Read our review of MMO shooter Defiance – and then win yourself a copy of the game.

Trion has brought us the first third-person Massively Multiplayer Online console shooter of its time.

Just a touch over a week since the release of the ambitious Defiance, it has certainly made an impact already, both positive and negative.

Let’s be honest, it had its problems on release, with servers going down, not working at all for some players and continually being kicked from the game. This may have left some gamers thinking they will never come back, but if like me you have been patient and waited for the frosty server problem to thaw out then you will be pleasantly surprised with what a wonderful game this truly is.

Your Local Guardian: Defiance

Not only that, you will also find a goodwill message from Trion thanking you for putting up with the initial teething problems and also receive in-game goodies to use for your character. It’s always a good sign when developers appreciate their customers.

If you are familiar with MMOs you will know that it’s not out of the ordinary to expect a bit of a lag fest with a game of this scale and with the amount of online players all gaming at the same time and in the same world as you. Of course having characters appearing and disappearing before your eyes and occasional quests that are difficult to complete due to the action button being affected can render you frustrated and annoyed, but if you can overlook these in-game pitfalls you will not be disappointed.

Your Local Guardian: Defiance

Set on a post-apocalyptic Earth and in the city of San Francisco Bay, the world as we know it has been transformed into a barren war-torn wasteland, where humans and Votans (an alien species) have learned to live together. You take the role of an Ark hunter, working for Von Bach, the CEO of Von Bach industries, in search of powerful and pricey alien technology.

Creation of your Ark hunter is, dare I say, limited, lacking the array of options you may be used to in other games such as Mass Effect, but you can still create a protagonist that you will be happy to gaze upon for the hundreds of hours (literally) Defiance has to offer.

If you are already an avid fan of MMOs this will not be of any consequence, as online games such as World of Warcraft were also narrowed to the very basics, and this did not affect the gameplay or its success.

All the usual elements of choice are there - hair, face, tattoos, male, female and the choice of being an Irathient (a human/alien species), which was personally my favourite.

Your Local Guardian: Defiance

Ark hunter complete, you embark on the tutorial. This bit of vital info will help you learn everything you need to know about your EGO system, which is an implanted AI tool that allows you to choose a favourable ability via the upgradable progression tree. Your EGO device also acts as a mission update alerting you of your next steps or a large amount of enemies heading your way. Mini map, shooting, and interacting with objects are also covered so that you will be fully prepared to enter the main game with all needed knowledge.

It’s fair to say that if you are only considering giving Defianceone or two hours of game time you will more than likely feel disinterested in the story and hit the skip button through the endless cut screens, but if you are going to commit to at least five or six hours, be well prepared, and by this I mean plenty of snacks, drinks and a comfy chair as you will quickly be drawn into the hostile planet’s addictive nature.

Your Local Guardian: Defiance

So what really does this MMO really have on offer? Well, one of the many charms is the Ark Falls, containing valuable alien tech from ships that have crashed down onto the already ravished Earth’s surface. Players can choose to take part in these events by rushing towards the red beacons indicated on the main map, or mini map if you are already close. Once there you will face different enemies in waves depending on what type of Ark Fall you are attending, and yes that means there are a variety of diverse adventures awaiting.

You are all there for the same reason, to gain experience points to upgrade your EGO, collect the usable and sellable loot which is often coloured in accordance to its level. Or if like me you’ll competitively battle it out to create the most damage and claim top spot on the Ark damage info board which is displayed at the end of each battle. I found that playing in this manner often created a mass of online buddies to join me battling out in dynamic events or to simply quest alongside each other. You can even be invited into a player-created clans, which is a group of people that try to game at similar times and work together throughout.

Your Local Guardian: Defiance

Defiance has main missions and side quests for you to complete and again gain EXP with in-game money to use at vendors to buy weapons and upgrades. However, be warned and keep your credit cards firmly at bay, as there are also options available to purchase outfits, cars, weapons, double exp etc via real-life money. If you have become bewitched by the game’s magic, this could end up costing you an arm and a leg.

With so many quests to choose from it is often a challenge in itself to decide what to do first. Unlike most MMOs, you can only pick up one mission at a time, so you will often find yourself back in the same area you were in an hour or so ago, which is why the dynamic world events are certainly a welcome break. Another addition for players to revel in is that of the player versus player, more widely known as PVP universe, where you can compete in 8 versus 8 team death matches or the colossal 64 versus 64 capture and hold. Once again this is a delightful respite from the traditional missions.

Graphics are not the best I've seen in a game for 2013. Landscapes can appear a tad grainy and water is far from the fluid movements other games have brought us, yet defiance is so good it can be forgiven for the rough-around-the-edges look to it.

After five years in the development process, Trion has delivered a bold yet brave new world within the console MMO market.

Competitor Destiny (no release date as yet) is set to follow in its footsteps, but Defiance has set the bar high even with the occasional bugs, glitches and so on.

This ambitious game, although an unpolished gem, will soon show critics and fans alike just why it can shine. With a little time and patience, as with all things in life, it’s worth the perseverance and the wait to get your teeth firmly into the vast and enjoyable experience.

Verdict: 8 out of 10

Defiance is out now for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Xbox 360 version played for review.

HOW TO WIN

We have a copy of Defiance to give away, with the winner getting to choose what platform they get it on.

For your chance to win tweet @newsshopper and @beckybmodel stating why you want the game and what format you would like. We will then pick one entry after April 23, 2013 to be the winner. Entrants need to be in the UK and over 18 years old.