You start feeling old when you start to use the phrase "back in the old days" a little too liberally, but playing Sven Co-op (a lovely mod for Half-Life) for the first time in six months I realised how much things had changed. All of a sudden the simple "Go around with you mates and (attempt) to annihilate all the monsters in your path, intespersed with random crowbar attacks, spraying humerous images on all the walls and general tomfoolery, had changed into something so sterile.... so serious. Sven Co-op had turned into an RPG. All of a sudden I was stopping every two minutes to distribute Stat Points i had earned for levelling up, shouting at the screen "FOR GOD SAKE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO SC?? I JUST WANT TO KILL THINGS!!!!!". I blame the recent surge in popularity for MMORPG's, giving a generation of twelve-year-olds (with microphones) a way of making their blatant inability to cope with reality (by playing games and reaching insanely high levels and thus feeling superior over all others) seem like a genuine advantage. OK, fine for an RPG, but for a co-operative the ranking system is completely out of place.
So by now you're asking "What does this bizarre rant have to do with UT?", well I'm about to tell you.
Just recently I downloaded a mod for UT2004 called UT2004RPG, a pretty self-explanatory title, but what makes this different from Sven Co-op heresy? One reason: Whereas in a co-operative game levels are nigh-on useless and just a plain nuisance, they work particularly well in the UT universe. Not just because the UT universe is just plain awesome, but because levels are actually useful in UT. So whats the basic premise?
Initially (after installation, or clearing of stats) you will start as level 1, with all the amenities and abilities that a bog-standard arena fighter has, but earn enough experience points and you will level up and earn some Stat Points which you can either put into you basic stats (like maximum health, max adrenaline, max ammo, damage bonus etc) but you can also save up and 'buy' skills (like regenerating health, vampirism, higher jumping and many more) to give you the edge in combat. You can also collect Relics (reminiscent of Chaos UT99) which can also give you valuable bonuses like Flight and Invulerability, but these rely heavily on you Adrenaline level (as with the standard UT2004 adrenaline combos) so as to keep the playing field level.
Don't think the RPG experience stops there. Just like in RPG's, weapons can be magically enhanced. In the case of UT2004RPG the enhancements are on damage and then a random attribute like Force, Poison or Luck. For example, a +4 Poisoned Link Gun would be a link gun that causes gradual damage (for a short time) with a 40% increase in base damage when you hit them. You can get some rather cool combinations like a Force Shock Rifle (To push people that extra mile) or a poisoned flak cannon (If they don't get shredded they'll die of poisoning!).
Ok, so there are a few niggles here and there. For instance attributing stat points is difficult in the heat of battle, but you can always wait for a quiet time (if applicable) and stats are purely optional. Its not like in Sven Co-op where the monsters are so tough you really ought to be frequently distributing them if you want to survive. Another instance would be the level system, although you can't blame UT2004RPG for the biggotry inherant in the level system. There will always be "n00bism" wherever there are numbers to be had that can be higher than other peoples'. Apart from that a well rounded mod with plenty to keep you going.
Try Invasion for that monster-blasting true RPG style without the farcical people rushing to get points for completing objectives before anyone else, frequent in Sven co-operative's linear A -> B level flow, which is fine in a non-RPG environment.
Look -
10 -- Slick interface that integrates very well into the UT HUD
Playability -
8 -- Unfortunately distributing stats points in battle is still a sticking point, but can't be helped in an RPG. Works in every game mode though!
Fun Factor -
9 -- Revolutionises the way you play UT. Combine with InvasionEverywhere2 mod for extra fun!
Online Potential -
7 -- Unfortunately the level system, and the way power makes people act dampens this rating...
Programming -
10 -- Not a problem in sight. Bots knew how to use stats and relics. Didn't interfere in any part of the game!
Overall:
88%
I apologise for the ranting and frequent SC references, but the golden age is over lol Get this mod if you think DM could use a change of pace!
Deimenried
