|
|
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I've played all the big ones, but I keep coming BACK to DOD, September 13, 2003
First off, let me begin with a little history. I downloaded the first beta version of Day of Defeat ages ago. It was a Half-Life mod dream come true. It was a truly exciting and addicting first-person shooter for WWII, and nice alternative to Counter-Strike. The voice communication addition was an incredible bonus. The Ally rifle "PING" when the clip empties and pops out was a sheer thrill. Great stuff. Then came Medal of Honor. After experiencing a more realistic feel for walking/running it was difficult to turn back, and so I left Day of Defeat behind. But with Medal of Honor, you couldn't prone (lay down)! Bad mistake, particularly for snipers. All in all, better graphic improvement and a lot of fun. Then came Battlefield 1942. I was in heaven. Every possible scenario in combat from boats to planes, tanks and jeeps, etc. The overall graphics of MOA were better, but the variety and fun was increased with Battlefield. After playing Battlefield 1942 for almost a year... now I come BACK to Day of Defeat.Why? The other games certainly had their advantages and improvements in versatility and graphics/maps... but something about the 'rawness' and realism of Day of Defeat puts me in what feels like more real combat. The sounds I think are the best compared to the other games, and the KILL factor is much more realistic (no taking several rifle or machine gun hits and watching your health bar go down bit by bit) - when you get shot, you're DOWN! No spewing blood, no flailing arms or shouting, your body just goes limp and you collapse. The helmet 'ping' on the head shots are nice too. The grenades (though in earlier versions the explosions were massive and I miss that) still give off a better kick and are more lethal than either of the previously mentioned games - great shake and boom, followed by a cloud of smoke and debris. Not just a little 'pop' - oopps, I missed him kind of thing. Day of defeat has more instant action in tighter quarters. Choose from a variety of weapons and use TEAMWORK to accomplish objectives. Teamwork is essential, as is the perfect combination of MG's, snipers, riflemen, etc. Since many maps have tight alley ways & corners, you need to communicate a good plan for either providing cover fire using a rapid-fire machine gun on a tripod to secure an area, or to climb to a 3rd story building to snipe the approaching enemy for example. That's why the VOICE communication is so important. Certainly you can type messages also. Concerned that this game is only for internet play? Worry not, there are many 'bot' programs out there on the net to leave you with some fun & challenge even when you have no connection or your cable is out (look for "Sturmbot", that's the best and 'official' one for DOD). I'll admit the gaming community has dropped significantly in numbers since the early days, but I still always have a decent amount of servers to choose from with great pings. Even though I could download the game, I went & bought the retail for several reasons. 1) Support the cause - this game still stands strong!
2) I format my computer frequently and am sick of having to first install the never-played Half-Life, then the update patches, then Day of Defeat, etc., etc.
3) Nice manual, CD & box art (I'm strange that way & like the whole 'package').
4) It's the most current version, released in 2003, and even installs what you need for any other Valve mod you'd like to play, so you don't need Half-Life anymore. If you want great, fast-paced infantry combat action that puts you RIGHT in the environment with incredible sounds and weaponry, choose Day of Defeat. In fact, with the sounds of planes roaring in the skies and occasional artillery booming around, you still feel like everything else expected in combat is happening, we're just focusing on the infantry part here. The previously mentioned games are also great, but if you like WWII action games as much as I do, you'll try them all and should NOT pass this one up! I'll see you on line!
|
