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Spec Ops 2: Operation Bravo Expansion Pack
By Chris AbeleConclusion
So, what does this new ex-pack offer Spec Ops 2 owners? Free downloadable missions as well as a fair number of fixes to the single player game, and even a few nice touches to the multiplayer game. But, this patch seemed to focus more on the missions than the actual bug fixes. In fact, in the time I spent chatting with some Spec Ops series veterans, most expressed disappointment in the poor quality of the patch put out by the Zombie/Ripcord alliance.
Hold on. I still have some rounds left in this clip.
Yes, they admitted, it was free, but that simply was not an excuse for a patch that added more bugs than it originally was supposed to correct. In my own experiences with the patch, I found far too many bugs – bugs that should have been easily detected and remedied. Despite the claims of an improved AI, I was not impressed with their apparent new way-finding abilities.
For the next edition of the Spec Ops series, Zombie/Ripcord should consider tossing out the AI of the past and starting from scratch. Whether it was the unrealistic enemy AI or the useless let-me-follow-you-to-my-death teammate AI, it ruined my Spec Ops 2 single player experience.
But, as developers have discovered, online gaming is the way of the future. Spec Ops 2: Operation Bravo is one a solid multiplayer gaming experience. Finding and joining a game is an almost painless process, and the action is truly tense and engrossing.
Playing with human opponents and without the frustrating AI convinced me that the ex-pack’s download or purchase is worth it simply because of the multiplayer experience. For those of you without Spec Ops 2, a Spec Ops Platinum edition is available which combines the entire Spec Ops franchise, from the original to this latest Operation Bravo patch.
Reviewer’s System Specifications:
- Pentium III 550
- 128 Megs RAM
- Nvidia Riva TNT 16 Meg Video Card
- Windows 98SE
- DirectX 7.0a
- Soundblaster Live!
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