It is great to finally see
another Q2SP released this year, with only a
few releases so far. And following from my Machine
Reborn and then Mark Shan's Progetto Genome,
another mission pack based 3-map pack, using
the monsters and weapons from The Reckoning.
So, having never got around to playing Mark's
Reckoning version of Progetto Genome, I would
finally be able to play something using these
custom monsters with a factor of surprise as
opposed to Machine Reborn where I knew where
they all were.
The gameplay ended up being very good, with
some good surprising. However, even playing
on Normal there were a number of situations
that were too difficult, especially considering
your firepower. You won't be given the luxury
of plentiful ammo to waste with your favourite
big weapons. In fact for the majority of the
first main level your own given the GL, SG and
MG. I was very relieved in the second map to
finally get the damn SSG, my favourite smaller
weapon. The inclusion of one of the new weapons,
the Ion Ripper, not long after this was good
as it forces you to get out of your square and
try something different than the typical weapons
we're all familiar with.
Most the situations that were annoying involved
the new Super Gladiator with his one-hit one-kill
fireballs. This is a great modification, but
because he's got so much health and it takes
a while to kill him it can get rather repetitive.
But to make matter worse Tef placed them in
one position so that all your doing is running
around the corner, fire, duck behind corner
again until he's dead. At these times I just
put on god mode and stood right in front of
him taking his blasts and chomping through the
ammo to kill him or simply run past. Because
they really aren't much fun unless they are
moving around and chasing you.
Just enough health was provided, and just enough
ammo aswell. I didn't find myself in too much
trouble, and the only time ammo got very low
was when exiting.
Level design was great. You're
usual Q2 base but with some Ikbase textures
thrown in aswell. I preferred the IK sections
best, despite this texture set being used heavily
already by the community, it's still great and
refreshing. Great details are done by Tef, with
a number of textures and styles but which all
come together and manage to keep a consistent
theme going.
Overall a great pack of two
main maps (and an intro that is rather frustrating
as you Blaster your way through Soldiers and
grenade Commanders). It carries on the theme
seen in Tef Double Pack IV but with more professional
design and very tough gameplay.
