Monday Night Combat: The Great Love/Hate Relationship

jakob187

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Edited By jakob187

For anyone who has been participating in the onslaught of carnage that is Monday Night Combat since its release, there is a strong chance that you walk away from your console after many matches feeling like an abused spouse. You absolutely hate Monday Night Combat because it yells at you, treats you like shit, and fucks you over in ways that you didn't know you could be fucked over...but when it's good, MAN...it's fucking GOOD!

I just wanted a hug! Everybody loves donuts!

Recently, I S-ranked Monday Night Combat, and there was a sudden swell of relief. I said to myself, "Josh, you never have to play this game again if you don't want to. You don't have to be beaten and bruised anymore. You can save that for Starcraft II now." I then questioned why I was talking to myself for once and replied "...but dood, Monday Night Combat is a good game, and I want to play more of it." This begins my downward spiral into pure unadulterated flogged-by-boards-with-nails-embedded Hell. Why do I love a game so much that obviously has SOOOOO many fucking problems in it? Do I like the abuse? Is Monday Night Combat made from poppies or something, and I just need one more hit? While my measly rank 36 isn't much to scream home about, it does mean I've played enough of the game to know what the problems are...and know why I have to sit out on this game for days at a time.

The biggest problem with the game is this: it's balanced with the idea of "six player coordinated and communicating teams" in mind. That is not how the game is played, and in turn, it breaks the fuck out of the game. You'll get three Supports on the opposite team that block off the same corners every time, preventing your escape because your teammates refuse to work AS A TEAM. It's astonishing to me when I play a game like Halo 3, where team objective matches have people ACTUALLY DOING THE OBJECTIVES...and yet something like Monday Night Combat is thoroughly incapable of getting a crowd of people that know how to play as a team. The imbalance of the game is actually because it's TOO balanced.

Of course you've got juice! You never left your base for it!

There is also the matter of the arenas, or particularly how the arenas seem to be each be geared to the same shit happening every time. Every time Steel Peel shows up, I veto that fucker. Why? You'll find each team has at least three people that roll Sniper so they can sit at their fucking base and snipe through a small area directly to your spawn point. I fucking LOATHE spawn camping, as it is seriously one of the single worst practices in gaming. A coordinated team would be able to squash that sniper easily with a pair of assassins. However, that's very rarely the case. There's also LazeRazor arena, which typically finds three Support guys rolling over to a base and setting up Firebases on each of the exits...then overhealing those turrets through a wall with their heal guns. Two people, say an Assault and Gunner with grenade launchers, could take a Firebase down pretty easily. Sadly, there's not many people that want to team up on a death-dealing turret. Instead, they'd rather jump pad up and try to kill the guy healing it rather than kill the turret, then the guy. Those same Support guys can then throw Air Strikes the entire time on the turrets, allowing their bots to run in and dominate the other team's Moneyball. The worst of it is that the map also allows for a team to look directly into the other teams spawn point, a section that is gated off. There is no way for the pinned team to make a comeback whatsoever. All of these maps have glaring weaknesses and vulnerabilities for both teams, and these weaknesses are incredibly easy to exploit, leading less to a "match" and more to "rage".

Uber has listed a number of known problems, whether they be glitches or exploits or bugs or whatever, on their forums. My question is this: was Monday Night Combat complete upon release and we're just now seeing the problems, or did they jump at the opportunity to be this unique multiplayer game on XBL that could also get the publicity that gets put behind Summer of Arcade games? Sure, there is a small team of doods working on the game, and I commend those fine folks for bringing a game like this to the consoles. Unfortunately, it has gone from feeling completely fucking awesome...to completely fucking rushed out the door to meet a release date and not thoroughly tested before it launched.

It's with this that I bid you ado, Monday Night Combat, until another day. Once Uber has put out a good handful of updates to turn you into a more solid game, we will meet again. May you all go forth and learn to build turrets...and play other classes...and maybe work as a team.

13 years ago

jakob187

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#1 Edited By jakob187

For anyone who has been participating in the onslaught of carnage that is Monday Night Combat since its release, there is a strong chance that you walk away from your console after many matches feeling like an abused spouse. You absolutely hate Monday Night Combat because it yells at you, treats you like shit, and fucks you over in ways that you didn't know you could be fucked over...but when it's good, MAN...it's fucking GOOD!

Recently, I S-ranked Monday Night Combat, and there was a sudden swell of relief. I said to myself, "Josh, you never have to play this game again if you don't want to. You don't have to be beaten and bruised anymore. You can save that for Starcraft II now." I then questioned why I was talking to myself for once and replied "...but dood, Monday Night Combat is a good game, and I want to play more of it." This begins my downward spiral into pure unadulterated flogged-by-boards-with-nails-embedded Hell. Why do I love a game so much that obviously has SOOOOO many fucking problems in it? Do I like the abuse? Is Monday Night Combat made from poppies or something, and I just need one more hit? While my measly rank 36 isn't much to scream home about, it does mean I've played enough of the game to know what the problems are...and know why I have to sit out on this game for days at a time.

The biggest problem with the game is this: it's balanced with the idea of "six player coordinated and communicating teams" in mind. That is not how the game is played, and in turn, it breaks the fuck out of the game. You'll get three Supports on the opposite team that block off the same corners every time, preventing your escape because your teammates refuse to work AS A TEAM. It's astonishing to me when I play a game like Halo 3, where team objective matches have people ACTUALLY DOING THE OBJECTIVES...and yet something like Monday Night Combat is thoroughly incapable of getting a crowd of people that know how to play as a team. The imbalance of the game is actually because it's TOO balanced.

There is also the matter of the arenas, or particularly how the arenas seem to be each be geared to the same shit happening every time. Every time Steel Peel shows up, I veto that fucker. Why? You'll find each team has at least three people that roll Sniper so they can sit at their fucking base and snipe through a small area directly to your spawn point. I fucking LOATHE spawn camping, as it is seriously one of the single worst practices in gaming. A coordinated team would be able to squash that sniper easily with a pair of assassins. However, that's very rarely the case. There's also LazeRazor arena, which typically finds three Support guys rolling over to a base and setting up Firebases on each of the exits...then overhealing those turrets through a wall with their heal guns. Two people, say an Assault and Gunner with grenade launchers, could take a Firebase down pretty easily. Sadly, there's not many people that want to team up on a death-dealing turret. Instead, they'd rather jump pad up and try to kill the guy healing it rather than kill the turret, then the guy. Those same Support guys can then throw Air Strikes the entire time on the turrets, allowing their bots to run in and dominate the other team's Moneyball. The worst of it is that the map also allows for a team to look directly into the other teams spawn point, a section that is gated off. There is no way for the pinned team to make a comeback whatsoever. All of these maps have glaring weaknesses and vulnerabilities for both teams, and these weaknesses are incredibly easy to exploit, leading less to a "match" and more to "rage".

Uber has listed a number of known problems, whether they be glitches or exploits or bugs or whatever, on their forums. My question is this: was Monday Night Combat complete upon release and we're just now seeing the problems, or did they jump at the opportunity to be this unique multiplayer game on XBL that could also get the publicity that gets put behind Summer of Arcade games? Sure, there is a small team of doods working on the game, and I commend those fine folks for bringing a game like this to the consoles. Unfortunately, it has gone from feeling completely fucking awesome...to completely fucking rushed out the door to meet a release date and not thoroughly tested before it launched.

It's with this that I bid you ado, Monday Night Combat, until another day. Once Uber has put out a good handful of updates to turn you into a more solid game, we will meet again. May you all go forth and learn to build turrets...and play other classes...and maybe work as a team.

13 years ago

Thunderstarter

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#2 Edited By Thunderstarter

To be completely honest, I find a lot of these gripes to be a bit...meh. You're not the only one who feels this way, and don't worry, I feel the same rage as you when my team would rather run around like chickens with their heads cut off then actually getting rid of camping supports/snipers/whoever-the-hell is kicking the crap outta your team. However, in all honesty, all of these problems CAN be solved by a single person provided their character is strong enough. Camping supports? Headshot the supports as a Sniper and have your team work on the turrets (they should get it at that point).

Also, the game has been out for what, two weeks? A lot of people still need to get a handle on how exactly to play the game. Give it another 3 weeks and I guarantee you the experience will be better, due to the fact that people will have more experience with the game.

The problem with this game is that it was never beta-tested to my knowledge and due to the Summer of Arcade's advertising opportunities they put the game out there without one. This doesn't mean the game is incomplete, the game is very much a finished title. Since it wasn't beta-tested the game has some exploits that exist that could've been reported.

The solution Uber is going to come to, I'm sure, is:
1) Releasing new Map Packs (exploit free, of course)
2) Nerf, nerf, nerf

They're going to nerf the Support's attack base because it simply is too powerful (I think they'll take away overshielding and call it a day, and I would be completely happy with that). They're going to make the Sniper's bullet NOT move in a straight line (wind!), and (I hope oh so much) they're going to make the Assault's gun do more damage and have greater accuracy. This is all speculation, but I think it's valid speculation.

I LOVE the game. It has its "OMG WTF STUPID GAME!" moments, but otherwise, I'm very happy I spent my 1200 Xbox fun points on this game.

13 years ago

Damien

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#3 Edited By Damien

I think it's harsh and unfair to call this "completely fucking rushed out the door to meet a release date" just because there are some bugs. I think Uber is a 16 person team and there was no public beta of any sort. With all that considered, this game is remarkably well-balanced.

And @Thunderstarter, I just have to say that I would have to disagree with all of your proposed changes. They sound like lazy fixes.

13 years ago

LordXavierBritish

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#4 Edited By LordXavierBritish

Yo broseph, you gotta problem with gettin' a team together you just rang me up and we roll that bitch ya mean?

13 years ago

jacdg

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#5 Edited By jacdg

I just hate that it's impossible to play alone. That's why I like Call of Duty, you can win games basically by yourself, but this game is so team focused and none of the people on my friendlist have the game. I just get so pissed, I feel like every class is overpowered, so at least it's balanced. But I agree with you 100%, I love the game, but at the same time I hate it.

13 years ago

johnzimmerman

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#6 Edited By johnzimmerman

my only real "problem" with MNC is the players. I seem to always be put on teams who suck (bad luck i guess). it gets so bad that i am screaming at the tv for my team to defend the damn money ball!! also nobody communicates or co-ordinates anytihng that i can tell, but that's how it's on all live really.
i think my problem is that the player base is so low (and the fact that it's still there after the release of the new COD.... but i digress) that i am more likely to be put with people who are way better and way more dedicated than i am. it's the same problem i have with blacklight really.

13 years ago

WilliamRLBaker

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#7 Edited By WilliamRLBaker

They've released a title update for the game that fixes almost all the original problems with the game.

13 years ago

Monday Night Combat

A multiplayer-focused third-person shooter that borrows elements from both Team Fortress 2 and Defense of the Ancients. Take control of one of six personified Classes and defend your Moneyball in a futuristic sports environment.

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Monday Night Combat: The Great Love/Hate Relationship

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