It’s only been two days since TERA official launched, but really, the game’s been live for almost two weeks (when the unofficial open beta head-start began). Since then, I’ve managed to level my Popori Archer all the way to level 27, allowing me to get a better feel for the game than I did during the closed beta phase.

To begin with, I went with the Popori race, which is sort of like an Ewok, but cuter. Not because I enjoy being a two foot tall cuddly bear, but because TERA‘s all about action combat. My idea was to pick the race that was the smallest, so my hit-boxes would be smaller, making me harder to hit.

Once I customized my character, I was off to the Island of Dawn, which is the starting area for all characters. This entire island is an intro to the game, and sadly, there wasn’t anything noteworthy that I saw. Once I reached the main city of Velika, the fun finally began.

I’m sure you’re already familiar with TERA‘s action combat system, but what you might not have heard about is its combo system. TERA features a nifty new combat system that allows you to instantly follow up an ability move with the next one in the chain. These chains are completely customizable so players can pair up any moves they want, although some abilities do give bonuses when they follow another ability, so that’s something to take into consideration.

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Glad you could join us for the third installment in a series of preview articles covering TERA Online. Today, we are going to take a look at the various races whose interactions drive the narrative of the game forward.

Baraka

TERA features an impressive cast of races within its lore. Each one has a well-developed and largely interesting background, with sparks of originality here and there. You have baraka, the peaceful descendants of giants who tower above all other species.  Despite their impressive presence, one should not assume that this race is a simple collection of fighters and brawlers, for baraka value balance in all aspects of life. As a result of this philosophy, a baraka will train himself diligently in the art of combat, as well as strive for the hidden depths of arcane knowledge.

Having long abandoned the cruel ways of the Republic of Giants, baraka were spared when the gods decided to annihilate their evil brethren at once. Since then, the baraka clan has assumed a nomadic way of life, its members traveling from city to city in an attempt to gather knowledge and chronicle the flow of life in all of Arborea.

Amani

After the death of the deity who created them, this race of fierce warriors was conquered by the Republic of Giants. As slaves they fought countless battles, conquering land and destroying anyone who disobeyed their masters. Having been born and bred in the atmosphere of constant struggle, bloodshed and death, the amani inherit savageness and aggression through the genes of their dead ancestors. Their cruel past still haunts them, for amani prefer to keep their distance from baraka, who remind them of endured hardships and oppression.

Eventually, the race was freed by the goddess Kaia who called upon the help of the castanics. After they were granted free will, the amani have transformed into a species that values honour, integrity and loyalty above all else. These days, they serve as the first line of defense of the Valkyon Federation. Their hardened bodies and the sheer power they exhibit on whim, allow this race of reptilian-like fighters to be the bones that hold the alliance together.

Few need to ask these warriors to prove their words, for they will be the first ones to sacrifice themselves for the right cause. They still long to be in the thick of a fight, slashing brutally and carving their way into the enemy. Only this time, it is for the right reasons. Continue Reading

This is the final piece of the puzzle, folks. The capstone on the pyramid of Lore Hound’s E3 coverage: TERA.

It’s one of those games that’s easy enough to shrug off when you only hear of it in passing, but once you take a look for yourself, you’ll see that there’s quite a bit to get excited about here.

I’ve always been an Action-MMORPG skeptic, worried that latency and the genre’s tendency towards loose hit detection, and chaotic encounters, would end up marring the experience. And so far, I feel like I’ve been proven right — not one game has lived up to the paradigm they have proclaimed to establish. But, hoo boy, these En Masse Entertainment guys? They might just know what they’re doing. Not only does its combat look compelling, but it features a totally unique world with an interesting art style that looks somewhere between Final Fantasy and World of Warcraft. It’s that convincing, and I’m aching for the chance to get some time with it, myself.

But, hey, iTZKooPA did, and since I trust him (sometimes), that’s good enough for me! Not only did he manage to grab some in-game footage for all the little Lore Hounds out there to gobble up, but he got to talk with one of the game’s Senior Producers, Brian Knox. A lot of MMORPGs come and go, few deliver on the hype, and are quickly forgotten. I’m telling you right now that TERA is something you actually want to have on your radar, and after watching our video, I’m sure you’ll agree.