Jack in, Kick Ass: Dystopia 1.2 Coming Soon

It’s somewhat of a rarity to witness an ambitious mod concept to be relentlessly toiled upon. Often, mod developers are forced to rely heavily on support from their fans, in addition to countless hours (off the clock, mind you) of coding, animating, and mapping on their part, in order to see a mod through to even its most elementary stages. Indeed, mods are somewhat a labor of love; though, they consistently remain the underdogs that everyone loves to cheer for — especially when they are shown to produce something truly amazing. Though, with Dystopia, the ever-popular cyberpunk mod for Half-Life 2, ‘amazing’ seems too weak a definition.

Recently unveiled as a three part release on January 31st, Dystopia’s newest version (1.2) is expected to be soon made available on Steam via Valves’ Steamworks; and, as always, will be free for all those who own of a copy of Half-Life 2 or its developer counterpart, Source SDK. As of now, a specific release date is unknown; however, the first two updates in the process, including screenshots and general hype, have been within three days of one another.

Supporters of Dystopia have been exclusively playtesting this newest version in its infancy for several months, so public involvement and reaction promises to be an exciting moment for fans and developers alike.

A Punk Heavy 0wning it up.

For those unfamiliar with Dystopia, its gameplay is comprised of fast-paced FPS combat set in a rich cyberpunk-themed universe; one that undoubtedly draws influences from such classics as Neuromancer or Blade Runner. Assuming the role of the Corps — henchmen to massive, corrupt corporations — or the radical mercenary Punks, players vie over physical and virtual battlefields in the dark future. “Deckers,” or computer hackers, fly through cyberspace and relay guidance and information to their teammates engaged in a bloody struggle in the physical realm (’meatspace’). Cybernetic implants and ultra-futuristic weapons, not to mention awe-inspiring character models, undoubtedly paint a visceral image of this mod’s unique style. The atmosphere, too, in Dystopia contains a mezmerizing duality between dark, neon-illuminated city environments and radiant interiors of cyberspace.

Cyberspace in all its glory.

Changes in 1.2 include the reworking of implants and weapons, three new maps (in addition to revamping older ones), and a vastly improved stats system. Less obvious fixes claim, among others, the removal of 180+ bugs and an improved in-game interface for players. It’s hard to believe that Dystopia’s aesthetics — though graphics aren’t everything, of course — prove even more impressive this time around. As for gameplay, adding to its already near-seamless experience can only prove to be beneficial.

Ultimately, long-time players of Dystopia should find 1.2 to be a fine next step for the mod, while newcomers will most likely feel an immediate admiration and love for Dystopia’s original, if not unrivalved, approach to gaming.

EDITOR’S UPDATE: Dystopia 1.2 is now available!