E3 06: Exteel Hands-on

LOS ANGELES--As part of a big push to draw in more casual players to online gaming, NCsoft is publishing a number of free-to-download, free-to-play games that include online functionality. One of these is Exteel, a fast-paced mech-combat game that will remind arcade veterans of the classic Virtual-On games. Up to 16 players at a time can compete against each other in arena combat with bipedal mechs that are armed with a variety of different weapons and add-ons.

As you might expect from a giant robot-combat game, the mechs in Exteel are extremely customizable and let you attach all manner of different styles of heads, limbs, melee weapons (such as swords and shields), and guns (such as fast-firing pistols and large two handed mortar launchers). Different types of loadouts will naturally favor different styles of play, and each mech seems to be able to carry two different weapon loadouts at a time, which can be swapped easily by tapping a key. Most people will set up their mechs with a melee loadout and a ranged loadout, so they can easily adapt to fast-changing combat conditions. Playing the game is as simple as using the WASD keys for movement, while the mouse buttons are used to attack with the weapons your robot is holding in each hand. If your mech has a jetpack equipped, you can dash in any direction by double-tapping the appropriate key, a useful maneuver for dodging out of the way of shots or closing the distance between you and an enemy.

Advanced players will be able to pull off special attack combos, which vary depending on the types of weapons you're using. We never did quite figure out how to do the special attacks in our brief play-testing on the show floor, nor did we get to see any of the team-based modes the game has, as the E3 demo only had free-for-all action.

It's worth mentioning that even though the game is free to play, the version of Exteel we played at E3 seems to have pretty good production values. While the graphics may not exactly measure up to the top PC games on the market, this isn't the typical low-budget, free PC game that you might be used to. The city arena we fought in featured multiple levels and decent-looking detail and textures, and the robots themselves exhibited a good level of intricacy, though everything did have somewhat of a sterile look and feel to it. The weapon effects and explosions are pretty good-looking for a free or budget PC game, as well, with colored lighting and some particle effects.

So what does NCsoft get out of the deal if they let you download and play the game for free? It's likely that they'll have premium content available, such as weapons, armor, and other attachments for you to buy at a nominal cost. No specific pricing plans have been announced yet, as the game is not scheduled for release in North America until late 2006. However, the game is live and online in Korea at this time. For more on Exteel, add this game to your tracker, and keep an eye on GameSpot.