Two or three weeks ago I went out and got the “Big Game” of the summer. That’s right Battlefield 2 and I feel that I need to sound off about this game.



It does not do much for me, thatÂ’s right I said it. Another game I was looking forward to more or less fell by the waste side. Here is why I donÂ’t dig it much. First thing I do not know a thing about weapons. This is like a driving gas not knowing what a gas pedal is. So I just run around for a few hundred miles before I get wasted and get spawned somewhere only to start all over again.



Second: I really looked forward to a team effort gig. Instead it seems like running after a group of roaches on crack. The ones that do gather up folks give others rides; work with a team thatÂ’s when the fun starts. How are you going to back each other up? Who is going to be in charge of being a medical personal, sniper ectÂ…..



Third: Man is it long I mean it takes sometimes two hours to win a map. I can barely make it through a two hour movie. In addition itÂ’s pretty hard smoking a cigarette or flipping the ashes when dodging bullets.



So I got to thinking of the games that were just ok that were suppose to be the “BIG THING”. Yep you know the ones Doom 3, Oh the graphics the rendering, and the shading. I never saw too much of those, there is not too much shading when in the dark. Half Life 2, Yep I did enjoy that game after the seasickness went away. In addition I see more team work in Counter Strike then BF2. Wonder why that is?



Now I went looking at some of the games I have and got to thinking about the “Underdogs”.

I have to saw its not the most action packed game but it scared the bejesus out of me and that was “Missing: Since January” I remember playing that one night then Iat. decided to IM me. I never jumped so high except when a friend’s girlfriend screamed at the end of “The Blair witch project” and I was half asleep. Exit DOOM 3; give me that game any day.



Need for Speed Underground 1 and 2. I started playing “Flat out” today and for a game that is overshadowed by BF2 this summer it is a winner. After playing both NFSU I decided to break out an old Need for Speed game. I swear the tracks are the same in all those NFS games. Same game just with different backdrop and cars. I will give credit where it’s due though the second was fun driving around looking for paint shops and stuff though. But in Flat out if you don’t like the driver you get pleasure of pushing them into a tree and seeing a rag doll get throw out the car.



There is more sleeper games out there that I feel are better that the large companies. Painkiller, XII, and even Max Payne seems to get thrown to the waste side because of Grand Theft Auto. Give the “Underdogs” a chance sometimes you might be surprised.



Now if you will excuse me I have to decide if I want to try Battlefield 2 another shot today.

(in a witchy sounding voice...)

Come to me, my pretty darling...see this pretty, shining "City of Heroes"?

Why not give it a try....you'll simply die for it, my dear....

Sweeet little write up...........
Go Kick some Fraggin' ass on BF2

Quote: Originally Posted by flounder405 There is more sleeper games out there that I feel are better that the large companies. Painkiller, XII, and even Max Payne seems to get thrown to the waste side because of Grand Theft Auto. Give the “Underdogs” a chance sometimes you might be surprised.

Excellent write up flounder! I could not agree more!

Painkiller & BooH are two of the best games I have ever played. The graphics put Doom3 and HL2 to shame IMHO. And XIII was a kick butt SP game, one of the best I have ever played.

Usually the sleepers are the best gaming investment. The next games I am looking at are COD2, Q4 and next year ET: Quake Wars. None of the others really interest me. Especially at $50.00 a pop now.

You seem to play a lot for a guy that doesnÂ’t like the game. Each to out own game I say...I played CS and Source for 6 years...no thatÂ’s not a dam typo. Now I am in love with BF2 and I shall tell you why since you told me why you did not like it...

First and foremost, there are no monthly payments for anything. Which is not so with the MMO games that can cost as much as 15 bucks a month just to play. Yes, I do give 10 a month for the server, but thatÂ’s completely different in all reality. I don't have to in the end to still play online and have a great time.
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Second the graphics are superb. They are crystal and if you got the hardware to run it there is nothing else out there. Water effects across the entire ocean, the shadows the choppers, the details in the models is NUTS. They actually look Chinese, black, American, middle eastern...and I am talking about the face, not what they wear.
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Third is the game play. ItÂ’s really fast pasted once you get going and figure out what is going on. There is no death time like in CS, and the most you will have to wait to go at it again is a mere 15 seconds.
Some have said the maps are too large to walk...well that is true but every map has a plethora of vehicles it blows my mind. Most maps have four APC's, 2 attack choppers, 1 Blackhawk, about 5-10 buggies, 2 linebackers, some maps have up to 15 boats, most have at least 4 tanks, a lot of at least 4 new age planes like F-20's and what not. ItÂ’s just nuts.

And the vehicles are a lot of fun. They take practice, which I love! That basically means if you donÂ’t know what you are doing you will be shot down by the guy that does. Of course, this promotes intense game play and some crazy fun chopper/plane dog fights.

And letÂ’s say you are not into vehicles. There are 3 maps that have very few and itÂ’s just like a massive game of CS S. Mashturr City, Strike at Kirkland, and Sharqi Peninsula. Both maps have vehicles, but being a medic instead of anti-tank will be more effective. Our server runs these along with a lot of other maps (total of 12) that can give you a complete diversity playing.
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And to counter your one comment about the map times...For one I agree that if a server is under 20 player the game will take a very long time. But instead of looking at that as a neg. you should consider trying to rack up the points instead. I know when one map took nearly two hours I scored more than triple than I normally got. But for the most part, if the server is full a full map can take on average about 30-to an hour. Really, a good CS S server is set up for 12 rounds, which takes about 30 minutes if both teams are full and are not full of really good players. (And some love the long maps b/c their slow HD's can't load it as fast as us with RAPTORs....LOL, I said it :ha-ha

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Now onto the squad play. Ok, this is where I both love and hate this game as so many players just don't give a ratÂ’s ass about team work. Of course there is an exception to every rule as I have discovered as playing with friends has fulfilled this game so much more for me. As you know, there are a lot of BF2 players on PR and we all play together on the same server. I am usually a squad leader and kind of lead them. ItÂ’s a lot of fun and a lot of peeps owe a good chunk of their points too my Blackhawk runs.

So in the end, if a team works together it is really fun and usually a guaranteed win. If they don't work together, its still fun just not as much. This game promotes squad based game play at least. Something that I actually hated from CS. No one ever worked together, and if they did your team would kick ass...but there were always those guys that just did there own thing and take the bomb with them. (Very bad memories: roll eyes
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All in all this game has some very strong points and some low ones. ItÂ’s full of glitches and errors, but that is to be expected with a game as complex as this one. The new 1.03 patch due out at the end of this month is going to fix a lot of things and really improve the game play even more. (Or so we have been told)

I would tell any player that is starting to follow the KISS rule...Keep it Simple Stupid. Try one gun a map, one kit, one new vehicle until you get the hang of it. Then join a squad, and jump in some servers. Then, get in some ranked ones.

I know when I started I was happy to get around 30-50 a round. Now, I get around 100-300 a round. I have pretty good skills and that shows in this game. Like I said, the best players with the most practice really will show up on top.

Now, I am planning on writing another Sat. DD for Iron and I think I am going to write not about how BF2 is good, but how to get good at playing BF2. Anyhow...till then I guess.
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P.S Its interesting how you say NFSU and NFSU2 were under the table games. I have played both, loved them to death, but as the sales show the game was very popular...not like an under the table game IMO. Painkiller was pretty big, but was over looked. But, IMO, for a pretty good reason. The game had some great game play and a hell of a fun factor, but after you were done killing people (zombies) after people (whatever you call those things...) it just got old, and very fast. (and thats why I think it ultimatly failed)

As for NFSU, its still popular. At least the second one is still. You can still get in a online game. And with NFSU 3 coming out soon, it will again be just as popular.

Quote: Originally Posted by SpikeShot You seem to play a lot for a guy that doesnÂ’t like the game. Each to out own game I say...I played CS and Source for 6 years...no thatÂ’s not a dam typo. Now I am in love with BF2 and I shall tell you why since you told me why you did not like it... First and foremost, there are no monthly payments for anything. Which is not so with the MMO games that can cost as much as 15 bucks a month just to play. Yes, I do give 10 a month for the server, but thatÂ’s completely different in all reality. I don't have to in the end to still play online and have a great time. -------------------- Second the graphics are superb. They are crystal and if you got the hardware to run it there is nothing else out there. Water effects across the entire ocean, the shadows the choppers, the details in the models is NUTS. They actually look Chinese, black, American, middle eastern...and I am talking about the face, not what they wear. -------------------- Third is the game play. ItÂ’s really fast pasted once you get going and figure out what is going on. There is no death time like in CS, and the most you will have to wait to go at it again is a mere 15 seconds. Some have said the maps are too large to walk...well that is true but every map has a plethora of vehicles it blows my mind. Most maps have four APC's, 2 attack choppers, 1 Blackhawk, about 5-10 buggies, 2 linebackers, some maps have up to 15 boats, most have at least 4 tanks, a lot of at least 4 new age planes like F-20's and what not. ItÂ’s just nuts. And the vehicles are a lot of fun. They take practice, which I love! That basically means if you donÂ’t know what you are doing you will be shot down by the guy that does. Of course, this promotes intense game play and some crazy fun chopper/plane dog fights. And letÂ’s say you are not into vehicles. There are 3 maps that have very few and itÂ’s just like a massive game of CS S. Mashturr City, Strike at Kirkland, and Sharqi Peninsula. Both maps have vehicles, but being a medic instead of anti-tank will be more effective. Our server runs these along with a lot of other maps (total of 12) that can give you a complete diversity playing. ---------------------- And to counter your one comment about the map times...For one I agree that if a server is under 20 player the game will take a very long time. But instead of looking at that as a neg. you should consider trying to rack up the points instead. I know when one map took nearly two hours I scored more than triple than I normally got. But for the most part, if the server is full a full map can take on average about 30-to an hour. Really, a good CS S server is set up for 12 rounds, which takes about 30 minutes if both teams are full and are not full of really good players. (And some love the long maps b/c their slow HD's can't load it as fast as us with RAPTORs....LOL, I said it :ha-ha -------------- Now onto the squad play. Ok, this is where I both love and hate this game as so many players just don't give a ratÂ’s ass about team work. Of course there is an exception to every rule as I have discovered and playing with friends has fulfilled this game so much more for me. As you know, there are a lot of BF2 players on PR and we all play together on the same server. I am usually a squad leader and kind of lead them. ItÂ’s a lot of fun and a lot of peeps owe a good chunk of their points from my Blackhawk runs. So in the end, if a team works together it is really fun and usually a guaranteed win. If they don't work together, its still fun just not as much. This game promotes squad based game play at least. Something that I actually hated from CS. No one ever worked together, and if they did your team would kick ass...but there were always those guys that just did there own thing and take the bomb with them. (Very bad memories: roll eyes ---------- All in all this game has some very strong points and some low ones. ItÂ’s full of glitches and errors, but that is to be expected with a game as complex as this one. The new 1.03 patch due out at the end of this month is going to fix a lot of things and really improve the game play even more. (Or so we have been told) I would tell any player that is starting to follow the KISS rule...Keep it Simple Stupid. Try one gun a map, one kit, one new vehicle until you get the hang of it. Then join a squad, and jump in some servers. Then, get in some ranked ones. I know when I started I was happy to get around 30-50 a round. Now, I get around 100-300 a round. I have pretty good skills and that shows in this game. Like I said, the best players with the most practice really will show up on top. Now, I am planning on writing another Sat. DD for Iron and I think I am going to write not about how BF2 is good, but how to get good at playing BF2. Anyhow...till then I guess. ----------------------- P.S Its interesting how you say NFSU and NFSU2 were under the table games. I have played both, loved them to death, but as the sales show the game was very popular...not like an under the table game IMO. Painkiller was pretty big, but was over looked. But, IMO, for a pretty good reason. The game had some great game play and a hell of a fun factor, but after you were done killing people (zombies) after people (whatever you call those things...) it just got old, and very fast. (and thats why I think it ultimatly failed) As for NFSU, its still popular. At least the second one is still. You can still get in a online game. And with NFSU 3 coming out soon, it will again be just as popular.

Did your raptors make you post that? Flounder if you get in a squad and chopper with us you will be fine. Just give it some time to adjust to the game and stuff and youll get it.

Quote: Originally Posted by SpikeShot love with BF2 .

Is there some way we can get you a New title!!!! (Please Admin)
Masta-Copter-Hoe
Airship-Masta-Hoe

Sweeeet writing Spike!!!! Can't wait for the Saturday's Edition

I kinda agree with both Flounder and SpikeShot, I downloaded the demo and agree that the graphics are nice, but it just isn't fast paced enough for my tastes like Enemy Territory is (and before ET, I rarely ever played FPS games except BF1942). Now I have played about 7-8 of them and I still come back to ET.
The graphics aren't the best (it is an older game after all) and you don't have as many vehicle options, but it is fun as hell and best of all... it's free.

Okay......I'm going to give you my PROs and CONs on BF2.......

PROs: Excellent graphics.
Very realistic as far as military ops go.
Lot's of options regarding characters and their weapons.
Stats keeping is great.

CONs: The server scroll works like crap.
Alot of video card issues (mainly Nvidia).
EA rules...........they suk big time............you can't mod (or what they call HACK) the game.
Since you can't mod the game, this game is extremely prone to "SPAWN KILLING"


The EA rules are a major bite and really restrict what you can do with this game........EA needs to start listening to gamers.......Gamers like to mod and they need to look at what gamers do, example : UT and Quake games that you can totally mod.

I have the trial version still on my rig..........as far as me buying it?........nope...........I'm waiting for Quake 4 and UT 07.

Its hard to give any kind of a review on a game High if you don't even buy the full verion and expierence the full efects, maps, and extas. As far as the "trial" verion, I assume you meant the demo which only has 1 map out of 12 and about half of the overal vehicles.

To add about EA and the rules...

This game is based of stick rules bacause there has to be a way to regulate in some way or form the overal "giving" of weapons and ranks. You can't "mod" the game so everyone has a dam missle laucher that shoots 10 rockets at one time and expect to play on a ranked server. Goes without saying I think that would not be far for the people that have not "modded" their version.

As far as EA and DICE games production lisening I think you are a little off in that comment bro. I mean no offense, but there is a forums on EA's site and EA is very much lisening. Patch 1.03 is due out soon and will fix many, many issue that players have had and yelled at them for. Not just issues that are with the game like gliches.

Not to mention there are about 5 big BF2 forums and EA reps come on from time to time and say that is being considered and what not. Or, that is already in our next patch.

I liked battlefield2 and im talking from the same standpoint as Spike here. LOOONNG time cs player.
I would go out and buy it, but im not working...soo no money to buy the game, and before I buy the game I would like to get a better computer to enjoy it.

I coulnt see myself playing it alot, mostly becuase its one of those games where one person hardly makes a diffrence, whereas in cs I can usually go on the losign team and myself alone can turn the tides.

Not that im bragging. I loved unreal2k4 and this battlefield2 reminds me of a cs:s/unreal2k4.

I like it, I really enjoy it sometime how you can just get up, go get a drink of water, come back downstairs and nothing really has changed.

4/5 from me. I guess its just like the other battlefields with better graphics. But I like it. I will have it before the end of the year for sure.

I would like to switch from cs as there are alot of "noobs" playing it.

Battlefield2 EVRYONE is noobs So its even..you know...

Spike I did not mean I hated the game it just really fell flat to me personaly. Yes I do play it but that is because buying a game and not playing it defeats the purpose of the purchase. I will say the best time I ever had while playing it was crusin around in the chopper with ya. Or the one time it seemed like Noslak,GK and I were taking flags while they were in a chopper supplying air support.

I am looking forward to your BF2 how to, you are good and I hope to learn something from it. A suggestion from this noob give a breakdown of the guns, supplies, ect. EA dropped the ball there for folks like me that have no idea of a good starter kit.

The meat of this DD thread was just to say how some games get overshadowed by one huge game of the season. When they seem to be just as good if not better. That is not aimed directly at BF2 I just had to use that as a example because that is the hot game this summer.

Quote: Originally Posted by Highperf15 The EA rules are a major bite and really restrict what you can do with this game........

Kinda like not being able to play the game at all......

Quote: Originally Posted by Highperf15 Alot of video card issues (mainly Nvidia).

All I hafta say is this. Better yet ill show you what comes up when the game first starts.

Funny the game is meant to be played on Nvidia yet it has all sorts of problems.

Your not alone Flounder, I don't think I have ever cussed so much at a game in my life (Just ask Digi!)

There was not one thing I liked about this game, setting up your controls is enough to make you want to choke a programmer!

First, I that key is allready assigned to something , it won't override the other setting , so you have to go through 4 pages of settings to find it and delete it., THEN go back and make the change.... I finally said "Screw DAT!" and deleted EVERYTHING and started from scratch!

Oh, and don't forget to "Apply changes" or all your hard work is gone...

After getting into the game and runnng around a bit, it finally dawned on me..ITS ONLY CAPTURE THE FLAG

WHAT?!?!?! No objectives? just hover a Helocopter over the flags, cause you aint gonna make it on foot in the map I played.

There are more things I could bitch about, but you covered the rest pretty well

I'm with godfoot, I'll much prefer the "In your FACE" style gameplay of ET wich has objectives like blowing up a fuel dump, or stealing secret documents from the enemy, who cares if the graphics are a bit dated, they were pretty good in there day, and still look pretty good overall. And you MUST have teamwork to win the round...

I have yet to play BF2, but a game that fell flat for me was City of Heroes. Blasphemer you all yell now .

I had unreal server lag, never could complete the tutorial level because of it. Decided to skip the tutorial, and STILL lagged and got mapserver lost.

The controls were foreign for me (I am a console gamer by nature), but i figured i would be able to figure them out.

Now for what i DID like about the game, even though i canceled my account before the trial month:

The graphics were nice, even running on my mom's dated comcrap.
The idea behind the game was very innovative.
The character builder was thougt out quite well.

O well, just my thoughts....

Tom

Try warzone 2100 it's open source now.

Best RTS game of all time in my veiw, just remeber to put the 1.10 patch on!

http://www.strategyplanet.com/warzone2100/

I will have some .ISO's up in the next 2 weeks as the installer been put around the web lacks some features..

*I was also very disapointed by BF2 the graphics quality was terible even with then beta drivers that fixed some issues and the frame rates were also awfull. Comparing it to HL1 I would say although the graphics of HL1 are simpler they actualy look better and it's easier to see things than on bf2 on low detail (the max it would run smooth on my pc which although not amazing did manage to make HL2 look prety amazing). Also the game had a memory leak which made it get slower and slower as you played and the server browser is so bad... im lost for words... most of the time it connected me to the wrong server! how is that performing its function as a server browser?

Hl2 is an example of a game which hasn't disapointed, I would go as far as saying it's the best value game ever because of the sheer quantity of mods and valve constantly adding new stuff.

Kipman, I got three words for you, 512 and XP CPU's...You have to respect a game that forces you to upgrade.

Most BF2 games like at least 1.0 gigs or more. (this game will use 2.0 gigs)

I'm just sticking to CS 1.6

Quote: Originally Posted by flounder405 There is more sleeper games out there that I feel are better that the large companies. Painkiller, XII, and even Max Payne seems to get thrown to the waste side because of Grand Theft Auto. Give the “Underdogs” a chance sometimes you might be surprised.

The Max Payne series has proven to be one of my all time favorites. The first one got decent recognition, though it deserves more, but the second one seemed to slip under the radar and I don't know why. The story is maybe a little worse than the first and a little shorter, but the graphics were fantastic, good even by today's standards and ran amazingly smoothly. I remember the physics blowing me away when it first came out, though HL2 kind of makes them look silly now. Regardless, I still think the series has far and away the best plotline of any FPS I've played (though I'm currently playing through Deus Ex for the first time)

I also discovered that Giants: Citizen Kabuto is fantastically cheap when you buy it used on Amazon (sub 5 dollars) so I picked it up too. It's far from perfect, but it has a lot of TLC put into it.