System: PC, PS3, Xbox 360*
Dev: Developer
Pub: Publisher
Release: Releasedate
Players: 1
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	ESRB

Defiance also contains PvP, which is separated into two different modes. The first is just your standard Team Deathmatch (8v8 here), which is all well and good, but the real meat of PvP here is Shadow Wars. These 25-on-25 battle zones have you capturing and holding checkpoints in what is essentially Call of Duty’s Domination mode. But here you can use vehicles, a fact that becomes essential when traversing the fairly large distance between capture points. It also allows you to run over your opponents, which is absolutely glorious. And then, of course, are the environmental hazards, which throw your standard PvE enemies into clusters around some of the capture points. These matches tend to devolve into only the best sort of chaos, and being involved in that flat-out anarchy is an absolute blast.

Of course, one of the game’s selling points is that it’s tied into a Syfy series of the same name. Now, I can’t really comment a whole lot on the links between the game and the TV series, since the show hasn’t even started yet. However, I have seen enough of the show’s promotional material to know that both Joshua Nolan and Irisa, two characters you’ll run into time and time again throughout the game, are prominently featured in the television series.

Additionally, there are “Episode Missions,” which are connected with the television series somehow. I’m led to understand that when a new episode is aired, new Episode Missions become available, and that the content is somehow linked. But, as I mentioned already, the show hasn’t begun and I haven’t been able to experience the link firsthand.

To be perfectly honest, I’m not completely sold on the transmedia concept. Defiance stands on its own as an MMO; adding a television series into the mix ruins the risk of tainting the game in the eyes of a lot of people. And what if the show is completely terrible and gets cancelled almost immediately? Does the MMO trudge on without it, or does the captain go down with the ship, so to speak?

As an MMO, though, Defiance does alright for itself. It gives players a massive world to explore and do quests in, as well as co-op missions and Deathmatch/Domination PvP modes. It’s jam-packed with content, and it gets more interesting once you’ve invested several hours into it.

I just wish those servers would be more reliable.

By Josh Wirtanen Editor / Social Media Date: April 9, 2013