Pyro Love : TF2 Update!
Pyros are getting some love in the form of the latest update released by Valve for the arguably most balanced game since Starcraft. Adopting an episodic form of releasing content, Valve is in the process of retooling each class with additional achievements and weapons, at the rate of one class every two months or so.
Free content updates for an already balanced FPS that I can pick up casually and hop on to backstab some roommates or snipe some n00bz?
Hell yes.
Slowly becoming the norm in the MMO industry with their large updates every few months, let’s hope developers of the FPS and other genres adopt this method of releasing content, instead of bundling it up all in one go.
Following the new medic weapons and achievements update, the Pyro is the second class in line to get tweaked. In addition to the three new Pyro weapons, their main weapon has also gotten an update.
By hitting the alt-fire key, the Pyro is able to produce a blast of compressed air that knocks enemies away, and redirects enemy projectiles.
And the new weapons, unlockable via achievements:
The first Pyro unlockable is The Flare Gun, which replaces the shotgun. It allows the Pyro to ignite an enemy at long range, but does require careful aim on their part. It’s particularly useful for causing havoc on Snipers and Engineers who want to keep their distance.
The second Pyro unlockable is The Backburner. This flamethrower is built for the Pyro who likes to ambush their opponents. It removes the compression blast capability, instead guaranteeing critical hits whenever it’s used on an opponent from behind. To aid in survivability, it grants the Pyro an extra fifty health.
The third Pyro unlockable is The Axtinguisher. This mighty axe guarantees critical hits on any enemy that’s currently on fire, although it’s significantly weaker against enemies who aren’t. A great combination with the The Flare Gun, or with another Pyro buddy riding alongside doing the igniting.
The compressed air add-on could bring some more balance against long-range enemies, and the new weapons open up several new possibilities in playstyles, but I guess we’ll see in time what works and what’s unbalanced, but it seems to be some new fun ways to do this whole Pyro thing.
And of course, the achievements. While some are the standard achievements gained through normal gameplay (Hot on Your Heels: Kill 50 enemies with your flamethrower, from behind), some are going to be harder to get (Plan B: Kill 10 enemies while you’re both underwater). And personally, I can’t wait to get this one:
Dance Dance Immolation: Kill 3 enemies while they’re taunting.
To pull a random quote from a Kotaku comment:
WOW
I WILL BE PLAYING THE SHIT OUT OF THIS CLASS
Indeed, TheNocturnalSun. Indeed.
For any of you n00bz out there who haven’t picked up this refined shooter yet, Valve is having a free TF2 weekend this Friday-Sunday. Hit me up on Steam.
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OK, I dunno how you can call this such a well-balanced game when it lacks dynamics like “Infantry General versus Toxin General” or “Superweapon/EMP versus Tank.” Now that’s balance, my friend.
This is definitely a really badass upgrade. I want an AR-15 for my Soldier already, though.
Those downright slaughterfests in Generals were the best. Zero Hour’s Generals were lots of fun, but there were so many 1v1 matchups that had absolutely no counter. Your strength just so happens to be your enemies weakness, GG.