What is it?
Tribes: Ascend is the upcoming latest instalment in the Tribes videogame series. It is a free-to-play multiplayer based FPS/TPS game for PC. It is being developed by Hi-Rez Studios and currently does not have a rating.
Although the game is currently only available for PC, the developers have not ruled out the possibility of a Xbox360/PS3 version.


What's the game's backstory?
At the moment, there is no official story behind the game. From what I've seen, it is about 2 of the Tribes - The Blood Eagles and Diamond Sword - who are currently warring. The Diamond Sword are formed of renegades of the Blood Eagles, and the Blood Eagles themselves are former Imperial Knights for something called the "Empire".



What's the gameplay like?
The best way I can describe it is like a class-based Unreal Tournament.
In fact, that's probably not a good enough explanation, so I'll go into detail:

SKIING:
A big part of Tribes: Ascend's gameplay is the "Skiing" mechanic. Basically, what skiing is, is a function built into the armor of the player which mostly eliminates all friction against the person's armor suit. What this means is that you can activate skiing at the top of a hill, gain momentum as you slide down, and then keep that momentum to propel yourself forward, allowing you to traverse the map at insane speeds. Momentum is lost if you crash into an object, or if you start to travel uphill. To supplement this, you are also provided with a jetpack with limited fuel, allowing you to fly over hills or obstacles, or simply to fly around to where you need to go.

CLASSES:
Another large part of Tribes:Ascend is the Class system. There are currently a total of 12 Classes: Ranger, Assault, Juggernaut, Technician, Pathfinder, Infiltrator, Jumper, Raider, Sentinel, Brute and Doombringer.
Each class is equipped with an armor class (Light, Medium or Heavy) and a set of weapons and/or gadgets. Each of the classes are more or less self-explanatory. For example, the Ranger (M) uses an assault rifle and grenade launcher, the Soldier uses a Spinfusor (think rocket launcher) and pistol, the Sentinel (L) uses a sniper rifle and claymores, the Juggernaut (H) uses a heavy Spinfusor and mortar rifle, and the Jumper (L) uses a shotgun and crossbow, and has a gadget enabling quick jumps.
Basically each of the classes are adapted to a certain job. The medium armor units are the most versatile, the light units mostly for capturing flags or hit-and-run tactics, and the heavy for laying down support and disabling armored units.
All classes are equip with 3 laser painters which cost differing amounts of credits (your points earned in the match): Tactical strike, which is like a mortar strike at the lazed point, Supply Drop which does what you'd think, and Orbital Strike which is basically a much larger version of Tactical Strike.

CLASSES CTD:
Outside of playing the class in-game, there's a few RPG elements involved in the class system. Each class gets to pick 2 perks (at the moment you can only have a pre-determined 2 for each class - the others are unavailable) and can level up certain aspects of themselves to make themselves more effective on the field. For example, most classes can upgrade the amount of ammo for each weapon they can hold, as well as their run speed and health. These levels are bought with XP which you gain from playing online and can be boosted with the purchase of a booster.

GAME MODES
There are currently three game modes available in the closed beta, and flags are present in each one with differing effects:
1) Team Deathmatch: Both teams start with 99 lives and a 30 minute time limit. The objective of this mode is either to reduce the enemy's life count to 0 or have more lives than the enemy when the timer hits 0. There is one flag available in this mode and the team who possesses it causes the enemy to lose double the lives when killed.
2) Capture the Flag: Exactly as you'd expect. Each team scores points for taking the enemy flag and returning it to their flag. Their flag must be present to score a point. The teams' bases play a larger part in this mode: The base where the flag resides is guarded by annoyingly accurate cannon-turrets and is packed full of ammo stations for the team's exclusive use. The base's defences can be deactivated by destroying the base's generator, usually found deep within the base. The generator can be repaired with the use of repair tools which can be traded for one of your usual weapons at convenient repair lockers found inside the base. Vehicle generators are also present in this mode, allowing the players to buy a vehicle with the points (credits) they've earned during the match. More on vehicles later.
3) Arena: Arena mode is 5v5 on very "tactical" maps. Tactical as in 90% of the time the map is on some form of platform with many walk ways. But there is no bottom to these maps and if there is, its instant killing lava. Each team gets 25 (or 30 cant remember) reinforcements once your reinforcements have run out each person gets there last life and first team to completely eliminate the other team wins. Not many people play lights due to not having much mass and leading to be shot off edges. Most common is probably soldier with spinfusor. Theyre also very small maps due to the low amount of people in the game. (credit for info: cocacobra)

VEHICLES:
There are currently 3 vehicles in the game:
1) Grav Cycle: A simple, fast moving hover-bike equip with a fast-firing cannon. Also has a boost function similar to the player's jetpack.
2) Shrike: The only flying vehicle in the game. Equipped with a 4 shot cannon similar to the turrets and a booster to move faster.
3) Beowulf: A 2 seater Tank. Shoots powerful rockets and has space for a second gunner to sit in too. Has no boost and is slow moving.


You said it was free-to-play, how free is it?
At the moment, there appears to be nothing that you cannot get for free. Each of the classes have to be purchased with one of two currencies: Gold or Tokens. Tokens are the "free" currency, which you earn simply by playing the game, whereas Gold is the "paid" currency you get for forking over real cash for virtual goods. Of course, it costs more Tokens than Gold to buy new things. Boosters are also available for purchase, which almost double the amount of XP and Tokens you receive from a match.
Currently you can "like" their facebook page in order to receive 250 free gold - which is just enough to buy any one class of your choice.

Sounds good! Where can I sign up?
The game has been officially released. Any stats you gained from the beta will get carried over to the official release.

You can download the game from here.




USEFUL LINKS:
Tribes: Ascend Facebook Page
Tribes: Ascend online store (for buying Gold)