The action-packed MMORPG TERA has been around for a few years, but since the release on Steam and the transition to Free2Play, it has remained in great health. I take another look and pay the game a little visit. What has changed in the last few years and whether it is still fair, you will find out in the following article.
I first heard about TERA when I was browsing the game shelf at the electronics store and stumbled upon the game’s packaging. However, at that time, I was quite an MMORPG skeptic and did not interest myself in this type of game, so I just read the back of the box.
TERA – Better late than never!
However, in early 2013, I heard about the Free2Play transition and thought: “Oh, why not? Let’s just check it out, it costs nothing.”
After the night turned into day and I only realized in the morning how long I had actually sat in front of the PC, the question kept circling in my mind: “Why didn’t I try this thing much earlier?”
Four years later, in 2017, I’m playing TERA again, and thanks to the release on Steam, I’m not alone. Even today, TERA has a large player base.
TERA – Active in the action
TERA is an action-packed MMO where an active combat control keeps players constantly on the move. Here you must target your enemy, perform combos of various skills, and actively dodge. The boring button-mashing is thus eliminated, and the game feels almost like an action-fighting game.
When you encounter the big bosses, you have to focus on the combat action every second. It is always challenging and it is always fun to kick enemies in the butt. What I also find good: TERA has a lot of different skills, and thus players are able to chain combos together.
As a Destroyer, I have many combinable offensive skills to take down the occasional Golem. As a Lancer, I am the tank and skillfully draw the aggro of enemy bosses onto me. Fighting feels good and dynamic, and it is fun to seek direct confrontation.
TERA – There’s something for everyone, but annoying gender lock
Players who complain in some MMOs about the lack of races or classes will be appeased in TERA. For here, compared to other MMORPGs, there is a massive selection.
Currently, you can choose between seven different races. Each has its own bonuses and thus prefers different playstyles.
Each of the selectable races has a so-called race skill. For example, humans have a few advantages in PVP, while the swift Castanics have a better chance of landing critical hits.
I chose the race of the Castanics because I find their outfits quite stylish, even if some gear might appear quite revealing for some.
Once you have chosen a race, you proceed to class selection. There are a whopping 13 different classes.
What annoys me here: Some classes are playable only for specific races or only for female heroes. This makes me wonder: Why? Does this really have to be?
This recurring gender lock is just annoying (by the way, it also annoys our boss Dawid, who wrote a comment about the surplus of female heroes).
TERA – From Tank to Damage Dealer
TERA offers a large selection of different playstyles.
If you want to protect your teammates with your metal armor, then the Lancer would be ideal, who makes a solid impression with a thick shield and the eponymous lance. If you prefer to deal damage from a distance and want to take out enemy minions from the background, the classic Mage or Archer will serve you well.
After you have chosen the right class, you proceed to the editor. Here you can customize your hero. There are several options for customization. Although TERA’s character creation cannot compete with Black Desert’s editor, it doesn’t have to.
There are enough options for personalization to make your appearance unique.
TERA – PvE or PvP?
In TERA, there are many possibilities to spend your time in the world. Before character creation, you should of course pay attention to what kind of servers you want to play on. If you want some peace while beating up enemies, you should join a PvE server. If you’re looking for direct confrontation with other players, the PvP server is the right one for you.
Once you climb the first levels, you have various options to prove yourself in combat. There are countless dungeons that put your skills to the test. However, the dungeons do not always follow the same pattern, but vary significantly in their mechanics.
Quests are standard fare, but there are always dynamic events that refresh things a bit. And BAMS. Big bosses that need to be taken down! Later, you can also participate in raids that provide challenging content for large groups of players. There is definitely no shortage of content.
TERA – 3,2,1 – Action!
If you prefer to measure yourself against other players, you can engage in the well-known duels in arenas.
In the mode “Battlegrounds, there are large battles between players. Here, a total of 16 people compete against each other to complete various mission objectives. And these are just some of the many options to progress in the game.
Aside from fighting, TERA offers many options to invest your time wisely. There’s an auction house for trading rare items. Crafting is also included, as well as a comprehensive daily and reputation system.
A Touch of Asia
As TERA has been around for several years, it is understandable that the MMO still runs on Unreal Engine 3.
However, the game still looks great and scores especially with detailed backgrounds. Since TERA was imported from Asia, it features Asian style with extremely revealing outfits and stylized hairstyles.
For today’s standards, the game still appears detailed. Armors and your characters stand out particularly well. Therefore, you can spend a few minutes simply admiring your hero against the beautiful backdrop of the game.
TERA – The Free2Play Model
TERA has been operating on a Free2Play model since 2013, allowing you to play the game entirely for free. There are a total of 3 different account types. Once you have downloaded the client and taken your first steps into the world, you will be a Starter and under some restrictions.
Players who have already purchased TERA will become Veterans and have fewer restrictions. As a member of the TERA Club, which you have to pay for monthly, you will enjoy the most benefits.
As a Starter, you only have two character slots, and you need to purchase or unlock more through membership. The positive aspect: You can enjoy the entire story for free, and there are no level restrictions. Only with small limitations—such as smaller bank slots or fewer daily tasks—do you have to be content with the status of a beginner.
Veterans have eight character slots and four bank slots, while Club members receive even more goodies such as more daily quests, an exclusive mount, and boosters.
If you are new to TERA, you can dive in for free and enjoy the game. If you want to get the most out of the MMO at later levels, you should consider joining the TERA Club.
Is the game worth it despite being a few years old?
TERA initially started as a subscription MMO and competed against genre giants such as World of Warcraft. Because of this and due to a complex legal dispute, content was initially missing, and TERA suffered from a weak start. After further declining player numbers, the decision was made to transition the game to a Free2Play model in early 2013.
And it worked. Since the transition, there are currently four well-filled servers, and in the capitals, you can see many players trading or engaging in various duels. The release on Steam in spring 2017 provided a massive boost.
Although you need to download a lot of data, you’ll have a huge selection of classes and races. The Free2Play system is fair and allows you to enjoy the entire story and leveling. I can tolerate small restrictions, such as limited character slots. So, if you have a good internet connection and can quickly download the game to your home PC, you should definitely check out TERA.
This text is from our guest author Dennis Zühlke.
Interested in TERA? Visit the official website of TERA and play for free.
