Date: June 27, 2006 - Author: Rob Williams - Editor: Matt Harris
Valve has unleashed a new DoD: Source update, and this one is a winner. Included is a brand new mode, Detonation, which will be familiar to some CS players. Two new maps and the film grain graphic effect are also included. We give our first impressions inside.
It's been a little while since we've seen any updates for DoD: Source, but Valve is getting ready to add a couple notables. In addition to two new maps, Colmar and Jagd, we are also greeted with a few new graphic features... and a new mode!
Detonation. Doesn't that speak for itself? Think Counter-Strike... and the bomb mode. Basically, each level will include a spot that has some TNT lying around. You can pick them up and keep them on you, one at a time. If it's your duty to blow up one of the three opposing tanks on a map, you will first have to find the TNT and then strap it to the side. If you can keep it there for around 40 seconds, it will blow up.
Both Colmar and Jagd have three pieces of equipment to be blown up, and each need to be blown up twice before it's done for the rest of the match. In Colmar, both sides have the same goal... to find the opposing sides equipment and blow it up. However in Jagd, it's the US Army against the Wehrmacht, where the Wehrmachts are the ones doing the blowing up.
For those interested, here are the maps for each of the levels.
Here are a few select screenshots from various points around each level.
This is a great level that takes place in France. The TNT is located directly in the center of the level, atop a bridge. You will experience a lot of combat on this bridge, because both sides have to come here in order to get acquire any of the TNT. If you are more interested in helping your team by killing off the opposers, you can sneak around the bridge underneath, which is completely ice covered. You will not slip on it though... it's ice with traction!
The level is basically a mirror image, if you cut through the middle. Each team has a similar route to take in order to get to the bombs, and to get to the machines that need to be destroyed. There are a LOT of camping and hiding spots though, so you are best to be quick about looking around corners.
Jagd takes place in Italy, but no spaghetti sauce will be flung here. Because it's the US Army against the Wehrmacht, the former doesn't have THAT much room to begin with. The Wehrmacht on the other hand, begin behind a church which contains the TNT. The US cannot enter the church, so they must camp around in the general area. There are three primary paths that lead straight to the vehicles to be destroyed. Once again, each vehicle needs to have TNT detonated on it twice in order for it to be completely destroyed.
The long awaited Film Grain graphic feature has been added, and the name speaks for itself. In an attempt to help make a movie appear more intense or cinematic, film grains could be used. If you watch an old WWII movie, it likely has a film grain, which shows it's age. In the game though, it can help make the game feel more dramatic, and give you the idea that you are literally playing such a movie.
Color Correction is the other big mode that comes into play with the new update. In order to help further in making the gameplay a more realistic experience, the colors are adjusted slightly to give a more believable scene. Quickly testing a scene with Color Correction on, and then off proved no viable difference whatsoever. It may make a difference some aspects of the game, but I haven't noticed it. Enabling these modes don't affect HDR or any other graphic pluses.
One sad thing is that you cannot use the film grain filter DURING gameplay as far as I can tell. You will only see it when you first enter, are in spectator mode, or die. Either way, it's a great addition that straight out looks cool.
This update contains more than just film grain and a few levels though. According to the press release, new shaders have been introduced which include image-based texture blending, light warping and phong shading. Gotta love the phong. Animations have also been amped up and DX8 capable GPU's are now capable of the bloom HDR effect.
Gameplay specific though, the game has improved hit location detection. As long as you keep aiming for the head, you will not notice a difference. Player statistics have also been added, although we can't elaborate on those until the game launches.
The best thing about this summer update is that it's completely free to DoD: Source owners. If you enjoy some good WWII action, and don't already own DoD: Source, then you really don't know what you are missing. The game still retails for $20 on Steam and includes 8 maps. The gameplay is solid and the graphics and sound are incredible. The addition of the new mode is quite welcomed, and both coinciding maps are well thought out. Overall, this is an update that was well worth waiting for.
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