TERA both redefines and evolves the MMO structure and design.
Graphics:9.0
Controls:9.0
Audio:8.5
Mechanics:9.0
Overall:9.5
Gameplay:9.0
TERA completely removes the traditional button press "dice roll" combat system of todays MMOs and progresses forward to Real time combat. The combat at the end comes down to a sort of Dynasty Warriors/Devil May Cry hybrid. It's not perfect. Some mild and consistent button delay will take some getting used to and hit boxes are a little wobbly, but over all the combat feels more like what you've come to expect from a single player 3rd per action title.
Graphics:9.0
TERA comes to the MMO world running on an updated Unreal 3 Engine. While not absolutely cutting edge top of the line graphics, TERA leaves current titles like WoW and even SWToR in the dust. While the game is rated M, it certainly never touches on the level of gore that Gears of War has with the very same engine.
Controls:9.0
While the Keyboard+Mouse setup works perfectly as usual with most MMOs, I was really looking forward to using my 360 controller with TERA. While it works fine and controls well, this section loses some points because the controller just isn't full featured enough to support TERAs needs. Aiming with the sticks is a little strange though learnable, the need for more buttons and more hot keys on the controller will only make it's self a bigger and BIGGER problem as you progress in level.
Audio: 8.5
TERA features some great 5.1 sound effects and audio. With a beautiful score and great ambient work. While these are all fantastic, TERA does fall very short in voice over work. Poor voice acting combined with just shoddy mouth syncing lead to the cut scenes being the least un-enjoyable part of the TERA experience.
Mechanics: 9.0
TERA does a lot to evolve and truly update MMO games, but isn't anything ground breaking on the action combat front. TERA features your basic attack abilities with a slew of "stamina" controlled special attack which refresh after a time of being used. While it's not anything new, TERA manages to make it consistently fun and even more so with a group of five wailing on a BAM. Some of the chained skills though will often not trigger, leaving you standing dumbfounded in the middle of combat some times. Controls could be a little more responsive but over all TERA present a solid action combat experience.
Overall:9.5
TERA is without a doubt the next step in the MMO world of gameplay and design. En Masse has presented a great start for an MMO, having only minor bugs remaining. While it's true TERA has been in Korea for awhile it's obvious that it's only helped to refine the game before reaching NA shores.
TERA certainly will require a beefy PC to run at it's max settings, but it will be shockingly beautiful. Just as with games like Oblivion or Skyrim there are times in TERA where I just have to stop and look at the world it's so beautifully designed and artistically put together.
The solo combat in TERA present pretty typically, with you wiping out mobs of enemies over and over in a series of Kill this or deliver that quests. Still the combat system manages to be entertaining and even rewarding with these quests and makes them enjoyable. TERA shows it's true stuff though in the form of BAMs, short for Big Ass Monsters (no joke, its the games actually name for them), BAMs are exactly as they sound and almost always require a full group to take down. As you'd expect from any good MMOs defeating a BAM renders the best loot over all, be it armor or weapons. BAMs can show up in open world or in instanced dungeons. The open world one prove to be quite difficult and their loot is often sub-par, they do however offer a fantastic XP reward when compared to other enemies of the same level. Dungeon BAMs are your typical dungeon bosses, boasting special attacks, unique dialogue and of course awesome loot.
TERA has taken many of the annoying and tedious things about MMOs and improved them or entirely done away with them. TERA has no crafting restrictions, so all players are free to learn and master all crafting talents and gathering skills. No choosing two or three skills. Crafting though leaves much to be desired, being very expensive to craft items of so-so quality makes the process of crafting brutal and un-rewarding, while crafted items are quite good, it's less effort to get a better item from playing one of the games amazing dungeons a few times till you loot a Gold.
Mounts and Travel come in at level 11 instead of the typical 20, those who get the Collectors Edition will receive (among many other things) two mounts, one for level 11 and one for level 20, both of which are faster than their normal in game counter-parts. On the topic of travel, TERA also takes advantage of a travels system much like World of Warcraft's griffons, except in the form of Pegasuses. A secondary 'local' transit system in the form of master teleporters exists,and for a small fee will teleport you to a camp if you've already been there before. Over all the transit systems work well together to get you to a place fast, but getting back to a town to sell, restock or log off to gain rested XP takes time and is a pain as teleport masters only reside in the main capital town or city of an area and not at any of the camps. This means that getting back is a matter of walking or riding a mount. The only 'fast' way to get back is to always make sure you leave town with a safe haven teleport scroll on your person.
Overall TERA presents well, very well especially for an MMO. In an industry that has become painfully bogged down with a "old faithful" push button design, TERA breaths new life into it. Someday something better will of course be made, but for now TERA is the premiere MMO/Action hybrid. Even if you hate MMOs it may be worth giving TERA a try.
Final thoughts:
-TERA has a typical 14.99/Mo. subscription fee
-TERA is PC only and will require a beefy rig to play on Max
-You bank account in game is universal, so items and money put in the bank by one character can be accessed by another on the same player account.
-Dodge, duck, dodge and Roll
-Never get rid of potions, rez scrolls, or stamina potions
-Never get rid of charms
-Gather every resource of every type you see, it's much easier than going back once you've level up to raise the skill.
-Vekas is North of the tower base and you don't need a group.