Tribes: Aerial Assault
| Company type | Video game |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Predecessor | Tribes 2 |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Inevitable Entertainment |
| Fate | Discontinued online support in 2008; reissued as freeware in 2015 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Tribes: Aerial Assault (video game) |
| Owner | Sierra Entertainment (original publisher), Hi-Rez Studios (freeware reissue) |
Tribes: Aerial Assault is a first-person shooter designed for online play, launched on the PlayStation 2 in 2002 by Sierra Entertainment. It stood out as one of the earliest PS2 titles primarily dedicated to online multiplayer and was the first shooter on the platform to support both modem and broadband internet connections. Revealed during Sony’s PlayStation 2 online initiative at E3 2001, the game aimed to capture the nascent market for console-based online gaming.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Tribes: Aerial Assault centers on high mobility within its first-person shooter framework, featuring a variety of game modes available in both single-player and multiplayer formats. These include capture the flag (CTF), capture and hold, hunter, team deathmatch, and deathmatch, with campaign missions typically blending these different modes.
Scoring systems vary by mode, with team and individual points awarded based on actions that contribute to team success. Individual points are earned through activities such as deploying equipment, repairing structures, eliminating opponents, protecting bases, and achieving mission objectives.
- Capture the Flag: Two teams strive to seize the enemy’s flag while the carrier maintains full combat capabilities. Matches conclude after eight captures or when time runs out; victory goes to the team with the highest score. Points are given for flag grabs and successful captures.
- Capture and Hold: Teams secure control points by activating switches, earning points continuously while holding them. The match winner is determined by which team accumulates the most points before time expires.
- Hunter: A free-for-all survival challenge where players eliminate others to collect their dropped flags and return them to a central nexus for scoring. Players possessing numerous flags become prime targets.
- Team Deathmatch: Teams compete to amass the greatest number of kills by match end.
- Deathmatch: An every-player-for-themselves mode where individual kill counts decide the winner.
The game’s Heads Up Display (HUD) provides extensive information including crosshairs, health status, energy levels, grenade count, armor temperature, lock-on alerts, vehicle condition, and target indicators—red arrows mark enemies while green arrows denote allies. A notable gameplay element is the jetpack, which consumes armor energy to enable short- to medium-range flight, significantly enhancing player movement.
Story
Set in the year 3945 A.C., five years subsequent to Tribes 2, the narrative unfolds in the frontier region known as "Wilderzone," inhabited by neo-barbarian tribes vying for control of new territories. Tribal warriors don powered armor and rely on skill and courage to achieve renown. Their adversaries are the BioDerm Hordes, a genetically engineered warrior race bred for combat supremacy. Players assume the role of J. Ransom, a novice soldier tasked with defending tribal lands from the BioDerm incursion through various missions.
Development
Published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Inevitable Entertainment, Tribes: Aerial Assault represents a streamlined adaptation of the PC title Tribes 2 tailored for PlayStation 2 hardware. Unlike Xbox, which featured built-in online capabilities, PS2 required an external network adapter for internet connectivity, which limited its user base. Furthermore, online services were launched later in Europe than in other regions, further reducing accessibility.
In November 2008, Sierra discontinued online support for 21 games including Tribes: Aerial Assault. Later in 2015, Hi-Rez Studios reissued the title as freeware.
Reception
On Metacritic, the title garnered moderate evaluations, indicating a range of opinions among critics.
External links
- (archived)
- Tribes Universe – Website offering the game download
- AADS Home Page (archived)