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Reader Reviews
8 reviews. Average Rating: 5
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Publisher:  Genre: Action
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Mac OS X: 10.2.8 Mac OS Classic: Not Supported
CPU: G4 @ 1000 MHz RAM: 512 MB DVD-ROM Graphics: 64 MB VRAM |
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Delta Force: Black Hawk Down
July 22, 2004 | Eric Ford |
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Arms Against Your Fellow Man. . .
Single player is a nice playing experience and it gets the job done, but the real treat in Black Hawk Down comes in the rich multiplayer experience that is offered by Novaworld, the developer’s free, in-game system of stat tracking and server browsing. This is definitely not the first title to have such features in their multiplayer mode, but I believe its one of the more streamlined systems, providing a great experience for the player while giving them a good reason to return and play more.
Every game played on one of Novaworld’s servers features in-game tracking of stats and experience. One can gain experience by performing any ‘good’ action while playing (such is killing an opposing player, capturing the flag, holding a position, e.t.c.). As players build up experience they can increase their level in that specific multiplayer mode (from level 1 to however high) and their overall rank in Novaworld (you start out as a private and rise up in military ranks all the way up to general and beyond). This small feature of giving players ranks is always a sure fire way to keep players coming back trying to get that next rank or level (I know I enjoy watching my character being promoted for performing well).
Black Hawk Down features a lot of your now standard multiplayer modes, including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and King of the Hill. More specific game types are Search and Destroy (each team must enter into the other’s territory and destroy specific targets to win) and Attack and Defend (similar to Search and Destroy, only teams take turns instead of an all out brawl). Oh yeah, and all these games can be played with a maximum of 50 players depending on the server you use.
This is where multiplayer truly shines. It is a complete rush to play with so many other players in the same server. Bullets flying over here, flash grenades blinding, all the while you are trying to sneak into the fray and take out as many people as you can. Sure, there can definitely be a lot of lag, but its still fun regardless. Personally, I found King of the Hill to be the most fun, since it usually brings together a large number of both teams into a certain area, where a giant war usually takes place. Another great feature is the Armory, where players can go to change their weapons in the middle of a battle. One can choose several different ‘soldiers’ (each has their own different choice of weapons, there are snipers, gunners, e.t.c.) to play, including a medic that has the ability to raise dead allies instantly, eliminating any respawn countdown that may exist.
My only complaints besides the occasional lag is the horrid look of the in-game Novaworld browser (so sue me, I just must be used to the nice Unreal Tournament one), and the occasional ‘Unexpected Quits’ when trying to join servers (currently there are no patches out for the game, so I’m hoping they’re working on this).
Conclusion
A lot has been said about Black Hawk Down. It’s a decent game with a good single player game and an outstanding multiplayer outing. But, its ‘realistic’ and sometimes difficult approach may turn some off, while it’s accurate portrayal of history may be another’s muse. The final line is that regardless, this game is still a nice addition to one’s first person shooter library. If you’re not into FPS’s or Military-esque titles, this one won’t convert you by a long shot. However, if you’re looking for a good challenge, a great multiplayer experience, and you have a decent machine, then look no further than Novaworld’s tribute to the Somalian conflict of 1993.
Pros
• Great Multiplayer
• Good Voice Acting
• Modern Era Weapons
• Historical Story (and good presentation)
Cons
• Not the Prettiest Game
• Challenging Single Player
• Not Much Variety in Setting and Music
• Occasional Lag and Crashes in Multiplayer
8 Reader Reviews submitted. Average Rating: 5
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