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When I first reviewed the 3.8 of this mod, I didn't know what to expect.
When I'd finished, I couldn't think of a single real way to make it better,
other than to allow Superweapons to be turned off.
But with this new release, I don't really know how they've done it, but
it's gotten a whole lot better.
For a kick-off, they've really shaped the planet Atrigo by adding in a
huge number graphical elements of buildings, trees (from TS) and even
the Vinifera ore that has to be harvested for credits. Also, certain AR2-specific
maps have 'random' snowstorms in them. Although these are cool the first
time they happen, they do on certain maps (such as 'Vinifera Pit') happen
in the exact same place every time. When this place happens to be Player
Start Point 1, and you are the player AT Start Point 1, it can get very
irritating. Perhaps to make the snowstorm a little more random in the
place they occur as well as random in the timing would make this addition
perfect (also to make all maps that have snowstorms so as it doesn't disrupt
Genesis radar systems would help, 'cause to lose your radar for a full
five minutes through no fault of your own isn't fun...).
Nemesis Sappers (whose shp I'm not overly fond of, but it's functional)
now have a much more important role to play, through the ability to capture
a much wider variety of tech structures (from the Air-Force testing ground
that enables production of the admittedly weak but good scouting Ptarmigan
planes, to the Lesser Aditum and Vinifera Storage facility), as well as
giving big bonuses when capturing Genesis structures (they don't get the
standard Genesis units, they get a 'Hybrid' unit. Think Capture Pack with
a few minor differences)
Before I used to love playing as Genesis. I still do, but they've lost
some of their supremacy with the alteration of the pricing. Now, everything
doubles when you build their Tech Lab (Venagenum or something they call
it). This totally annihilates the use of the Leviathan (Genesis' long-range
artillery) because you generally sell it on building of an airfield, so
as you can get your aerial units and Seraph infantry cheaper.
Also, Nemesis units now have voice packs! Excluding the Phlogiston rocket
launcher and Sapper (and the infantry who use the TS infantry voice),
all units have excellently-recorded voices that really make them stand
out. Shame Genesis haven't got similar treatment yet (I hope to God they
put it in, because those voices they've already done own).
They have even enhanced the already incredible graphics, and (Wait for
it) have actually shaved a full 10mb off the total download size! God
only knows how they've done that, but they have.
The worst thing (indeed probably the only truly bad thing) about AR2 is
that they've split it up, with the main files in one download and the
music files in another. The thing is, the music files don't work right
from the module. I would much rather they had just kept it as one download
(there is already 10mb knocked off). Would allow people to use the music
so much easier.
But that's only a minor complaint. And besides, if you have the music
anyway you could prolly stick it into your RA2 directory and use them
to play the music without needing the module, or bung it into Winamp and
run it in the background.
Download it. It's only 20.3mb for the mod and the module, so you've got
no excuse other than not having YR (which ain't true, is it? If it is,
why are you on the Guild?), and this mod is a damn good reason to go out
and buy it in itself.
Rating: 10/10 once again. Long live AR2!
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