The lost symbol for COD

Level name : The Lost Symbol

Author : Radoslav 'De_Vice' & Victor 'Spaik' Borissov

Date of release : 26 October 2006

Size : 40 576 ko

Number of maps : 2


Website : none

Download:



Story:

This is a single player mission for Call of Duty. The Lost Symbol is a story based on the game RtCW. The pack contents custom textures,xmodels and good music from RtCW.

Even if this was release as a beta it just has as only minor issue that the objective aren't include for the rest it's fully playable

Review:

After several asking to active people from the community there seems to be no objective string added even if all objective points are correctly put together.

Design look directly ambitious with an intro cutscene that show you the butifull castle wolfenstrein like you never saw it before and so you are at the main gate the enter the nightmare and steal the magnificiant orb. Architecture is really outstanding with perfect squaling and interconnection, totally feetting textures form COD and RTCW and lot more content from RTCW included german speaking and original sound. Attention was put everywhere to create a impressive conversion from one of the first WW2 FPS game. This release divided in two part is really a succession of great looking area from indoor to outdoor with a big amount of inteconnectivity that keep the player immersed in a one whole unit...the design has for me no evident flaws and really provide another expeirence according this great COD game.

Gampelay is also well manage from place to place you will fight against those nasty enemies customed from RTCW, the mix between search activating button and battling is well balanced with good enemies placement and well oirented travelling in a non linear way. You are in castle wolfenstein so the search for glory as something special and is more related to a Graal hunting that to the classic Call of Duty war experience we could perhaps hope to some more COD feature like for example a huge attack that need to be holded with a squad experience or an Mg42 or with the look to RTCW the quest for secret places or the present of it's particular weapon or enemies; those small difference are mostly the personal touch of Borissov brother's thatn a complain to their appoach. Finally the quest for the holy Grall took it's personnal orientation with a good similitude to the RTCW with its traps and nasty surprise...

In conclusion : It has been a while since something different came for COD (I know it's already one year old), with it's particular atmosphere, great looking architecture and well balanced gameplay this beta release is really a must have without any hesitation part of my top 5 favorite maps .



Playtime : 50 Minutes



Rating : A B C D E (94%)

Warzawa 1944 for COD

Level name : Warzawa 1944

Author : Robert Wiaz

Date of release : 09 February 2005

Size : 1 839 ko

Number of maps : 1


Website : here not active anymore

Download:



Story:

None I could understand but it was based on a picture and some events that happens at the end of the war in Warshow. You could easily make a correlation with some resistance intervention that main objective should be to kill all german officers that are in the City of Warsow.

special note: a special thanks to Robert 'grinder' that help me with the translation of the objective string it's not perfect and some message will still spawn in polish (I appologize for that) it's still better playable that in the original version, for those non polish players

Review:

Even if the first idea was quite interesting in making a translation of a short moment of the polish history and the end and regarding that this relaese is the third from Robert, it left more disappointment than enjoyment.

Design, as a first global look, especially through the documentation added seems quite promising, and so is goes on as you first progress, Architecture has a good consistancy but will quite fast tumble through it's obvious repetition by simply copy/pasting of building with some tight stairs and repetitive textures and doors that need to be open for exploration. In addition to this you will also encounter one of the think I dislike the most in modern mapping: invisible walls that block you way but not your eye looking. Scale is perfect and for sure the creation according the original is well done but those highlights looks pretty weak in regards with the whole unit.

For the gameplay it's quite straight forward and certainly too challenging with enemies respawn in those small strairs and hallways, you will certainly have some surprise when, on a corner, a german soldier will rush on you. Those doors that need to be open can cause also some frustration while not opening or in the wrong way...don't rush but sneak and kill all enemies as fast as you can to prevent frustration...In term of objectives everything seems quite obvious and if you look constently to you objective orientation you won't have any problem especially with the last one... that don't need you to get back to the starting place.

In conclusion : The idea was quite original and the first impression was also going in the same direction, but finally through a boring and repetitive gameplay the player, or at least me just finish this one without any good feeling or enjoyment.



Playtime : 30 Minutes



Rating : A B C D E (61%)

Sorry for the lack of update

Perhaps because i'm in the mood a little I have two maps to review still for COD/UO perhpas a third one...several left for COD4 and one for COD2...so I don't know if there will be a lot of new release in the future but the good days, except perhaps for COD5 and after, is behind us I think. That's why I have add a poll just running for a month asking to you readers if you would like to have some Medal Of Honor review here...I certainly could have some interesting ones

BTW I'm really thankfull to those peoples who gave me some featback about potential map to review...thanks to them ;)

Homefront: Downtown for COD4

Level name : Homefront : Downtown

Author : Babycop

Date of release : 7 November 2008

Size : 76 119 ko

Number of maps : 1


Website : here

Download link: here

Other map reviewed from the author :


SP Offensive,Leningrad,Stalingrad,Homefront: Cells


Story and Mission (take from the readme file):

The world we know is changing. The western world dives into a new era.
Boundaries are broken. New frontiers are reached.
The war on terror, chaos, and tyranny has set foot onto new grounds.
The fight is carried to our doorstep.
This is the Homefront.

Recent terror threats have pressed American authorities to increase the securitywarning to high alert. In the heart of downtown, Marines are called upon tosafeguard the citizens. Summer festivities and business conventions are underwayand some streets have been closed off for the activities.
On this hot summer evening, an innumerable group of terrorists, assembled from allaround the continent, have put to execution a never before seen large scale attack. Taken by surprise, your mission is to eliminate all terrorists and rescue pinned down colleagues and civilians throughout the downtown streets.

Review:

After several preview releases for CODUO and COD2 (Leningrad and Stalingrad) the 'brothers team' started to build some mission for COD4. The first one (Homefront: Cells) could be considered as a learning experience and despites it's relative limited developement and gameplay, it was an honest enjoyable experience. I was so waiting for it's sequel that came out already 5 months ago but for which i didn't take the time till yesterday to play. I really didn't regret to play this one yesterday

Design and architecture may look a little repetitive according to the collection of skyscrapper and the quite linear avenue you will travel too, but this is the real approach necessary for a lot of big city arround the world. The design looks quite realistic and while you progress will add some additional route to 'alternative environment. the short indoor experience was perhaps the weekest part of this release...not enough detailed, too 'mazy' progression and the elevator that is more looking as a service lift...
There isn't a lot of thing to tell about design...it's sure repetitive and not that much detailed in general but this is what lots of city town looks like.

Gameplay is one more time the highlight of this pack by mixing in a quite professional way, short cutsceenes, voice acting and triggered events. Babycop pushed this COD4 experience to a level not enough reached before. The scripting approach as a kind of dancing lesson were the teacher lurn you to move with a certain rythm so that you totally manage to enjoy the experience that you just learn. Babycop's experience alternates heavy challenging fights, enjoyable cutscenes, and even some sniping precision objective. It's put together as a road movies and immerse you into the mission as the leading actor...you don't really pay attention to design and detail you simple rush for a tremendus experience with you squad.

In conclusion: After a first opus in the homefront serie that disapoints me a little, Babycop took the necessary time to shine with a release that cetainly gonna sound in the future as a MUST PLAY experience... Irak war is certainly not far way from this experience, hopefully it's just a game for us.

Playtime : 30 minutes



Rating : A B C D E (91%)

COD Assault for CODUO

Level name : Call of Duty Assault

Author : Briant 'Gunrock' Robinson

Date of release : 16 March 2009

Size : 224 286 ko

Number of maps : 12



Website : here

Download link: here

Other map reviewed from the author :

Nightfire, SAS Manor, Trench86, Wayward, Argentan, CODUO Missions, COD Valor, Toy Soldier


Author's Note:

12 single player maps. Your a American 3rd Infantry Division Soldier fighting the war in africa, italy and france normandy.

Review:

Not so far after an already big release called :COD Valor Briant is back with a even huge addon containing 3 campains (Afrika, Italy and France) from 4 maps each. It has special content with new squad and envrinonment texturing a brand new weapon and new music. For this episode there is no custom voice acting only on text message.

I won't make a as much detailed review as for COD Valor and will only focus on a general approach to focus on things I really liked and the little downwards.

Design is from the same bottle as previous releases from Gunrock, he has reach for me a above average level but except some more complicated architecture I didn't see a huge change between previous release and this one it's certainly not perfrect but really not far away from (what I would like to build things like this...) All theme, according campain, are well implemented and also give some varaition from airfield to town passing by a boat experience even evening or morning missions; Briant really make a huge effort to his pack to make it as much varied as possible. The only minor point to take in account is the fact that Briant does'nt bother about detail and taking time to build them especially regarding indoor parts of town houses where some rooms ave simply fill with armo box or simply...empty.

Gameplay is perfectly balance and really highlight this pack. the way Briant handle you progression and objective to achieve is nearly perfect and really immerse you with your team squad through the 12 maps for each you will play for arround 20min except the two last one that are a lot more challenging (perhaps a too challenging especially the last one). even some of the mission objective where you need to destoy objectives in trench maze or forest may look repetitive but it's a so enjoyable experience that I really don't care from travelling though those maze. In addition to those classic mission Briant added some more original objective with the highlight of the ship escape a la COD4 that was, perhaps short but really briliant and one of my prefered custom mission ever! finally Briant pushes the content like for COD valor to it's end with another enjoyable last sidescrolling cinematic to reward all the people who give him some custom content.

Afrika campain













Italy campain















France campain












In conclusion: Briant is certainly one of the most prolific mapper/designer 'man who can do everything' from this decade, and this always with an above average skill. I really hope he continues in the way of creating single player experience for all of us...This one was a great and memorable experience i will certainly play againin the future and really recommand you to directly, even if the download is huge, download this one that is till now, part of my Hall of fame custom collection.

Highly Recommanded

Playtime : 5 Hours

Rating : A B C D E (92%)

Backlot for COD4

Level name : Backlot

Author : Alex 'Sparks' Romo

Date of release : 17 April 2008

Size : 63 092 kb

Number of maps : 1


Website : here

Download link: Author's page

Story and Mission :

None If I understand right this was a modification, throught adding a strong sp gameplay, to an originally made MP map.

Review:

In this map the Author, mainly focussing on scritping, wanted to create a map oriented in a possible disturbing gameplay through playing as a enemy of the american troops...The goal is oriented in a multi purpose mission with a major one that is to old the place.

I really don't know if I'm right but the map Backlot is one of the favorite multiplayer map for COD 4 and is a map delivered with the original game, I won't describe the architecture and design that has a perfect professionnal layout and will only focus on the gameplay
Gameplay is quite restricted due the posibility and the size from the map. It has for sure in some place a quite clostrophobic feeling but the author was able to create an intense experience that didn't make you feel like being blocked in a small township.

Objectives are well trigered to make the mission intense, travelling can be sometime approxiamtive and the use of the compass is really necessary to know where to go next. Hopefully you have a lot of squad mate that make the experience more ballanced that if you were alone.

Challenge isn' t that difficult and this is perhaps the minor issue of this map conversion.

In conclusion: Alex was really able to create an intense and well scritped experience that except the point of vue ('enemy' role) was really enjoyable, with a good mix between objectives to achieve and combats. THis one is for sure a one to be tested.

Playtime : 20 minutes


Rating : A B C D E (78%)

sp_Pillar for COD4

Level name : sp_pillar

Author : Red

Date of release : 5 October 2008

Size : 36 167 ko

Number of maps : 1


Website : here

Download link: here (you may need to register to get this one : Recommanded)

Alternative Download:

Story and Mission :

None the author created at First a MP map and after converted this 'arena map' into a single player expeirence.

Review:

This map is a hard mission to service it's nohing to bother with what we are normally looking for as a mission oirented in team squad added with multi purpose objective. In this one you have several goals to achieve but mainly just need to survive...

Design is quite simple with a squared arena full of pillar and crossed by to water path from which you cannot get out. You will after need to go to a dark underground maze that you need to travel forward and backward...The ambiance isn't that bad but design is for sure quite limited

Gameplay is in the same way simple. First you will need to activate some stone that will give you the opportunity to autosave and breath a littlebit when the first previous objective are finished you will need to recover doxument and after escape in a portal futuristic way. Gameplay and combats are quite challenging and this seems to be the most import aim

In conclusion: This is a simple suriving experience with no eyelights nor realistic experiance but regarding to what we encountered in the actual gaming experience it's something different and for sure even if got a lot of frustration filling I was quite happy to finish it...

Playtime : 30 minutes


Rating : A B C D E (61%)