Ghost in the Shell: SAC First Assault Online - It actually doesn't suck.

[Paragon Fury]

Developer: Neople
Publisher: Nexon
Release Date: TBD
Platform: PC
Price: F2P - $5 for Beta Early Access (as of Jan. 9)


So I recently decided to plop down the $5 for the Early Access Beta for this game on Steam. For those who don't know, the game is based on the wildly popular Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex anime by Production I.G. Starring Major Motoko Kusangi and the Counter-Terrorist unit of Section 9, its set in a future where cyborgs, androids and even AI have become commonplace, and explores the ramifications and problems that can arise because of this as well as some of the philosophical implications.

It seems like the kind of show better suited for a Deus Ex: Human Revolution style game. But after a few hours with the Beta I have to say, this is pretty good. The GitS is worked in well enough to not feel tacked-on, and it plays fairly well too. Its like a combination of CS:GO and Blacklight: Retribution. Everyone picks an operative, each of whom has their own ability, and several of whom can share their abilities with their teammates. Headshots are extremely important, especially at range - fire control and good aim is surprisingly important.

As of right now it seems to be pretty balanced, with weapons even from the store not seeming to confer any large advantage, though unlock attachments is a bit grindy (probably where they'll make their money selling boosts). Overall though, its pretty fun, even in the Early Access stage.

I took a video of me playing it for about 35 minutes:

 

[Smooth Operator]

Yes it does seem to be a functional Modern FPS #50291, but you could name it just about anything as it's same thing everyone else does, I swear if they call it CoD: Something Warfare people wouldn't know the difference.
I guess if the F2P model isn't horrid you can play this instead of dozens of the same looking F2P games, so their interchangeable nature is at least one kind of a feature.

 

[Foolery]

It's passable. I just don't see a draw that would keep me playing. Perhaps if I was a bigger Ghost In the Shell fan, I'd be more into it.

 

[samgdawg]

I really want to get into Ghost in the Shell, but there seems to be a lot of different versions? Where would I start? Is each one separate, or should I start with the first one? If so, which one is the first one?

 

[nomotog_v1legacy]

I really want to get into Ghost in the Shell, but there seems to be a lot of different versions? Where would I start? Is each one separate, or should I start with the first one? If so, which one is the first one?

Start with the anime. Second season is easier to understand. (The series can be willfully obtuse at times.)


You know all this game dose is remind me that a real game based on the show would be so cool. It would be like DX:HR if they didn't have to pay homage to DX.

 

[dangoball]

I really want to get into Ghost in the Shell, but there seems to be a lot of different versions? Where would I start? Is each one separate, or should I start with the first one? If so, which one is the first one?

They are kinda each their own thing so if you watch all of it, be prepared to go through recruiting Togusa like three times.
There are two good places to start, I'd say. Either go with the original movie Ghost in the Shell from 1995 as many agree it's superior to the remake from 2005 (also known as Ghost in the Shell 2.0). The movie has a sequel by the name Innocence. The other option I'd recommend is to jump into the S.A.C. series, the famous Stand Alone Complex. It has two seasons of 24 episodes each and a movie by the name Solid State Society to wrap things up. You could also get the condensed version through SAC movies The Laughing Man (1st season) and Individual Eleven (2nd season), though I much prefer the series (Tachikoma has severely cut time in the movies and that's just sad).

 

[DoPo]

I really want to get into Ghost in the Shell, but there seems to be a lot of different versions? Where would I start? Is each one separate, or should I start with the first one? If so, which one is the first one?

There are several incarnations:

- The movies - there is two of them - the original called Ghost in the Shell and the follow-up Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. They follow the same continuity. I found the second one to be quite slower paced than the first one and as such...well, more boring. But the first one is good, even if it may dip into some slower moments when it ponders philosophy.

- The TV series - again, two of them: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (SAC) and the second season titled Ghost in the Shell: SAC 2nd Gig. Again, these follow the same continuity, however, it's not exactly the same as the movies. The story is not the same either, although it touches on some similar themes. The TV series are quite good - I liked them more than the movie, and I liked the second season more. The series also finish with a movie called Ghost in the Shell: SAC - Solid State Society. Just mentioning it exists - it's the end of the series. If you decide to watch the series, you'll probably want to also see this movie as it's directly related, otherwise, you need not bother.

- There is also Ghost in the Shell: Arise which was relatively recently released and it's a reimagining of the series in four long episodes. Or movies, depends on how you want to call them - each is around an hour long. As a reimagining, it has nothing to do with the rest of the media aside from bringing in the same characters and exploring some similar themes. I've watched Arise and my impression was...negative, to be honest. OK, the first episode was magnificent, actually - if you have the chance, I'd recommend seeing it. I'd say you can skip the rest.

- Last, but not least, it's the manga. I don't actually have any experience with it, I mostly know that it exists. As far as I'm aware, it's also its own continuity, which is unrelated to both the movies and the series. It should, however, be close-ish to them in general sense. That's mostly what I know about the manga, though. I guess if you like manga, you'd probably want to check it out - it's supposed to be good, also it's the original incarnation of Ghost in the Shell.

My personal recommendation would be to see the first GitS movie and the TV series. Also, the first volume of Arise, if you can.

 

[syaoran728]

I really want to get into Ghost in the Shell, but there seems to be a lot of different versions? Where would I start? Is each one separate, or should I start with the first one? If so, which one is the first one?

There are two older movies, an anime series, and a recent movie/ova series. I would start with the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Its the anime series that aired on Adult Swim in the US and introduced a lot of people to the series.

 

[TheMigrantSoldier]

Looks alright. Going by the actual gameplay footage, it still plays like your run-of-the-mill shooter. I would have preferred something a little more slow-paced, RPG-like (like you said, Deus Ex) and stealthy to actually force the players to utilize their powers and gadgets alongside their teammates.

 

[MercurySteam]

Makes me thing of the PS1 demo of GitS that I got with Spyro so many years ago. Completely different game of course but its good to see the premise is alive and well as the anime had a pretty sweet setting. May been keen to try this game soon.

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

I really want to get into Ghost in the Shell, but there seems to be a lot of different versions? Where would I start? Is each one separate, or should I start with the first one? If so, which one is the first one?

[- Last, but not least, it's the manga. I don't actually have any experience with it, I mostly know that it exists. As far as I'm aware, it's also its own continuity, which is unrelated to both the movies and the series. It should, however, be close-ish to them in general sense. That's mostly what I know about the manga, though. I guess if you like manga, you'd probably want to check it out - it's supposed to be good, also it's the original incarnation of Ghost in the Shell.

Mind you though that the manga is more sexually explicit than the other versions. I'm thinking in particular about a splash page where Major Kusanagi, the female main character, is having a lesbian threesome. If I remember this right, there's also the implication that she prostitutes herself, offering illegal 'e-sex' as a lucrative side-business to her job at Section 9. It's just a very minor part of the manga though and the other versions have their fair share of sexually tinged material too. It's pretty much just there because the author, Masamune Shirow, likes to draw porn.