BF1942 Secret Weapons of WWII min-review

[Mephisto_kur]

 Okay, finished off my run through of the new maps.  Got a look at most of the new vehicles.

The Sturmtiger pisses me off.  6 rpg (Panzershrek or bazooka) or grenades to take it out!  But knocks allied tanks - even the T series - with only one or two shots. A couple of the maps have more than one of the damn things, too.  Really might end up being a balance issue online.

The new airborne spawn point (you heard me right) is an excellent idea.  Turns a small squad of guys into a powerful force when they can drop on an enemy base behind lines.  Gives a good squeeze, and I can see it being a major factor.  Of course, someone has to sacrifice their play just to have it in the air (it needs a pilot).

The Sherman with the rocket tubes is almost useless.  The rockets don't always seem to go quite where you aim, and the smoke trails obscure the enemy from the gunner's view.  Works like the machine gun, so you need a driver and a rocketman.

I didn't get to test the new planes - I haven't hooked up my joystick yet, and trust me, my suckiness with the keys is NOT getting me in the cockpit until I get my stick hooked back up.  Later, I'll make sure to give an idea of the two deltas, the Goblin , and if I ever find the damn thing - the rocket pack.

The new anti-air missiles can be cool, but aaks are more effective.

The new German submachine gun is pretty sweet.  Doesn't bounce as much as the 44, so it can be a little more accurate over distances.

No Japanese maps or weapons seem to have been added.

The new maps look to be an interesting (if small) mix.  Some of the Conquest maps are almost impossible to grab a Total Victory from, even on the lowest bot AI, so I imagine there will be some very fierce fights when people start populating servers.

Notes about single player:
Still no campaign mode for expansions.  Just like Road to Rome, you must use the Instant options to get to the new maps.  AI is still the same (stunningly stupid at times, sinisterly clever at times), and still can't hold a friggin control point to save its life.  I have come to particularly hate the "Josef Fuchs" bot.  He's a German sniper and always picks the time when I'm looking around and trying to stay out of the fight to smack me with his 98.  Fucking Nazi Jew Hater.

General game issues:
Get this - I think they FINALLY FIXED THE SOUND ISSUES!  Holy Crap, I didn't have to tweak my sound or graphics settings just to make it so I can click on things!  Kudos for tracking down this  thing.  It only took a little more than a year and a half, and a bunch of patches.

So thats my impression so far, without being able to play online.