SarGara
11th October 2004, 13:04
Now before i post about how good i found this expansion id just like to add that im no doubt still in my "omg everything is so new and exciting" phaise of this game so opinions may change later on.
I picked up this expansion on Friday and i litterally found it hard to stop playing all weekend. Infact id still be playing now if it wasnt for work.
Where to start? Hmm.. well the first thing that strikes me is for an expansion pack its TWO cds big, thats a hell of alot of content for your £24.99 right there folks!
(all of the below are based on online play)
GamePlay:
The game has been altered TOTALLY. Gone are the days of picking where to camp because of the vast amount of routes/vechicles the new maps contain and trying to predict where the enemy will attack from is pointless. Talking of maps the new levels containing tanks are generally about twice as large as the original multiplayer stages bar a few exceptions so plenty of shelter for people to hide in! To cope with these new larger maps the developers have already anticipated the obvious logistics implications and so have added a "sprint" ability to cope with this new long distance running players might have to put up with. Simply wait until your stamina is full then sprint in a straight line of the direction of your choice and when your stamina has run out just run for abit and let it recharge.
Add into this the new ranking system for online play and again makes it nearly impossible to predict whats going to come at you around a corner.
Weapons:
From what i can tell nearly all weapons have had some sort of tweak done to them be it slower firing, new sounds or being completely new. The Flamethrower screenshots you have no doubt been seeing are indeed in multiplayer however you cannot choose these are your spawning weapon of choice.
CoD players amoung us will be happy to know the Russians now have a better weapon selection rather than everyone running around with PPS MGs like in CoD. Now all forces have one or two new spawning weapons. Everyone gets a new tripod deployable heavy MG. I say deployable because in order to fire this you need to either prone and deploy it or be stood infront of a window or low wall and deploy on a ledge in a stood up position. There are also two new rifles for Nazi and Russian forces which are semi-automatic and fire 10 bullets per clip much like the American carbine.
Vehicles:
Muhahah probably one of the most major changes to the multiplayer side of the game. Dont worry though if vehicles arent your thing there are still some new maps without them.
Tanks: All forces have standard tanks with rotating turrets. They have thier primary fire turret mounted cannon, the ability to aim down the barrel as well as your melee button now controling the tanks turret mounted MG.
Heavy Tanks: These are the anti tank specialists. They are much like the above except without turrets so you must turn the chassis to aim your barrel left and right.
Jeeps: Think to yourself Halo and you pretty much sum these up.
Ranking:
This is one of the finishing touches to this expansion pack. While its not a necesity to the title it is a welcome addition to spice things up. Im not quite sure how this is worked out because it seems almost random when i gain ranks but there must be some sort of preset conditions ive not yet discovered.
Theres a total of five ranks ingame each with thier own benefits ranging from: increased grenades at spawn, smoke grenades, satchel charges (bomb in a bag) and the impressive artillery strike with the use of your trusty binoculars.
Anyway overall i cant rate this game highly enough, it takes an old favorite of mine and breathes some much needed life into it. Hope my review helps some CoD fans convert to this ^_^
I picked up this expansion on Friday and i litterally found it hard to stop playing all weekend. Infact id still be playing now if it wasnt for work.
Where to start? Hmm.. well the first thing that strikes me is for an expansion pack its TWO cds big, thats a hell of alot of content for your £24.99 right there folks!
(all of the below are based on online play)
GamePlay:
The game has been altered TOTALLY. Gone are the days of picking where to camp because of the vast amount of routes/vechicles the new maps contain and trying to predict where the enemy will attack from is pointless. Talking of maps the new levels containing tanks are generally about twice as large as the original multiplayer stages bar a few exceptions so plenty of shelter for people to hide in! To cope with these new larger maps the developers have already anticipated the obvious logistics implications and so have added a "sprint" ability to cope with this new long distance running players might have to put up with. Simply wait until your stamina is full then sprint in a straight line of the direction of your choice and when your stamina has run out just run for abit and let it recharge.
Add into this the new ranking system for online play and again makes it nearly impossible to predict whats going to come at you around a corner.
Weapons:
From what i can tell nearly all weapons have had some sort of tweak done to them be it slower firing, new sounds or being completely new. The Flamethrower screenshots you have no doubt been seeing are indeed in multiplayer however you cannot choose these are your spawning weapon of choice.
CoD players amoung us will be happy to know the Russians now have a better weapon selection rather than everyone running around with PPS MGs like in CoD. Now all forces have one or two new spawning weapons. Everyone gets a new tripod deployable heavy MG. I say deployable because in order to fire this you need to either prone and deploy it or be stood infront of a window or low wall and deploy on a ledge in a stood up position. There are also two new rifles for Nazi and Russian forces which are semi-automatic and fire 10 bullets per clip much like the American carbine.
Vehicles:
Muhahah probably one of the most major changes to the multiplayer side of the game. Dont worry though if vehicles arent your thing there are still some new maps without them.
Tanks: All forces have standard tanks with rotating turrets. They have thier primary fire turret mounted cannon, the ability to aim down the barrel as well as your melee button now controling the tanks turret mounted MG.
Heavy Tanks: These are the anti tank specialists. They are much like the above except without turrets so you must turn the chassis to aim your barrel left and right.
Jeeps: Think to yourself Halo and you pretty much sum these up.
Ranking:
This is one of the finishing touches to this expansion pack. While its not a necesity to the title it is a welcome addition to spice things up. Im not quite sure how this is worked out because it seems almost random when i gain ranks but there must be some sort of preset conditions ive not yet discovered.
Theres a total of five ranks ingame each with thier own benefits ranging from: increased grenades at spawn, smoke grenades, satchel charges (bomb in a bag) and the impressive artillery strike with the use of your trusty binoculars.
Anyway overall i cant rate this game highly enough, it takes an old favorite of mine and breathes some much needed life into it. Hope my review helps some CoD fans convert to this ^_^