TF2's "Mecha Update:" Thoughts/Impressions

[Neverhoodian]

So Team Fortress 2 has recently had yet another holiday-themed update with lots of goodies. It's got all sorts of new content, including a new Mann vs. Machine map (with a new robot to fight), three new weapons, new "Festive" versions of existing weapons, and most importantly, new hats (it wouldn't be the #1 War-Themed Hat Simulator without it).

http://www.teamfortress.com/mechaupdate/

I've only had enough time to try out the Medic's new Vaccinator gun, but that thing is a barrel of fun. Having four "mini-ubers" instead of one big one encourages a more active healing role rather than sitting around waiting for your uber to build. Cycling between damage reduction types adds a whole new dynamic to the Medic's game, allowing you to adapt on the fly to new threats. It really shines when playing defense, as it allows you to mitigate large amounts of incoming fire quickly.

If the rest of the update is this good, then we're in for a real treat.

What's your initial impressions?

 

[Hyderomastgroningem]

I've had a good play with the Loose Cannon and it's a really interesting weapon. You get WAY less damage output than the stock launcher unless you're already insanely good with both the Sticky launcher gameplay and the stock launcher gameplay, but if you do happen to be then you can deal ~180 damage with a single shot on a player. Basically it works like the Sticky launcher but backwards, you hold down fire to charge and then release when you want to, but stickies fly farther when you charge them and this flies shorter, so close-range combat is a ***** unless you hit them directly and get knockback. On that note, the knockback is great against enemies playing the objective because you can just push them off, it works more or less like a long-range erratic airblast.

Hitting walls is a big problem, with the stock launcher you can roll pipes through high windows and stuff or bounce them off walls at players to get really good spam damage out, but with this it takes away half the damage as soon as you hit any surface, and considering the size of the cannonballs' hitboxes, that can be a *****. I swear it takes away more than that too, I usually only deal 20-30 damage with rolled cannonballs. On the other hand, they roll alot smoother than pipes.

And lastly, you know how with the Beggar's Bazooka you can crouchjump as you overload rockets and have them misfire onto you causing one of the highest explosive jumps in the game? It works the same with this too, but even more powerful. You get the force of about 2 stickies jumping with this thing, and you can use shield charges in midair too which makes for absolutely insane mobility. Problem is, you lose just over half your health from jumping and you're sure to take another 25-30 from fall damage, so while insanely fun it's not actually that useful. With full buff though, it's great.

Overall I'm surprised that this weapon isn't actually a load of garbage, the Loch 'n' Load sure was and it's awesome to see another real weapon for the Demoman rather than all these reskins, melee weapons and general useless bullshit (read: bootlegger, ali baba's wee booties). Give it a try, but be prepared to die alot if your pipe aim isn't that good. Or if there are lots of Scouts around.

 

[DustyDrB]

I'm just happy I uncrated a Strange Baby-Face's Blaster and a Strange Festive Holy Mackerel.
As for the new MvM map, it's OK. It's more fun than some of the original maps. I haven't tried it on Expert yet, but my friends and I were wrecking it on Normal last night, and we were using gag loadouts (I was just using Mad Milk and the previously mentioned Mackerel). I typically don't like Advanced MvM because they really just make it challenging by putting in a ton of damage sponges (Tanks, Giant Heavies) and Uber Medics. Tanks are such boring enemies. Just point at it until it dies. No status effects. No boosts from doing damage to it. Just a big slow thing with lots of health. I wish they tweaked the maps to be more like Wave 666. Now THAT was fun. When 100 spies spawn all at once, pure chaos.

I'm very happy that they didn't give the Demoman another god-damn Demoknighting weapon. He doesn't need any more of those. Ever. Haven't had a chance to use the Loose Cannon myself, but some dude was trying to kill me with it last night. I found the projectile very slow and easy to reflect as a Pyro. Seems like it will take some skill to use (same is true for the other Grenade Launchers, though). Like a lot of Demomen, I rely more on my stickies for kills. So the Cannon might be a good utility choice (for the knockback and ability to cook the cannonballs). I love the design of it, though. When I saw it on the update's poster, I was hoping it would be a weapon that shot cannonballs, did a ton of knockback, and had to ability to cook it. Was pretty much dead on the money.

No opinion on the new Medigun or Engie shotgun yet. The new Medigun was getting some heavy use last night, but I don't feel like I can judge it until either I use it myself or someone pockets me with it. I know I was able to take out combos with my stickies even when they had the blast resistance up. It's not very good for CTF, it seems. Sentries do both bullet and blast damage, and you're likely to have a fairly balanced defense in your base anyway. Haven't seen the Engie shotgun used at all yet.

 

[scorptatious]

Darn you TF2.

You keep giving me new toys but I can't use them because my computer is a piece of arse. X(

 

[Mr.Mattress]

So far, all I have from the update is a Der Wintermantel (Got it by buying a Key for 4 Refined Metal and 3 Strange Weapons) that I may or may not sell. I really want to get the Rescue Ranger and the Loose Cannon, but sadly I cannot afford both at the time. I have yet to play the Big Rock MvM match.

 

[Calcium]

So that's what the TF2 update that was dowloading at 1.5kb/s was...

I really should try to get back into it. Haven't played since the Mann Vs Machine update. Perhaps I'll give it a go, though I imagine I'll just resort to spy back-stabbery as is my usual.

Also. My Captcha is a picture of 'BAT BEAR' - a bear in a batman mask...

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