APB Reloaded (BETA) - Review - F2P MMO Third-Person Shooter

APB Reloaded is a free to play mmo third-person shooter. This footage is from it's Public Open BETA release. Download the game @ http://www.gamersfirst.com/apb/

APB Reloaded is a revival of a game released last year of similar title that was not free-to-play. Having seen clips on youtube of the older title, and being a new player to it, I can say that graphically APB:R is far superior. You can extensively customize your character, choosing to be a "good" or "bad" archetype, which each has their own consequences for going against their grain in the form of losing Prestige levels. There are a variety of gameplay mechanics when it comes to Modifying weapons, player and your vehicle (yes, you get a vehicle from the start) and you can take any NPC (non-player character) vehicle off the streets. If I had one complaint about this game, it's getting use to a 1 second delay with driving controls.

Getting back to customization, there's much more to it, including a built in music-sequencer with a variety of sample packs. Why? Because you can create "death themes", a short 2 bar jingle that you create to torment the ones you kill. There's an entire marketplace for it in-game, where players can sell their creations. Unfortunately it's currently inundated with Lady Gaga and other pop/rock hits that truly succeed at leaving me feeling violated when I die.

There's also a tag/symbol editor that allows players to create their own icons, clothing designs & graffiti tags. Another niche in the marketplace allowing artists to make some money. Money made in-game is used to maintain your character, having to buy ammo frequently, try out new guns as they are unlocked through level progression, create different outfits, tattoos, accessories, etc.

Teamplay in this game is unique and quite easy to jump into. Within a couple clicks, by default "u" toggles a window showing teams, and you can set yourself to "LFG", then "k" readies yourself to accept team missions which an objective is shown on-screen, letting you know where to go and what to do. Combat mechanics will take some getting use too, but your standard weapons will be quite sufficient until you can unlock the N-Tec assault rifle.

There is so much more to say about this game, and maybe I will cover that at a later time. I recommend this title though to anyone who enjoys a good, strategic shooter.


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Config Customization PROTIPS:
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Disable the camera shake
Open this file;
C:\Program Files (x86)\GamersFirst\APB Reloaded\APBGame\Config\APBGame.ini

Locate this section;
[APBGame.cAPBPawn]

Add following lines of code;
Bob=0.0
bWeaponBob=FALSE
bLandingShake=FALSE

Unlock FPS cap
Open this file;
C:\Program Files (x86)\GamersFirst\APB Reloaded\APBGame\Config\DefaultEngine.ini

Locate this section;
[Engine.GameEngine]

Add following lines of code;
bSmoothFrameRate=FALSE
MaxSmoothedFrameRate=400