industry, many gamers have moved on. Plus you can get the game for a song now so I doubt anybody is going to want to pay full price just because it's a lot better than on release day. People tend to just buy the newest shooter.

I know it would delay development but I wonder if games like these that plan on having a year of expansion shouldn't just hang onto it, keep testing and adding, and come out with a breakout experience rather than adding bits on a piecemeal basis. Just a thought.

0 up, 2 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 11:12:48 PM

FPS for Console = FTL

1 up, 4 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 12:38:57 AM

...in 1998.

4 up, 1 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 12:51:27 AM

Meh, still not enough being done to warrant me switching over.

1 up, 3 down

Mamills
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 9:49:24 PM
Reply

yea, i really hated the beta.
but haven't touched it since.
i wouldn't mind giving it a second look but how about a second review of it?
or even a list of changes made?
cuz i remember when i last played it, it had way too many issues for me to even care about it anymore

1 up, 2 down

NonProphet
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 10:27:22 PM
Reply

I was really into it for awhile but eventually got tired of playing the same 3 maps over and over again. For a full price game to come with only 3 maps for the 256 player matches was weak. I also didn't really like being stuck with one pmc and not being able to try another without losing your progress in the first. MAG definitely added a whole new dimension to shooters and the scope is epic, I just wish there were more than environments to play in.

0 up, 2 down

slugga_status
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 8:40:02 AM

There are more then 3 maps. You clearly didn't pay enough attention. Each PMC had a different location for each game mode you played. 3 PMC'S and at the minimum 5 different locations in that PMC's country

1 up, 0 down

Bigtuna1
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 1:14:26 PM

I hate it when people talk about maps solely by numbers as if that's the end all. Mag's domo maps are probably 10x bigger than any Cod map and there are three of them. 4 platoons in each domo map with 2 sides to that platoon. So it could easily be said that each domo map has 8 maps. Take that times the 3 factions domo maps and you get 24. That's just one game mode out of 6 modes, so please don't do the "it doesn't have enough maps" BS because it just doesn't hold water. I've put in over 800 hrs of gameplay and still come across areas I haven't really explored before.

And I love the design Zipper used in creating their maps. You can tell they put alot of time in it based on the strategic locations of certain obstacles.

1 up, 0 down

oONewcloudOo
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 10:39:22 PM
Reply

its the same game just less buggy and a few layouts have changed and has move support the game was a dissapointment imo

2 up, 2 down

maxpontiac
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 7:49:45 AM

It is NOT the same game.

Yes, Move implementation was weak.

2 up, 3 down

slugga_status
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 8:40:54 AM

Not even close to the same game.

1 up, 1 down

Temjin001
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 10:44:56 PM
Reply

MAG had a pretty cool concept from the beginning. It's good to know it contributes something special to the over crowded market.

I tried that Crysis 2 demo. It looked nice graphically. I think I've seen enough to know I'd take it over a UE3 engine. Though, I found the gameplay to be mostly uninteresting and it felt CoD'ish with something of a slight sci-fi vibe to it (not to mention experiencing bad lag). As of now, I have little to no interest in the game until I get a shot at the single player stuff. I'd rather play a game like MAG before touching this online.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 11:04:13 PM

The graphics will get cut to mediocre quality and that will fix the lag. Crytek will deny any such thing took place.

1 up, 0 down

PasteNuggs
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 12:41:35 AM

I've been trying to play the Crysis 2 demo but everytime it tries to load a match it freezes and I have to get up and walk over and shut down the box and boot it back up.

2 up, 0 down

Temjin001
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 1:04:55 AM

Just leave it alone and go download the Bullertstorm demo. It's much more fun =)

0 up, 1 down

PasteNuggs
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 1:27:55 AM

Ya I played the Bulletstorm demo already. I like but once again there is that UE3 engine barbie look on the characters, oh well. It was fun and I didn't notice any framerate issues with everything that goes on onscreen which is a plus.

0 up, 1 down

Alienange
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 11:09:01 PM
Reply

Have they made it less frustrating to play? Do enemies die from headshots now? Do players do more than simply stand in the middle of the map and shoot at the other team that's doing the exact same thing?

No? Ok. I'll keep waiting.

3 up, 3 down

maxpontiac
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 7:52:04 AM

My 10,000 head shots say otherwise.

I am part of a Valor clan known as KEQ. No stands around and does mindless things.

MAG is all about the people you play with.

7 up, 2 down

slugga_status
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 8:43:05 AM

The game has never been frustrating. Headshots are easy to get. And nobody sits in the middle of the map shooting at each other. Not sure what game you were playing but it wasn't MAG

6 up, 2 down

Bigtuna1
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 1:04:39 PM

Good to see MAG getting some love around here. It truely is the deepest FPS you will ever play.
Maxpontiac,
My clan just came over to Valor last week. We've been seeing the Keq clan around and I'm very impressed with your leadership and teamwork. One of my clanmates said he was invited to Keq, which is something we are considering. We're a tight group of about 10 players.

We would love to get in a clan that has alot of people on and knows how to play. We're the FYC clan(Dave Chepelle reference and we use it lol) and we know how to play. I know we've even held you guys back a time or two while we were on Raven playing with AOD. Let me know if your clan is interested in a small merger or atleast maybe we could group up sometime to play.
My psn is the same but I use an alternate on Valor, but if you want to play just send me a friend invite and we'll murder these Cod idiots sometime

0 up, 0 down

maxpontiac
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 1:27:03 PM

Bigtuna

I am not an officer, but keep playing hard, and one of the officers will notice. On average, there is 50 members on at once (give or take).

Everyone works to win. Not to pad stats, it's a great clan. Oh, and I'll send you a FR tonight.

Last edited by maxpontiac on 1/26/2011 1:28:29 PM

0 up, 0 down

Bigtuna1
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 4:01:15 PM

sounds good. Oh and stat padding is for those who care and don't want to win. I could care less about stats as long as we get in there and do something. I've already got the platinum trophy(my first one) so none of the other things matter to me. Look forward to tearing it up with you sometime.

0 up, 0 down

slugga_status
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 4:18:43 PM

@ Bigtuna

Man..you have been putting in MAJOR work to platinum this game. I'm not even remotely close..

0 up, 0 down

booze925
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 11:36:49 PM
Reply

one year later, and i still don't care about mag

5 up, 2 down

frylock25
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 1:15:47 AM
Reply

i did a user review of mag at the 2.0 patch if anyone wants to check it out

3 up, 0 down

BTNwarrior
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 1:35:18 AM
Reply

I loved mag, unfortunately none of my friends played it and after a while it got hard to get a game going. I might have to hop in and try it again though

3 up, 0 down

AcHiLLiA
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 1:40:35 AM
Reply

I played it a couple of times at my friends house and just didn't get into it. BFBC2 multiplayer to me is better.

2 up, 3 down

___________
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 2:07:12 AM
Reply

they have changed allot, but sadly nothing they should change!

0 up, 6 down

RadioHeader
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 8:55:55 AM

-_____________________-

4 up, 0 down

tridon
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 6:02:00 AM
Reply

I'd also like to try this game but unfortunately it falls into the same category as DC Universe Online right now; I just don't have the time.

That being said, I'd love to see a second review from this site. I definitely agree with at least 90% of the reviews around here... more-so than other sites.

And while on the topic of reviews, Ben, is there any chance you could review the new PSN game, Spare Parts. It looks pretty cool but I just read a pretty horrible review over at IGN (not that I really trust that site with reviews). I'm looking for a good MP to play through quickly with my girlfriend and it having Simon Pegg is definitely a plus. :)

0 up, 0 down

Sunni_Boi
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 8:08:43 AM
Reply

I recently bought it when it was $15 brand new at gamestop, and i really havent played it at all. I mean its an decent game, but i really dont feel it as much as i thought it would.

0 up, 0 down

slugga_status
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 8:50:47 AM
Reply

Honestly, I believe that a lot of you that have negative comments towards MAG simply didn't give it time. If you put time into it and compare to other FPS' you'll notice it's right on par if not better.

First, they've improved the lighting within the game which makes the game look more polished. They've mad enhancements to various weapons so that they perform better.

You literally create your own soldier. You also control the abilities of your soldier. They've added 2 game modes as well. I mean I really can't say everything on this comment section.

I'll be at level 60 with Raven today. The game is about teamwork. If you're hating on this game you couldn't have put any real time into it.

2 up, 0 down

Mamills
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 8:57:56 AM

eh, if i have to give a game a year to get good, then its not usually worth it.
bad company 2 was way better and probably still is

2 up, 4 down

spiderboi
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 9:57:23 AM

I disagree Mamills. It's about a game's longetivity. If a game still at the same state as its release, unless its something very very spectacular, a game that constantly improves will eventually overtake it.

2 up, 0 down

Psylight
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 10:06:32 AM

I totally agree with Slugga here. Players need to get past the initial wall of the learning curve. Once I gave it enough time...I fell completely in love with it. MAG is quite brilliant and underrated.

0 up, 0 down

slugga_status
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 11:03:27 AM

@Mamills

Thing is you didn't have to wait a year. Each one of the improvements came throughout the year. Especially when hardcore players voiced opinions. Bit by bit the game got better and better. It isn't any different then other shooters that have updates for glitches. These updates not only fixed glitches but IMPROVED the game.

0 up, 0 down

Sunni_Boi
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 11:58:19 AM

@slugga, i see the potential in the game, and im going to keep playing it because i bought it, but me, im the type of gamer who plays a bunch of different games, so if it doesnt have instant appeal, then its going to get less of my time. Not taking anything from mag, but that instant appeal is not quite there, like u said u gotta put time into it to see what it really is.

0 up, 0 down

Sunni_Boi
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 12:00:17 PM

I also fell into that trap with fallout 3, cuz at 1st game was boring, but then i put the time in and the game became 10x better! I feel the same will happen with mag......hopefully. But thats just me.

0 up, 0 down

slugga_status
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 12:18:32 PM

@ Sunni Boi

I feel you on that one bro. I too play a bunch of different games. It's hard to keep them all in rotation. I agree with you as well that "instant appeal" isn't there with MAG.

What I will say is that it will immerse you. Playing Acquisition, Interdiction, Escalation, and Domination you'll really feel like you're in a War. Especially if you have a good squad with mics working as a team...just nothing else out there like it. If you're in Raven add me up..my psn is the same as my name on here

2 up, 0 down

big6
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 10:24:56 AM
Reply

It's kinda funny that I just picked up a copy of MAG just 2 days ago. I was looking for something to tide me over until Killzone 3 came out. I'm bored of the maps in Black Ops and wanted something new.

First off, I did play the BETA last year. Playing the current game (after over 2 hours of updates), it's quite apparent that this game feels very polished from last year's iteration. The animations are very smooth and the lighting/colour is crisp.

So far, my main gripe is the button layout. For the most part, it's the usual FPS controls. However, throwing a grenade is *annoying*. I don't like how I have to press L2 to hold the grenade, then R1 to throw it. It just takes too long. I'm also not feeling the super-human jumps that each character is able to do.
However, I do like how I can run more than 20 feet before I get tired. (unlike COD)

Anyways, I just started, so all this will take a bit getting used to. My gun appears to be uber-weak, as I've sprayed bullets into people from range, and they don't fall.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to better distribute my experience points, when I gain a level, it would be appreciated. I'm just looking to be a soldier...just need a good gun.

1 up, 0 down

slugga_status
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 11:12:09 AM

The button layout takes some getting used to man. But once you do you'll be throwing grenades easy. What I will tell you regarding that is to change your load out. Your loadout is what determines the order of your other weapons/equipment when you press R2 or L2.

You gotta realize the super-human jumps you're referring to is all about your abilities. Depending on how you set them up you can run for days or be extremely resistant to gas. It really depends on how you want your soldier to be.

Before it was clear that SVER's weapons were the cream of the crop. They've fixed that now though. You really just have to purchase a gun you like and add attachments to enhance it.

As far as distributing your XP points. Just keep playing the game and just think about what you want to be able to do. After a certain point, if you don't like what you've got, you'll be able to Respec and get a refund of your points and make the adjustments you need.

1 up, 0 down

big6
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 12:37:47 PM

Hey, thanks, Slugga!

1 up, 0 down

slugga_status
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 1:29:13 PM

No prob man. You can add me if you're on Raven..if not..I'll see you on the battlefield

0 up, 0 down

BTNwarrior
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 11:59:31 AM
Reply

anyone still playing warhawk?

0 up, 0 down

big6
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 12:40:12 PM

Wow, that's a game I haven't played in a *long* time. I should throw the disc in and check it out and see if people are still on it.

I really liked it before, until people started getting too good at using the Warhawk. After that, if you weren't also good on a Warhawk, you'd get killed over and over...

0 up, 0 down

BTNwarrior
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 12:54:01 PM

yeah it did get a little unbalanced but I just remember games where you got a full crew going in the dropship and slowly unleashed hell by crawling across the map. That game brings back nothing but fond memories

0 up, 0 down

Nasty80
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 7:37:15 PM
Reply

they banned my friends name when he started playing MAG.I Only played the demo,and wasnt that impressed.I dont want my name banned so im not going to be playing.

0 up, 1 down

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