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Team Fortress 2: Teamwork Go!
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One Game Feature by Daniel Dujnic, 2/19/08
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I haven't historically played games that require any sort of teamwork. I have played a few multiplayer FPSs, but my experience is limited to some Turok: Rage Wars, a bit of Perfect Dark, and shit-ton of Goldeneye, none of which emphasize a team element.
Team Fortress 2 is really what I would consider my first true online multiplayer FPS - in theory, the very thing that I've been waiting for ever since the Goldeneye era sputtered to a close. TF2 introduced me to this new world with simple level design and complex class interaction, both of which nurture good team play. I actually can feel my teamwork skills getting better, honing them slowly with a whetstone of pure enjoyment.
To be a good TF2 player, you have to be conversant in all nine classes, because the needs of your team will be different at any given time. So even though Heavy is your favorite, certain situations might require that you switch up to a Medic or Demoman, for example. If you want to be a credit to your team (that is to say: 'Win') you'd best get some skills in every class, and be willing to be flexible. Notably, this isn't a chore, since all classes is interesting and useful. Sure, you'll have your favorites, but I actually found that my preference for classes became affected by the situation at hand. You don't want to play has the Heavy if they have Snipers waiting for you.
Oh, and headsets naturally add an element of teamwork, one that is completely new to me. If you want to win, you have to learn to speak and listen effectively to people you can't see. This all may seem obvious to people who've been playing team-based FPSs already, but to me it's all so novel, I'm like a 14-year old who just got a 360. I have zero skills, only a residual Goldeneye twitch reflex and a strange desire to shit-talk. So while technically TF2 may not be groudbreaking (it is a sequel), its design makes something as vague as 'teamwork' accessible, which has made my long-delayed jump into the community really friggin' simple.
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'Teamwork Go!'
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#&rendershop#
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