Overview
Antfarm: Spheres is a playable technology demo built on top of the Antfarm: Source patch. AF:S is designed to not only show off the versatility of the engine, but also to be an enjoyable team-based multiplayer experience. Using only the gravity gun, hurl Combine energy spheres or push opponents away (or into deadly obstacles) and create a path to victory!
Features:
Invasion Style GameplayIn this style of game play the Combine and the Rebels compete to control a galactic warpway that can only be reached in the second dimension. In invasion style games each team competes to capture and defend a command point that controls the teleporters. This team will then be able to send members of their team into their team's designated teleporter area and will gain one point for every teammate that successfully enters the teleporter and invades the enemy's homeworld. Players will have to work together to strike a balance between defending their homeworld and invading their enemy's.
Friendly FireFriendly energy balls will not dissolve you. Otherwise the game would only end in tears. But be wary, friendly energy balls will not pass through you and will physically push you. This technique can be used by advanced players to cooperatively launch each other to reach objectives. Caution must be taken, however, because physics damage will still be incurred if a friendly ball slams a player into a solid surface.
WeaponryThe only available weapon for players is the Gravity Gun. It can be used to punt and grab energy balls. Enemy players can also be punted in order to knock them into traps or away from their objectives, but the punt itself will not kill thm.
ControlsPlayers will be able to bind keys to look up and down, and move left and right. Pressing up or down while holding left or right will cause the character to aim at a 45 degree angles. Other commands are jump, punt, and grab. Joypad usage is recommended, but not necessary.
Combine Energy BallsEnergy ball spawners are placed at strategic points throughout the map. In their natural floating state, the energy balls cause instant death to members of both teams if touched. Once grabbed or punted by a player, that ball is assigned to his team and will only vaporize members of the opposite team, passing through the player that punted it, and pushing members of his team if it strikes them. The ball's ownership will pass to the other team if any enemy team member punts or grabs the ball. After traveling for several seconds, the ball will explode and a new one will replace it in the spawner.
TeamsAF:S supports two teams of up to 8 members (16 players in total). The teams are Half-Life 2's standard Rebels and Combine Soldiers. To change teams he must simply change your player model in the options screen to that of a character of the opposite team.
BoostingBoosting is AF:Sphere's version of conc jumping. Effective boosting requires teamwork, timing and precision. To perform a boost maneuver, the player acting as the booster will launch an energy ball directly into the boosted player. The player that is being boosted will be propelled by the ball several times faster than he could possibly travel by running, and if struck from beneath will accelerate upwards much higher and faster than he could jump on his own. The boosted character is exposed to the risk of being crushed to death between the speeding ball and stationary objects, and must be very careful.