Rainbow Six: Raven Shield and/or Athena...

[Phait]

Are they any good? I remember playing a demo of RS and liked it, but I don't remember much about it. Is there any object physics, shootable lights, etc?

Is Athena an add-on or another installment?

I can get either for about $6.

[Mountain Man]

It's actually a pretty fun game. It was released before physics were a big deal in games, so don't look for anything other than basic ragdolls. No dynamic lighting, either, so you can't shoot out lights or anything like that.

Athena Sword is the addon for Raven Shield which offers six new single player missions and some new multiplayer content. These days you can find Raven Shield and Athena Sword in the same box for $20, which I think is a pretty good deal, but if you can get them for $6 then so much the better.

At this point, though, if you're looking for a good tactical shooter then I would strongly recommend the recently released SWAT 4.

[Fraeon Waser Duhni]

Mountain Man said:
At this point, though, if you're looking for a good tactical shooter then I would strongly recommend the recently released SWAT 4.



A "good tactical shooter" is a bit distracting since you rarely get to shoot things. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

But...that was part of the reason I personally ended up liking it.

[Gatinater]

I have Raven Shield & Athena Sword. I played all the way through Raven Shield, but I lost intrest with Athena sword. It wasn't that Athena sword is a bad expansion. I just had enough of the game, days after I bought Athena.

I don't care for SWAT 4, but that's me. It's too much like SWAT 3, and I've had enough SWAT 3.

[Hudson]

I think I got Raven Shield free with my sound card (or other piece of hardware), it's an alright game. The ragdoll effects are extremely messed up though, you get people who end up all twisted like pretzels and shit http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Mountain Man]

True about the ragdolls, but I still say bad ragdolls are far preferable to canned death animations that clip through everything in sight.

[Phait]

Do they use bones in character models? For instance, HL2? I've seen some weird ragdoll effects. If they used bones they most likely wouldn't have the problem.

[Mountain Man]

Raven Shield's ragdoll effects are inferior to Half-Life 2's. I'm not sure what sorts of techniques they use to animate them, but they do move a little oddly at times. Of course Karma is a pretty weak physics engine to begin with which is most of the problem.

But none of that affects the gameplay. It's still a terrific game.

[Morbid]

Both are excellent... we used to play it co-op with a friend while drinking tons of alcohol... it was very immersive (great sound!) and entertaining. Athena features some new fresh maps and the movement is a bit faster which is a good thing...

great times... when is SWAT 4 coming out?

[Mountain Man]

Morbid said:
when is SWAT 4 coming out?


About three weeks ago.

[Gatinater]

Can't believe you people pay that much attention to the ragdolls and physics.

[Morbid]

Mountain Man said:

Morbid said:
when is SWAT 4 coming out?


About three weeks ago.



Thx!

/... checking reviews http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dopefish.gif

[Reaper]

Gatinater said:
Can't believe you people pay that much attention to the ragdolls and physics.


Yes. It's an important feature nowadays.

[John]

Definitely. In these days realism and next gen go hand in hand.

[Gatinater]

Physics are neat and all, but after about five minutes after noticing the player doesn't care anymore. It's llike bullet holes. It's neat at first, but than no one cares.

And besides they're getting ridiculous with the physics. They're flipping over elevations and roling down stairs in ways that don't even look realistic.

I'm not saying take out physics, but it's not everything. Last time I checked when I shoot an empty 15 - 20LB oil drum with a .308 or .223 caliber rifle. AKA 7.62x51 & 5.56x45 the drum doesn't fly in the air or flip or jump 3ft. It wobbles a little bit and usually tips over slowly.

[Mountain Man]

Gatinater said:
It wobbles a little bit and usually tips over slowly.


Yeah, but that's no fun. Give me the exaggerated physics any day!

[Hudson]

Mountain Man said:

Gatinater said:
It wobbles a little bit and usually tips over slowly.


Yeah, but that's no fun. Give me the exaggerated physics any day!



Yeah really, it all depends on the context of the game. When you're going on a rampage having shit blown up and flying all over the place is extremely cool http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Gatinater]

Not to get off topic, but you know what's really fun? Shoot an alluminum trash can with some 3 inch magnum 8 or 9 pellete 00 buck. Stand about 10 to 15 feet away first. The can shatters like glass.