Khimera Battlegrounds by YaNkFaN
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:14 am
It's Finally Here!
--KHIMERA BATTLEGROUNDS--
by YaNkFaN
What you actually get with this mappack
5 new maps each with 3 random environments each
12 random heroes (3 for each team) that are completely random in all modes
Conquest CTF and 1Flag for all maps
Dark Times Era Support for all 5 maps
all for under 90mb
Enjoy
Review by Nihillo
My review (directed not only at Yankfan as a report, but as an actual review instead):
Khimera is the best map pack I have played for SWBF II. Now, I know there aren't many of them, but the few we have available are mostly high-quality projects produced by talented individuals -making a mod is not for amateurs, I suppose- and while it is difficult to compete with the likes of Maveritchell and Xavious, Yankfan manages to sucessfully equal said standards and introduce some conceptual innovations.
This "planet-pack" (as I'm going to refer to it) is a collection of a variety of thematic battle fronts, each with a different gameplay:
Beach reminds me of Vietnam War games, patrolling gunships offer air support to a batallion of troopers attempting to break enemy fortified defenses, a suicidal mission that might end up in disaster or in the beggining of an invasion; while the defenders provide a phenomenal resistance, they are not overwhelming and the invaders have many advantages that can be used to spearhead the attack on enemy lines, providing a well balanced gameplay.
Islands (a misnomer, in my opinion) is a forestal map that reminds me of the battle of endor in a way, command posts are always changing hands, but none of them seems to be at a tactical disvantage, with fortified gun emplacements protecting the scattered CPs from flanking and direct attacks; instead of the frontal clash of forces present in Beach, Islands has a chaotic nature.
Most of the combat in Jungle happens at the river crossing the map, walkers and repulsor tanks support a contingent of soldiers in their advance, while smaller groups battle it out in the woods and ruins.
Plains has a cinematic beginning, with walkers striding alongside troops, in CW conquest there is even a dropship bringing a perfectly functional AT-TE to the battle. The map has a simple layout and is very open, with the ocasional structure here and there, while it stands as a great map by itself, it's just too... well... plain when compared to the other maps.
Streets, the shining (actually dark) jewel of the planet pack, is a ruined city (capital?) of Khimera, if you have played Virmund City, you should expect a similar quality in the structure of the city, the gameplay, however, is paced differently, while Virmund has various levels with intersections at the end of linear passages, Streets has one plane divided into two sections by a river and connected by a few bridges at the middle, CPs are placed in interesting areas across each sides. The ambience here is astonishing, literally a picture that comes to life, I won't describe it because I don't want to spoil it for anyone.
The overall theme is sustained throughout the pack, with glimpses of the next map clearly visible at the horizon, a really nice touch that makes the maps feel like they are set near each other.
The classic Yankfan sides are present, which is always a good thing, players should expect some new weapons, though. The Clone Legion is plain white, an interesting (but not completely original, I am aware of that) take on the usually colorful Clones, possibly implying a transitory stage of alleigances, whatever the case may be, I like them, they have a simple and somewhat formal appearance, similar to stormtroopers; Droids have the good and old beige B1s with a OOM security droid and a B2 thrown in the mix; The Imperial faction looks similar to that we have seen in Servorum, grey troopers with insignias of the empire while Rebels have Bothans as snipers and their usual camouflaged uniforms.
Yankfan's Khimera planet pack is a testament to the authors professional skil, a solid mod with a beautiful scenario and -most importantly- excellent gameplay. be sure to download it as soon as it is released, because this is a must-have for everyone.
please read the readme it is imperative because it contains crucial installation instructions
This works online in multiplayer
This does not edit the shipped game at all and is compatible with the Dark Times mode (obviously) and v1.3 patch ( I am not sure about all the other big mods just due to the fact that I do not have them)
README
PICS
Link: http://starwarsbattlefront.filefront.co ... nds;100426
Enjoy
Edit: Fixed some of the credits
--KHIMERA BATTLEGROUNDS--
by YaNkFaN
What you actually get with this mappack
5 new maps each with 3 random environments each
12 random heroes (3 for each team) that are completely random in all modes
Conquest CTF and 1Flag for all maps
Dark Times Era Support for all 5 maps
all for under 90mb
Enjoy
Review by Nihillo
My review (directed not only at Yankfan as a report, but as an actual review instead):
Khimera is the best map pack I have played for SWBF II. Now, I know there aren't many of them, but the few we have available are mostly high-quality projects produced by talented individuals -making a mod is not for amateurs, I suppose- and while it is difficult to compete with the likes of Maveritchell and Xavious, Yankfan manages to sucessfully equal said standards and introduce some conceptual innovations.
This "planet-pack" (as I'm going to refer to it) is a collection of a variety of thematic battle fronts, each with a different gameplay:
Beach reminds me of Vietnam War games, patrolling gunships offer air support to a batallion of troopers attempting to break enemy fortified defenses, a suicidal mission that might end up in disaster or in the beggining of an invasion; while the defenders provide a phenomenal resistance, they are not overwhelming and the invaders have many advantages that can be used to spearhead the attack on enemy lines, providing a well balanced gameplay.
Islands (a misnomer, in my opinion) is a forestal map that reminds me of the battle of endor in a way, command posts are always changing hands, but none of them seems to be at a tactical disvantage, with fortified gun emplacements protecting the scattered CPs from flanking and direct attacks; instead of the frontal clash of forces present in Beach, Islands has a chaotic nature.
Most of the combat in Jungle happens at the river crossing the map, walkers and repulsor tanks support a contingent of soldiers in their advance, while smaller groups battle it out in the woods and ruins.
Plains has a cinematic beginning, with walkers striding alongside troops, in CW conquest there is even a dropship bringing a perfectly functional AT-TE to the battle. The map has a simple layout and is very open, with the ocasional structure here and there, while it stands as a great map by itself, it's just too... well... plain when compared to the other maps.
Streets, the shining (actually dark) jewel of the planet pack, is a ruined city (capital?) of Khimera, if you have played Virmund City, you should expect a similar quality in the structure of the city, the gameplay, however, is paced differently, while Virmund has various levels with intersections at the end of linear passages, Streets has one plane divided into two sections by a river and connected by a few bridges at the middle, CPs are placed in interesting areas across each sides. The ambience here is astonishing, literally a picture that comes to life, I won't describe it because I don't want to spoil it for anyone.
The overall theme is sustained throughout the pack, with glimpses of the next map clearly visible at the horizon, a really nice touch that makes the maps feel like they are set near each other.
The classic Yankfan sides are present, which is always a good thing, players should expect some new weapons, though. The Clone Legion is plain white, an interesting (but not completely original, I am aware of that) take on the usually colorful Clones, possibly implying a transitory stage of alleigances, whatever the case may be, I like them, they have a simple and somewhat formal appearance, similar to stormtroopers; Droids have the good and old beige B1s with a OOM security droid and a B2 thrown in the mix; The Imperial faction looks similar to that we have seen in Servorum, grey troopers with insignias of the empire while Rebels have Bothans as snipers and their usual camouflaged uniforms.
Yankfan's Khimera planet pack is a testament to the authors professional skil, a solid mod with a beautiful scenario and -most importantly- excellent gameplay. be sure to download it as soon as it is released, because this is a must-have for everyone.
please read the readme it is imperative because it contains crucial installation instructions
This works online in multiplayer
This does not edit the shipped game at all and is compatible with the Dark Times mode (obviously) and v1.3 patch ( I am not sure about all the other big mods just due to the fact that I do not have them)
README
Hidden/Spoiler:
PICS
Hidden/Spoiler:
Hidden/Spoiler:
Hidden/Spoiler:
Hidden/Spoiler:
Hidden/Spoiler:
Hidden/Spoiler:
Hidden/Spoiler:
Hidden/Spoiler:
Enjoy
Edit: Fixed some of the credits
and for having released this fantastic mappack.
, so you don't have to credit me, unless you deem it appropriate.