Giampi Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 (edited) Operations Snake Strike and After Shock Author: Blakarion Type of mod: Campaign mods Downloads Operation: Snake Strike Operation: After Shock Introduction Blakarion belongs to the new modders generation after the first generation of Jack57, AV-Apollo and Right-hand, just to name some of them. It was February 27th of this year when Blakarion advertised the next release of his first mod "Operation Snake Strike", a 10 mission campaign mod followed, few months after, by Operation After Shock. The imminent release of his last project, Operation: Dark Star, brought me the idea to review the first 2 mods to push the player to play them before the (for now) last chapter. Storyboard Blakarion played all his mods around a new squad, rather than the same, boring, Ghosts. The new team is called Ghost Team A9 and, in Operation Snake Strike, it has been sent to Iraq to help the conventional troops to invade Iraq in early 2003. As stated in the readme file Blakarion wrote the plot of his mod before the beginning of the real war, and the end of the campaign he will leave the door opened for a sequel, a sequel that comes with Operation: After Shock. Starting again in Iraq the action of After Shock Operation brings the A9 team to the Caribbean to find that........ Scripting Blakarion is a good example of how a new modder could improve in his quality with exercise and good will. If you compare the scripting of the mission of the first pack comparing with the second one (and the third one will surprise you) you will see how the quality and complexity has increased. Having stated this I can't say that the first mod is poor scripted: missions are very good and only sometimes it's possible to see some bugs such as spawning killing. I can mention that Operation SS doesn't have any insertion cinematic and I strongly agree with the Blakarion's choice. Since his first mod was just to learn he preferred to concentrate on the high playability of the missions rather than high visual effects. Do you remember my last reviews of Pressure when I spoke about the very good Mig's scripting style? Well, Blakarion's style is completely different, more similar to Jack57 or Aus Viper's, so in almost every mission you will find a surprise. Extras Missions are the hearts of this mods but everything is well detailed. Just to mention something: * some retextured maps * very good use of the MP maps * splash screens * new weapons and kits (courtesy borrowed from other modders) * new allied and enemies uniforms Issues It has been reported that sometimes the last mission of Operation After Shock causes a CTD at the startup. This seem to be related by the fact that the map adopted is a custom map made by Low Profile. If this is your case try to decrease the detail levels and cross your fingers! Conclusion Do you have Desert Siege and Island Thunder and are in hurry to play Operation: Dark Star? Don't go to your videoshop to rent some movies, stay home and download these two mods: you will be absorbed by the adventures of A9 Team ready to go to Indonesia for the next chapter. Fans feedback I loved your mod up until counter attack. After about 10 attemps at it I have given up. Some tips would be helpful right about now mate. Because this really is a nice mod with lots of work put into it. Berzerker blakarion.....can't wait!!!! ....you realize once I get the mod, I'll be in front of my pc for the entire weekend!!!!! Ghost gamer I would like to say that so far the MOD is great! Glaeken Overall scores: Op. Snake Strike 7 / 10 Op. After Shock 8 / 10 Reviewed by Giwex Edited August 1, 2008 by Rocky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRP 56 Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 (edited) I enjoyed these two mods and am looking forward to the third installment. Good Job Blakarion. Edited October 7, 2004 by KRP 56 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandonKappel Posted October 9, 2004 Share Posted October 9, 2004 Good Job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rioghan_celt Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Hey man, I've downloaded both of your previous mods and busted my ###### to get through em. Nice work! I was shocked with the rapid turnaround between the first two mods, but I'm certainly not gonna complain. You keep making them, and I'll keep downloading em! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakarion. Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 @ rioghan_celt : The quick turnaround between was because I had started scripting OpAS whle still finishing off OpSS. And when I had published OpSS I started on Operation : Dark Star ! All in all it has taken me 9-10 months to complete a Mod, hopefully I can speed that up I like to flit backwards and fowards between different Mods / problems until its sorted, so for instance now Ive expandd my skills and especially my Moddelling skills, Im currently 50% thorugh Operation : Thunderbolt (Mod after OpDS), and Im looking at what models etc I will need for Mod#5 in the Blakops series ! The reason why OpDS has taken so long is a) Im making sure its exstensivly tested by Giwex and others and b) Ive added models etc o it, and the missions needed retweaking to incorporate them and c) Ive learnt I lot doing OpDS and that all takes time And to all: I hope u all enjoy OpDS when its releasd ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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