As the comparison chart illustrates, the difference in weapon strength can really be felt in the battlefield. The damaging effect of rifles over pistols, or even between rifles, almost always determines your strength in battle (unlike in other MMOFPS games where the guns feel like a mere aesthetic). Those who just opt to point and shoot would feel this distinction. Plus, body damages also vary from minor injuries to fatal ones. Well-placed and accurate shots, as always, can take down any opponent. But this time, Secret Operations can also detect fatal hits from other areas aside from the head. I’ve observed arm and leg damages to have the least reduction in HP, while the chest area is more devastating. With this type of anatomical recognition, the game’s accuracy comes into question. The game isn’t really perfect when it comes to accuracy. Sniper rifle tests turned out to be accurate 8 out of 10 times it was tested in battle (based on an averaging score across different battlefields with steady targets). I’ve noticed that the 2 failed attempts were off the mark. An intended headshot registered as kill to the chest area in the two failed shots. It won’t be necessarily noticeable in the heat of the battle, but it’s definitely worth looking in to when you prefer accurate shots more than just mindless shooting.

The game offers the typical team deathmatches and free-for-all elimination rounds. Perhaps other types of battle modes will be made available in the upcoming patches. However, with these two modes, there’s already a lot of fun and excitement in store for everyone. The controls are very much like Counter Strike, so the learning curve won’t be that steep. It’s the usual WASD movement, plus mouse for viewing and shooting. Weapon selection and radio commands are also the same with its predecessor. But there’s one difference for the radio commentary: the voices are native speakers of the country the character is from. Witty Japanese comments, British accents, or American English intonations can be heard in the radio before, during and after each skirmish. It adds a nice touch of realism to the game. 

And who wouldn’t love that interface? It’s absolutely simple yet non-obtrusive and effective. The minimap is very detailed, down to a T. I bet any FPS gamer would drool on such a map setup. It definitely helps when devising a strategy and knowing where your enemies are (since dead teammates register as an X on the minimap before respawning… you get the drift). The game also allows the use of items such as HP boosts and quick respawns times. The item bar takes time to charge up though. It sometimes becomes impractical using it since you’d be almost midway through the fight before it becomes fully usable. But still, a user-friendly interface merits another pat on YNK’s back. 

I’m actually surprised and impressed at one unique feature of the game: the addition of AI bots to the battle. The AI acts like any other human player! They camp, bunnyhop, lob grenades, get reckless and even engage in knife fights. The bots even have enough intelligence to plant the C4, or follow your orders on radio. These bots are substitutes for human players to balance out the teams in case the numbers fall short. The bots will disappear on the next respawn once a new player enters the room. Secret Operations outdid themselves with this, and it removes the idea of ganging up on the other team with the least members. Props to them for one amazing feature!

Compared to the other Counter Strike MMOFPS clones out there, Secret Operations is visually stunning. You’ve got complex maps with numerous passageways. Highly detailed areas and lots of breakable objects inspiringly litter the field. Every structure looks solid. Even blood splatters and bullet marks are respectable enough to consider it realistic for the game. Here’s a nice tidbit: the game was made out of the Source Engine, the very engine that made Counter Strike Source possible! The biggest gripe in terms of terrain would be collision and boundary problems. Bullets can still fly through walls like nothing’s there. It’s obvious for some thin wooden walls to let bullets through. But there are instances where gunshots coming from the opposite side of a brick wall would still hit you. Moving on, flashbangs have this amazing effect of whiting out the screen, blurring the vision and adding that ear-ringing sound that makes any player feel helpless. Even in death, there’s still some visual flair. Rag doll physics are tweaked in Secret Operations, allowing character models to lean on walls, float on water, lie on their backs or tummy, or just look plain dead. No more dead bodies going through walls or sinking beneath the floor! 

Like Counter Strike, Secret Operations still has a steep learning curve for players new to the genre. It takes time and practice to master the controls, get used to your arsenal, and be familiar with every nook and cranny of all maps. Once you’re past that, it’s a smooth-sailing fragfest for you and your teammates. It is definitely fun, it’s fast and it’s a must-play for any FPS fan!

Review Mister Black
October 27, 2009