BF:V, UT2004

[sauron1]

OK, time for a new OT thread.

*sauron flies past in Huey chopper gunship* Weee, this thing is fun!! *crashes into hill*

Anyone else bought these two? Impressions? Reviews for UT2004 were awesome, but everyone seems to be playing BF:Vietnam.

[StormHammer01]

I picked up ut2k4. it's...fun. sometimes.

It would seem that all the idiots who play Counter-Strike in this world are...migrating from FPS to FPS. Call of Duty has become the new Counter-Strike...and it's just as rampant with hacks and idiots as CS is/was.

The onslaught mode of ut2k4 is really fun...but only when teamwork is actually practiced. Seems like everyone's a DMer these days.

The Assault maps make the game worth buying as is...so much fun, so little time to complete objectives...wee!!!

I can't wait to try Battlefield: Vietnam.

:D

[jessica00]

i heard BF:V sucks.
desert combat, the free mod for BF1942 is a far better game.

on a side note..i totally cant wait for far cry. :)

[The corporate]

I loved the demo of UT2004. My full copy is in the post.

BF:V is not getting any wow reviews, so I think I will keep playing desert combat. I can now get a transport helicopter to fly more or less where I want it. It is just a matter of getting the 'Abandon Ship!' message to my passengers before the whole starts turning upside down.

Remember 'e' then '9' is your friend. It really stuffs people up when they get an RPG7 round in the back of the head.

[Cougaris]

UT2004, is IMO, a far superior game then BF:V. For a start. there is nothing really new or funky in Battlefield that has not been covered by the mods Desert Combat and Eve of Destruction (and they are free!). You still have to get to the action at a somewhat glacial pace, and even then, dying to some sniper hiding in the large tracts of foilage that now litter the maps becomes rather infuriating quickly. Not to mention the class distinction has been blurred with the advent of the Schwarzenegger Class, who totes both a missile launcher and a rifle. Why be anyone else? Frankly, BF:V should have been an expansion and not a full blown sequel - there just isn't enough "meat" to earn it that moniker.

UT2004, on the other hand, is a well cut diamond, having had its base code nicely streamlined by the (somewhat) lackluster UT2003 and then polished further still until we have distilled the pure essence of FPS-action gaming and slapped it into a jewel case. Your never far from the action (thanks to the node teleport innovation), the maps are interesting and varied, there are HEAPS of gamestyles (of which Onslaught and Assault are preminent) and the game seems damm well balanced. But most of all, its plain action packed fun. Be warned though, it's a fast paced fragfest, so if lurking around and taking pot-shots is your thing, you might not be so wholly satisfied. I found that teamwork is quickly picked up on onslaught maps - people, after a while, start to see the winning strategy and co-operation becomes evident (link healing vital tanks, using super weapons on enemy nodes at oppertune times) on a unspoken basis. Which is great, because 1. I can't stand typing a strat when I'm meant to be fragging foes and 2. I HATE voice-chat.

I own both games, but am going to return BF:V - I'll stick with the old battlefield.

Embrace UT2004 - it's a godsend for online gaming.

[sauron1]

I've tried both, and although I initially hated BF:V, now I'm really starting to get into it. I think it's better than DC or EOD, although EOD in particular is a really fun mod. The gameplay in BF:V is really different to BF1942 - choppers are the new tanks, as far as I can tell. The only real problem is the netcode - it's laggy.

Strangely, I'm not really enjoying UT2004 so far, although I'm not really sure why. Maybe I'll pick it up again later.

[Rurouni Storm]

I'm really into UT2004, but anybody else notice how freaking cheap the "novice" bots are? I also wish onslaught was part of the single player ladder instead of double domination.

I tried BF:V at a friends house and didn't really like it. Doesn't seem like much of an improvement over 1942.

[Stone]

I'm playing through the single player missions on UT2k4 right now. It's a great game that goes back to the days of the original UT in many ways.

One of the things that I have noticed though, is that I have lost most of my fighting and dodge skills. Damn.

[Red_Hex]

in 2k4 what are the bots like in the more advanced game modes, and what impact does running a large mapful of them have on the system?

[sauron1]

Haven't played it enough yet to know in detail, will get back to you when I have. Overall, they seem pretty good. They beat me in Onslaught most of the time (pitiful but true, I know).

The bots on BFV are also not bad if you crank up the CPU time allocated to them. Except the way they fly the choppers is really ugly - they can fly them, but it looks like the chopper is on the end of a pendulum.

[Rurouni Storm]

Originally posted by Red_Hex
in 2k4 what are the bots like in the more advanced game modes, and what impact does running a large mapful of them have on the system?

I haven't seen a real CPU drop from a lot of bots unless a bunch are on the screen at once.

They really seem to coordinate team tactics, though. Gone are the days of bots coming at your base one at a time and repeatedly dieing by your camping skills.

[WX_Peregrin]

I need a new mobo for UT2k4, 4x wont cut it, and my athlon 1800+ wont hold all those bots :D. I get a good slowdown unless I turn down graphics a little bit.

I tried playing on full, doesnt seem to tax my vid card, but CPU usage is still high like in UT2003, but it isnt terrible as long as you have a p4 or better. I tried it on this PC (my family one), and I had to even turn down bitmap details on my vid card to get FPS smooth.

Oh well, still a hell of a lot of fun, and the plasma shots look so cool now with that 'aura' of green around them :D. Im happy, and it was only 30 dollars...plus I get 10 back for buying ut2003, and I had an excuse to buy more ram. which also had a rebate. Not bad I dare say.:)

[Red_Hex]

Originally posted by WX_Peregrin
need a new mobo... get a good slowdown unless I turn down graphics a little bit*gasp* a little bit? onos, hundreds of dollars for new rig are definitely in order

[WX_Peregrin]

well thats only part of the reason. another is that the game on onslaught runs like crap, and i mean crap. number two, i spent 130 on an 8x graphics card and this mobo only has 4x, so it has compatibility probs.

Lets put it this way...its one of the first mobos to support athlon XP's, really old ASUS. Im not upgrading for a while though, so dont think my wallet opens that easy for a little jerk on the screen.:p I figure by this summer or the end of the year Ill have ordered one. Itll be a KT based anyway, a good cheap one :).

[Vagamus]

I got em both.

My take on BF:V is this. Its a lot of fun, if you can get into a decent game. It kinda runs like a hog sometimes, online, whatnot... the changes are great. Transporting junk to the frontlines to help out your buddies while blaring "I fought the law, and the law won" or any other of the decent list is kewl. Way kewl, IMO. It adds to the evironment, which is also a lot nicer. reflections on water, stingers that actually track heat, move people capping a flag = faster flag capping, boobie trapping tanks, placing punji's for those wonderous morons, napalming a viliage full of innocent VC... all the goodness of vietnam, with JUST a hint of CS due to the dumb b!tches ya tend to play with. I thought it was a good $35.00.

UT2004 impressed me FAR more than 2k3 did. FAAAAAAAAAAR more. As if bringing back assault didn't sell me on the idea, brining in vehicles, 100 maps or so, challenging AI (OOOH, i hate them! I HATE THEM SO MUCH!), and then topping it all off with a beautiful engine that seems to like to run and look good on my rapidly aging 9600... its mas fine. I actually play the game just to win the tournies, not just neander around them to get by so i unlock crap. Fighting for bloodrights, one on ones for cash... yeees. The one thing i do miss is the 5 barrel rocket launcher, but i suppose 3 is really practical. I DO miss being able to lob rockets like grenades. Whatever though, small niche things.

MP on 2k4 seems to be nice when people work with you, its very quick paced, but not horribly. I tend to like drawn out combat, and i do get just enough of that in this to be somewhat happy. The way people frag is AWESOME imo, i like bein able to frag a specific part of someones body, or just flak someone in half... mmm. yeah.

OT, but i just bought FarCry too, which i think is a great game. So far I think its pretty engaging. AI is on par or better with 2004. It knows the difference between body armor and skin, the physics are wonderful, and the entire detail is great. The story is alright so far... but thats all i'm gonna say about that mmmhmm.

[arrrse]

So for BF:V, multiplayer is US vs vietcong?
How could that be fun???
At least for the players who are vietcong, with just like ak47s & maybe the odd truck & aa machine gun.

Allies vs Germany in WWII sounds fine, since both sides had similar tech, but US vs vietcong...

[sauron1]

I get your point, but in fact it's pretty well balanced. I've had my ass shot off by more NVA/Vietcong online than I care to remember. :)

Must admit I feel slightly uneasy playing a game based on such a recent war though. It's much, much worse with Desert Combat, to the point that I can't play that one at all. Can't stop thinking about the civilian casualties, WMD, politics, and Sept. 11. I guess that, for me, games are all about escapism, and DC is just a bit too close to reality for me to be comfortable with it.

[EDIT - no such problems with UT2004 - I guess gibbing an 8 foot tall reptile by running it over in a hovercraft on the surface of Mars is sufficiently escapist for my sensibilities, heh heh] :) .

[jessica00]

most of us werent alive in the 60's/70's, so its not really all that "close to home" to play a vietnam game

[arrrse]

no such problems with UT2004 - I guess gibbing an 8 foot tall reptile by running it over in a hovercraft on the surface of Mars is sufficiently escapist for my sensibilities, heh heh Heh, yeah :confused:

I do wish someone would make me a Jonathan Livingston Seagull flight sim...

Or a side scrolling console game with dolphins...

I actually destroyed the Black Hawk Down CD that came with my 9800 because I was so appalled by it :sour:
It felt good :D

[Rurouni Storm]

Originally posted by arrrse
Or a side scrolling console game with dolphins...


ECCO? ;)

One thing I've noticed about 2k4 sadly is that it's almost impossible for me to play online due to my bad eyesight. I was decent in original UT, but the smaller hitboxes on 2k3/2k4 models make it almost impossible for me to hit things. :(

[Greb]

Don't they have glasses in Canada? :)

Greb

[arrrse]

Yeah, I think ecco was the name, point being it didn't exactly set a trend.

I really do think a JLS flight sim done with a high spec pc for design target would be a really awesome thing.
Individual feathers, CFD lift/drag/control/turbulence calculation, HDR...

[sauron1]

There are not many games that I've physically destroyed, although I've been tempted by several (Freelancer is the perfect example). ;)

I did destroy my first video card (a Trident 875) once I'd replaced it (with a Voodoo Banshee). I used a hammer, and it felt wonderful. Slideshow framerates, even in Grim Fandango, which wasn't exactly graphics-intensive. :rolleyes:

When I get around to replacing the GF FX5200 that's currently in my work machine, I'm gonna go after that too. That card sucks so bad it's a crime. :sour:

[Rurouni Storm]

Originally posted by Greb
Don't they have glasses in Canada? :)

Greb

You can't correct being colorblind in one eye with glasses ;)

[Rurouni Storm]

BTW, thought I should share:

http://www.vgcats.com/vgc_comics/images/040314.jpg

[WX_Peregrin]

Ive had the same voice comm problem with vampire slayer (mod for HL).

People would blare hip hop on it and it would become distorted, because the damn voice comm doesnt translate bass very well. In the meantime, while fighting vampires *duh a duh a duh* you get a very good *duh a duh a duh* idea of *duh a duh a duh* of what its like to *duh a duh* hunt vampires *duh a duh* at a hip hop concert *duh a duh*. But thanks for the comic, good stuff rouruni :)

[sauron1]

I haven't heard that yet, but I really don't like being ordered around the map by smacktards.

I prefer to keep my insults, taunts and occasional (rare) tactical ideas strictly confined to keyboard chat. ;)

[Red_Hex]

great representation of newbies/preteen cs players there. i used to appreciate their difficulty and give them wide berth. now i'd kick anyone without at least 3 months experience and an abhorrence of leetspeak out of a game offhand, if i had the power. i generally dont, so one has instead to pray team damage is on, or at least that vote to kick is enabled. some might say that makes me no better than them, but it makes me feel better... focused, deliberate ****ership as means to an end beats general, belligerent retardedness hands down.

i find something bestially ignorant or downright mentally afflicted about those sorts of people. if i cant get rid of them i have to leave and have a cup of tea to cool down.

[Rurouni Storm]

I play on private clan servers, so the morons are kept to a minimum. Most clan servers have the voice chat disabled to save bandwidth.

[arrrse]

Are the vehicles in ut2k4 very powerful?
Nearly everyone I seem to play Halo against *****es about it taking 'no skill' to clock up large scores with vehicles (mostly while said person is running a beeline for the fuel rod gun, sniper rifle or rocket launcher :sour: ).

Mostly, I've found that against vaguely competent players a Halo vehicle is doing well to get kills.
Certainly I know of several handy techniques for killing off pesky vehicles learnt mostly on the recieving end from good players.

I saw comment on a different forum that the wood looks like plastic in BF:V, comments?

[Rurouni Storm]

The thing is, Halo vehicles are pretty much invincible. 2k4 vehicles are not (mantas and raptors especially) adn there's a special rocket launcher (the AVRiL) which can kill most vehicles with a few well placed shots.

Then there's the Leviathan.....

[Unheard Of]

Powerful, but balanced - the anti vehicle rocket launcher is effective and fairly widely available. The turrets also work a treat against the lighter vehicles (will push the Raptor half way across the map with a few shots)

[The corporate]

The balance in UT2004 is very good. As Unheard said the Avril is a great equaliser (even the lightning gun is effective against the light vehicles) the catch is you have to guide the Avril missile in which means staying in LOS of the target.

[Unheard Of]

The alt fire helps - locks your view to the target, and you can still move around.

On a decent server, there isn't a lot of point using a raptor from high altitude in a fight - it only takes two Avrils to take you down. They are far more use for hit and run attacks on lightly defended nodes. You can also try using them as a harpoon - get some speed up, fly at some infantry, bail out at the last minute. It's completely ineffective, but flinging a tonne of metal around instead of shooting people amuses me.

[The corporate]

I am surprised. I haven't played on-line yet, but I would have thought that the Raptor's missile launcher would have made it lethal.

Perhaps pop-up attacks are a better option.

[Rurouni Storm]

I find Raptors are most useful when supporting ground vehicle attacks. Those rockets cream mantas and scorpions, but you need ground troops to take care of infantry. They also work quite well against a deployed Leviathan.

[Red_Hex]

hah, vehicle team effort... youll be lucky to see the day. maybe in 2 years, if people are still playing it. and if theres a "need vehicle support" voicebind to spam.

[sauron1]

You see a lot of vehicle:infantry and vehicle:vehicle support on good BF1942 servers, but I guess it's been around for a while so people have learned how.

[alkaline trio]

bfv is great and so is unreal 2k. the game are very different. if u like fast combat thats a bit sci-fi buy unreal 2k but if u like sniping and drawn out combot with helos buy bfv or why not buy both lol

[arrrse]

That would be because I'm poor :sour: