(This article is currently under construction!)
1 Overview
The ability to assume manual control of any unit at anywhere at anytime in the first-person mode in a full 3D environment is one of the main gameplay element and feature of Urban Assault. The player has a full control over the controlled vehicle, while having a full first-person view out of the unit's socket to survey the 3D world.
2 Background
In Urban Assault storyline, thanks to the heavily decimated global human population following the events of the Big Mistake as well as the accelerated developmental emphasis on advancing unmanned military and artificial intelligence technology, the wars have become entirely and thoroughly roboticised by the time the game's main storylines begin.
Since all military hardware and equipment that are subject to the direct command & control system network of the host stations are all equipped with fully artificially-intelligent combat AI modules, it is always possible for the human commanders of these host stations (who comprise the only human presence on the battle-zones in this new paradigm shift of future combat) to jump into any vehicles and manually control them in the first-person view.
The neural senses and the first-hand experience of the frontline combat that the pilots undergo when under VPS mode are so vivid and intense. that it has been described as "as if you were living simultaneous lives, and suffering simultaneous deaths" with the units in battle.
3 Mechanics
The VPS technology allows the player to perform tactics and manoeuvres that are otherwise not possible for the pre-set AI behaviours of the units. Not only that, but being in the first-person control mode of any vehicles provides substantial stat boost to the vehicle that is currently occupied by the player, regardless of their types.
These effects include but not limited to:
- x2.5 improved shielding (or 2/5 incoming damage).
- Improved weapon damage output (depends on the script values).
- Increased turning rate.
- Ability to overriding any pre-set/programmed AI behaviours of the unit such as AI flight altitudes or AI attack patterns.
(Note: The numerical effects are not directly displayed nor reflected in HUD under the first-person control mode.)
Such substantial advantages encourage players to take control of a vehicle whenever possible and fight alongside the friendly drones in a combat to gain tactical supremacy over their enemies. Thanks to the VPS technology, the player can turn the odds and tides of the battle through skilful operation and manoeuvre of an individual vehicle, and even potentially overcoming the general rock-scissor-paper counter system of the units at a time.