Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII
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| Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII |
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| Developer(s) | Digital Illusions CE |
| Publisher(s) | EA Games (Windows), Aspyr Media, Inc. (Mac) |
| Series | Battlefield |
| Engine | Refractor 2 |
| Version | Windows: 2004-12-02 (1.61b) |
| Platform(s) | Windows, Apple Macintosh |
| Release date | Windows: (NA) 2003-09-04[1] |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T), PEGI: 16+ |
| Media | CD |
| System requirements | PC Version: 500 MHz CPU, 128 MB RAM, 32 MB GPU, 1.2 GB free hard drive space, Windows 98 or newer OS, Original version of Battlefield 1942 installed, Online/Multiplayer: 56 Kbps modem or LAN.[1] Mac Os Version: Original version of Battlefield 1942 installed, Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later, PowerPC G4/G5, 867MHZ or faster, 256MB of RAM, 1.6GB free disc space, 3D Graphics Acceleration required (ATI Radeon 7500/nVidia GeForce 2 or better), 32MB of VRAM, and DVD drive to install and play. Multiplayer requires Internet and LAN (TCP/IP) play support and a 56Kbps or faster connection. [2] |
| Input methods | Keyboard, mouse, joystick |
Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII is the second of two expansions to the World War II first-person shooter computer game Battlefield 1942. [3] It is developed by Digital Illusions CE and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows September 4, 2003 in North America and September 5, 2003 in Europe. [1] It was published by Aspyr Media for Mac OS October 25, 2004.
Secret Weapons of WWII brings many new features to the original game, such as new weapons, vehicles, battles, factions, and a new gameplay mode that focuses on fulfilling objectives more that destroying the enemy army. [3] These new features help to bring variety to its predecessor's gameplay without overhauling the series.[4] For example, while an Allied engineer may still maintain his original role as being able to repair vehicles, his long-ranged rifle has been replaced with a shotgun, which is effective at short distances. [5]
Critically, Secret Weapons of WWII was well received. GameSpot gave the game a 8.2 out of 10 summarizing that "Its additions are extremely enjoyable to play around with and, in some cases, really change the gameplay of the original in new and intriguing ways." [6] IGN gave the game 8.8 out of 10 noting that "...assuming you can swallow the more fanciful additions, you'll find plenty of excitement here." [4] As of June, 2008, the game has received a compilation score of 82% on GameRankings and 79% on Metacritic.[7][8]
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[edit] Gameplay
As in Battlefield 1942, players play the role of a soldier in a two-sided battle and can choose what weapons or vehicles he or she wants to use in accomplishing this task. Usually, the team that works together more effectively wins by reducing the enemies tickets to zero. (A team loses tickets when its members are killed, but also when the other team holds a majority of the capture points on a map.) Even more so than in Battlefield 1942, the weapons in Secret Weapons of WWII are designed to be used in unison with other weapons in order to compensate for weaknesses and maximize strengths.[5]
A gameplay mode introduced in Secret Weapons of WWII is an objective-based mode in which players focus on accomplishing specific objectives in order to win the battle. For example on Essen, the German forces must prevent Allied forces from destroying key portions of a weapons factory. If the Allied forces successfully fulfill these objective, the German tickets are drastically reduced, usually winning the game for the Allies.[9]
The default Allied (US) Army and Axis (German) Army have received new weapons and vehicles in addition to the creation of two entirely new factions, the SAS (British Commando) and that SS (German Elite Troops). Each faction has unique weapons to their faction that can only be obtained by playing as that faction or picking them off a fallen enemy soldier. They also have unique vehicles that are only available at their bases. Even with the creation of these new factions, all the maps in the expansion pack are Axis versus Allies, as is the custom in the Battlefield series.[5][10]
Also of special note is the Jet Pack, which allows players to fly in the air while firing a weapon. In order to maintain gameplay balance, the Jet Pack is very susceptible to blowing up while under fire, instantly killing the player. As opposed to other weapons, the Jet Pack it not unique to one faction, and instead, it can be found at one or more locations throughout a particular map as a item that replaces the player's current equipment.[5] However, there are only three maps which have the Jet Pack in them.[11]
[edit] New Vehicles
Sixteen new vehicles, ranging from tanks to motorcycles, are included in the expansion pack.[12]
- Allied SAS:
- Ordnance QF 25 Pounder Artillery
- AW52 Fighter
- Commando Raft
- C-47 "Gooney Bird" Cargo Plane
- McDonnell XF-85 Goblin Fighter
- LVT4 Amphibious Transport
- XA42 Motorcycle
- Allied US Army (Not Special Forces):
- AW52 Fighter
- Commando Raft
- C-53 Skytrooper Cargo Plane
- McDonnell XF-85 Goblin Fighter
- LVT4 Amphibious Transport
- Sherman T34 Tank
- T95 Super Heavy Tank
- XA42 Motorcycle
- Axis SS:
- Flakpanzer IV Anti-aircraft Tank
- HO229 Fighter
- Natter Rocket Plane
- Pak40 Artillery
- Schwimmwagen Amphibious Vehicle
- Sturmtiger Heavy Tank
- Wasserfall Guided Rocket
- R75 Motorcycle
- Axis German Army (Not Special Forces):
- Flakpanzer IV Anti-aircraft Tank
- HO229 Fighter
- Natter Rocket Plane
- Pak40 Artillery
- Schwimmwagen Amphibious Vehicle
- Sturmtiger Heavy Tank
- Wasserfall Guided Rocket
- R75 Motorcycle
[edit] New Weapons
Seven new weapons, including throwing knives to a shotgun, are also in the expansion pack. [3]
- Allied SAS:
- Throwing Knives
- Bren light Machine Gun
- Browning Auto-5 Shotgun
- Sten Mark IIS Submachine Gun
- Allied US Army:
- M1 Garand
- Axis SS:
- Throwing Knives
- Gewehr Panzergranate
- Gewehr 43 Sniper Rifle with ZF4 Telescopic Sight
- Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 Light Machine Gun
- Axis German Army:
- None
[edit] New Maps
Eight new maps are included in Secret Weapons of WWII. Notably, altogether the maps provide every possible Allies versus Axis combination given the factions in the expansion pack. [9]
- Eagle's Nest (US vs. SS)
- Essen (SAS vs. SS)
- Gothic Line (US vs. Germany)
- Hellendoorn (SAS vs. SS)
- Kbely Airfield (SAS vs. SS)
- Mimoyecques (US vs. Germany)
- Peenemunde (US vs. Germany)
- Telemark Research Base (SAS vs. Germany)
[edit] Development
The expansion pack was officially announced on April 2, 2003; although, there was significant speculation preceding the announcement that Electronic Arts was making a second expansion pack to Battlefield 1942.[12][13] Nearly six months later Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII began to be sold at stores for thirty dollars, ten dollars more than the originally conceived twenty dollar price tag. This sometimes negatively affected reviews.[6]
[edit] Critical Reception
Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII was received generally favorably. While not winning any awards, it received a compilation score of 82% on GameRankings based on 36 reviews and 79% on Metacritic based on 18 reviews.[8][7]
Almost all reviews reflected positively on the amount of variety added to the game without turning players off from the original draw of the series. Jolt UK commented that it is "A welcome addition to the Battlefield family, and has a style all of its own..."[14] Gamespy listed as a pro that it had "Lots of fun new vehicles; some outstanding new maps."[15] GameSpot said that "Its additions are extremely enjoyable to play around with and, in some cases, really change the gameplay of the original in new and intriguing ways."[6] IGN noted that "...the new super weapons are brilliantly incorporated in to the gameplay."[4]
Criticisms included that the proportion of content to retail price was too low. In Gamespot's review of the game, it claimed, "However, considering how much it retails for, it probably could have offered more."[6] Gamespy listed as the con that "Some of the maps are clunkers; $30 is too much for the limited content here."[15] Also, some critics disliked the fanciful nature of many of the new weapons and vehicles introduced by the expansion. IGN summarized its reaction in its review of the game: "Secret Weapons of WWII, while based in historical equipment and encounters, nevertheless offers up a steroid-enhanced version of the regular game with plenty of new weapons that were on the cutting edge of technology (or merely on the drawing board) at the close of the Second World War. For some players, myself included, this extra touch of Hollywood seems a bit out of place relative to the previous games."[4] Jolt UK commenting along similar lines that "...it also feels a little out of place. About the last expansion the game can handle." [14]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Main page on IGN for Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII. IGN. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
- ^ a b Sanchez, Rick. Secret Weapons in your hands. IGN. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
- ^ a b c Official Website for Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII. Electronic Arts. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Butts, Steve. Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of World War II Review. IGN. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Sulic, Ivan. E3 2003: Secret Weapons Exposed. IGN. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Park, Andrew. BF1942: Secret Weapons. GameSpot. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
- ^ a b Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII - PC. GameRankings. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
- ^ a b Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII. Metacritic. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
- ^ a b Adams, Dan. The Maps of BF1942: Secret Weapons. IGN. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
- ^ Colayco, Bob. Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII updated hands-on impressions. GameStop. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
- ^ Cook, Brad. Continue Your Tours of Duty. Apple. Retrieved on June 10, 2008.
- ^ a b Sulic, Ivan. Best Expansion Ever?. IGN. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
- ^ Calvert, Justin. Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII announced. GameSpot. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
- ^ a b Barnwell, Colin. [http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/launchreview.asp?reviewid=341632 Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII reviewed. ?]. Jolt UK. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
- ^ a b Accardo, Sal. Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII (PC). GameSpy. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
[edit] External links
- Official
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