Review: TERA (PS4) – Destructoid
TERA managed to accomplish a feat that’s still rare in the MMO industry — create an experience crafted around action.
Whether it’s adherence to old standards or technical limitations MMOs mostly adhere to slower systems, generally with lengthier global cooldowns (preventing quick ability spam) or a lack of aiming mechanics. Naturally, building an entire game around a fun and active combat system forces some other shortcomings to rise to the top, but TERA‘s move to consoles has been rather smooth.
TERA (PC, PS4 [reviewed[, Xbox One)
Developer: Bluehole Studio
Publisher: En Masse Entertainment
Released: May 1, 2012 (PC), April 3, 2018 (PS4)
MSRP: Free-to-play
I played TERA quite a bit at its launch (back when it was called TERA Online), and I wouldn’t say I outright quit — I kind of just slowly drifted away over time and occasionally returned to it for the past six years or so.
That’s a long time in modern MMO years (many projects would have long shuttered by now even with a free-to-play model), but Bluehole has been slowly hacking away with updates, various combat tweaks, and now, a full culmination of their battle system that’s perfectly suited for a controller. For the most part, the DualShock/Xbox remote’s face buttons and ancillary keys are linked to customizable abilities, with the power to call upon extra menus with L1/LB.
This includes concessions for things like linking dodge abilities to B/Circle, which mesh nicely with telegraphed enemy attacks (now a staple in MMO combat) to allow for skillful footwork even in basic overworld bouts. Arcadey elements like health motes also actively encourage chain killing instead of waiting for slower means of health recovery. TERA tries to sway you from the fatigue of grinding by elevating these moment-to-moment sequences of brawling.
One of TERA‘s best aspects (beyond its combat) is its art style.
It’s anime-tinted, and all of its races and denizens look like something you’ve maybe seen before in some shape or form, but mostly unique to the world of TERA. Even in some of the more out-there MMOs you won’t see more than one or two drastically different race designs for player characters, but TERA has a decent array of humanoids, elves, rock men, and tiny pandas. When you’re walking around the world, odds are you’ll be seeing a lot of unique creations.
After creating my new High Elf Archer, it was time to start the leveling process all over again, which is just as painless as I remember. You get a mount really quickly after the starting island, which is great, and the console UI is mostly optimized, especially when it comes to quest dialogue, which zooms in and allows the NPC some weight as it takes up the whole screen.
The same goes for NPC labels, as they’re plainly conveyed, making quest turn-ins a cinch.
Inventory management is slow, but at least it’s designed for consoles with quick menu flipping sans clunky faux mouse cursors. While menus are well done, most of the other on-screen text when you’re not engaging in menus looks cluttered, and quest items are archaically linked to menus when other games (like Final Fantasy XIV tie them to button presses).
TERA still has no real mid to end game onboarding which is a real shame for incoming new players as they’ll have to rely on the kindness of strangers or outside forums to learn their proper ability rotations. This isn’t unique to the MMO genre at all as nearly every game forces you to do this, and having trekked through MMO menus since Ultima Online I’m set. TERA isn’t nearly as complicated as most of the games out there — but you’d think there would be some concerted effort to bag the console crowd.
As for how TERA has evolved over the years (and if it’s worth picking up again for those of you who quit ages ago): it’s gotten markedly better in some ways, but remained stagnant in others.
Like all MMOs it eventually got flying mounts and exploration opened up a bit more, but its world is much smaller than it seems. That world, mind, is mostly stable on consoles, as the only major performance issues I ran into happened in hub cities.
Experience gains and questing have been tweaked to allow a better leveling experience, but Bluehole never really figured out how to build a rewarding endgame — mostly relegating it to a (massive) dungeon grind or (the woefully neglected) PVP battlegrounds. Sadly, the console versions do not have ninja, gunner (my favorite), or valkyrie classes available at their launch: meaning, they’ll be balanced separately from the up-to-date PC build.
Despite these nitpicks that are unique to the console editions, TERA is still absolutely worth trying out if you’ve never delved into it before. It’s something I plan on sticking with on the side rather than as a main course, but those of you who are already chowing down on TERA should probably stay with the PC version.
[This review is based on a retail version of the game provided by the publisher, with full access to the console edition by way of early access. It is not scored as endgame was not experienced.]
Chris Carter
EIC, Reviews Director — Chris has been enjoying Destructoid avidly since 2008. He finally decided to take the next step in January of 2009 blogging on the site. Now, he’s staff!
TERA PS4/Xbox One Review: A Faithful Transition from PC to Console
TERA is one MMO I have spent a great deal of time with. I played the beta, got the Collector’s Edition when it first came out and was pay to play, and played for two months before it went free to play and two months after.
The game has changed a lot over the years. BAMs (big-ass monsters) have been made smaller and easier time and time again, the leveling experience has been completely revamped to skyrocket players to endgame, and Lumbertown is no longer chill-and-kill central.
My opinions on TERA as it currently is are a little biased because I’ve been there for many of its largest milestones and its most content-lacking periods.
I prefer slower leveling experiences, the adventure of leveling, and the struggle of survival. That is not what the current state of the game is, and that is something any potential TERA player needs to know before diving in.
En Masse was kind enough to grant us a review Founder’s Pack on PS4, and I did what I seem to do best: grinded away the hours in TERA once again. This time it was different from the last, but I’m not sure if its current state is for me.
From PC to console
To be very, very clear, the PS4 and Xbox One ports of the game are as faithful as one can ask for in terms of an MMORPG console port.
Though the game has always been an «action combat MMORPG,» it has always relied on hotbars and always will. I’ve no issue with hotbars; you probably don’t either. You get a lot of skills and crucial consumables in TERA, and you need a bunch of bars to put that «hot» onto.
You can have up to four separate hotbars on console, which you access using a combination of standard button presses, L1/L2 plus other buttons, and a selection wheel for less urgent skills and items.
It works well, and combat retains its fluidity from the PC version, though I will admit it takes some time to adjust once you have a healthy number of skills to work with.
Selection wheel not pictured. Don’t put the wheel as L2+R2/LT+RT. It’s terrible.
The UI for TERA on console is more bulky than its PC brethren, but it is fully functional and easy to learn to navigate. This is one aspect I initially hated but grew to like pretty quickly, if only because almost everything is just a few button presses away. It looks harder to use than it is, let’s put it that way.
At the time of writing, the PS4 and Xbox One versions of TERA are a full year behind the PC version. This is notable because there are fewer classes to choose from to start, and Elite Status does not offer all the same benefits on console as it does on PC.
Currently, PC Elite Status grants 15 EMP (cash shop currency) per login day, 24 Complete Veteran’s Crystalbinds, and a flying mount.
These are absent in the console version but are likely to be added as it catches up to the current PC patch.
Even with the above in mind, TERA on PS4 and Xbox One is nearly identical to the PC version. That should relieve PC players considering migrating or newcomers considering jumping into the TERA pool for the first time with the console release.
One final thing to note about the transition is that the console release still has some heavy slowdown, no matter which console you’re using. PS4 Pro? You’re still going to get slowdown in Velika and in certain dungeons just like standard PS4 users. The game is optimized about the same as the PC version.
From old to new
There’s a certain depressive element to seeing a game you used to love implement sweeping changes you’re not too keen on. As with a number of other older Korean MMORPGs, TERA has taken the easy route in «modernizing» the leveling experience.
In this context, «modernizing» essentially equates to «gutting.
» The game has been retooled to push players through the leveling experience as quickly as possible, with minimal effort on the developers’ part. There’s this whole big world to play with, and it is all woefully neglected and empty.
This isn’t something that can be blamed on En Masse and, depending on your point of view, may not be something to blame anyone for. TERA never had the most immersive or entertaining leveling treadmill.
Every hardcore TERA player knows the best way to play is to stand in populated areas and spam their mount sound until everyone in the vicinity goes deaf.
The problem here is that new players are barely given a chance to learn to play their class before they ding the big six-five. Hitting max level takes only a few days of even semi-casual play, and by then players are not ready for the grueling endgame dungeons and grind. Endgame content is going to be true pain on console.
Those who played TERA when it was pay to play or in its early free to play days will find the game offering minimal challenge until they hit endgame.
Had I not played it back then, I doubt I’d be giving it a chance in its current state. Endgame dungeons and PvP are more fun and challenging than the leveling period lets on.
If you’re willing to put the effort forth and push through the less-than-stellar leveling experience, TERA still stands as a solid action combat game once you reach 65. Yes, it’s grindy. And yes, it will stomp your face in until you actually learn how to play. That’s not all that much different from the older iterations of the game, in which you grinded to level cap and got your face stomped in at every turn instead.
TERA is not perfect in any form, but it’s a game that has a place, and the console ports are spot-on. If you’ve been waiting until it launched on your console of choice, you don’t have much to lose in giving it a shot. Its combat is still ace, even if leveling isn’t great.
The first dungeon, Bastion of Lok, complete with trophy. Hurrah!
PC players considering migrating may want to rethink that decision, as the console release is behind in comparison — but if your primary goal in switching is to get away from the PC playerbase, it’s a good option.
You can use your keyboard to chat in-game, and it has voice chat functionality, but the less pleasant aspects of the PC community will inevitably be reduced here on console.
It’s taken a long time for TERA to finally make its way to console, and those who enjoy the PC version in its current state will find few qualms with the console version outside of the patch differences. Those looking for a more traditional MMORPG experience may want to look elsewhere.
I am granting this game a 6 overall. Though the console developers did a great job porting from PC, the fact remains TERA‘s current state is far from what many would typically call an MMORPG. Much like NCSoft’s Aion, it took the easiest route possible in updating for a broader audience, and it shows.
Endgame content is fun, but not everyone wants to spend the vast majority of their time in an MMO grinding enhancement materials to maybe get one extra +1 to their gear. There is something to be said for the journey of getting there that this game has regrettably forgotten.
But, hey, at least slamming other 65s into the dirt will be easier than ever for a while.
(Disclosure: Writer was granted a review copy from the publisher for review.)
90,000 TERA
-
Purchases at the request of
9000 DUALSHOCK 4
Violence — moderate, Profanity — low
User interaction, In-game purchases
-
Purchases in the game at the request of
-
Requires a game on the network
-
1 player
-
players on the Web: 99
-
Remote Reproduction
-
version PS4 9000 9000 9000
Additions
- ObjectTERA: Master set
UAH 1,499.
00 - ObjectTERA: Extended package
UAH 1,499.00
- Objector: Starting set
UAH 589.00
- Virtual currency vehicle COIN 1.000
UAH 299.00
- Virtual currency currency 10,000 (+1,000 bonus)
Uah 2 999.00
- ObjectTERA Coin 5.000 (+300 Bonus)
UAH 1 499.00
+100 BONUS)
UAH 589.00
«The Original Online Action-RPG, and home of «Action Combat» — «Action Combat» — — play TERA
- Platform:
- PS4
- Release:
- 2.
4.2018 - Publisher:
- KRAFTON, Inc.
- Genre:
- RPG, RPG
- Display languages:
- English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Japanese system software. While this game is supported on PS5, some features available on PS4 may not be available. For more information, see PlayStation.com/bc.
Download of this product is subject to the PlayStation Network Terms of Service and our Software Usage Terms plus any specific additional conditions applying to this product. If you do not agree to be bound by the terms, do not download the materials. See the Terms of Service for more information.
One-time license fee for the right to download on multiple PS4 systems.
Signing in to PlayStation Network is not required when using on your primary PS4 system, but is required when using on other PS4 systems. Before using the product, read the «Precautions» important for your health.
Library software ©Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc., exclusively licensed by Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe. Software Terms and Conditions apply. For the full text of the Terms of Use, please visit eu.playstation.com/legal.
Copyright 2020 Bluehole Studio, Inc. All rights reserved.
TERA Online is out now on PS4 and Xbox One
04/04/2018 11:31
The famous MMORPG TERA Onine is now available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One players. You can download it for free, but Russian users will be a little disappointed. The fact is that the port is not available in the Russian Federation (although residents of Ukraine can download it without problems). But even if you get around this limitation, you will find that the console version does not support Russian.
TERA Onine’s interface and controls have been completely redesigned for easy gamepad control, which can be customized if desired. Especially for PS4 and Xbox One introduced a new system that allows you to focus on the target during the battle. Finally, the streaming services Twitch and Mixer were integrated into the console version, and voice chat with party members was also added.
TERAMMORPG
TERA — Action MMORPG
Canceled 05/31/2020
MMORPG
PC, Playstation 4, Xbox One
MMO
Free
Game page
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