Battlefield 1942: The Road to Rome Review
Review - EA's quick sharp expansion for BF1942 arrives on our desks, and Martin promptly steals it
Version tested: PC
In the four months or so since our review of Battlefield 1942, the game has fast become one of the most popular multiplayer games in existence. Obviously seeing a prime opportunity to make a bit of extra cash on the back of this tremendous success, EA have seen fit to furnish fans with the Road to Rome expansion pack - can it successfully pick up where DiCE left off with the original BF1942, or is it more of a pathetic stumble in a vague forward kind of direction?
Did someone say this was an expansion?
The original set of maps included with BF1942 haven't aged particularly - the experience is still just as exhilarating as it was on release, perhaps even more so with the tweaks introduced by the recent patch. The single player game has become a legitimate and worthwhile feature with the introduction of some semblance of intelligence in the AI controlled soldiers, small arms have an actual use these days, you can't be sniped with a machine gun from hundreds of feet away any more, and everybody is generally happy. So what are we getting with Road to Rome that makes it a worthwhile purchase, when we're quite happy with what we've got?
Well, EA's official feature list says it all: six new maps from the Sicilian and Italian campaigns. Eight new vehicles including the German BF-110 and British Mosquito fighter bombers, British and Italian tanks, and anti-tank guns. Two new fighting forces: the French legionnaires and Italian forces. Three new weapons including a rifle grenade launcher, the British Sten SMG, and bayonets. And that's your lot, basically. Frankly, a compliment of six maps and some extra toys is pathetic, and does not constitute an "expansion" in my mind. Eight "new" vehicles may seem a significant boost, but to call them "new" is stretching the meaning of the word, as they don't particularly bolster the game with fresh new vehicles, they're effectively new models for existing ones with tweaked off-ence and defence statistics.
This isn't to say the content here is by any means bad; the maps that have been included are fantastic for the most part. Monte Cassino in particular warrants a special mention for creating such a frenetic and tense battle, as French forces attempt to storm Germans entrenched within a monastery, all the while the crack of thunder mixes with the booming of anti-tank shells. With a relentless assault on the part of the Allies, and strong defensive positions for the Germans, it's a battle that could swing either way very easily. It's this type of map that reminds us why we loved BF1942 in the first place; it really feels like you're part of a war. This is easily the strongest map in the pack, although hardly worth the admission price alone, and some of the other maps pale in comparison, with the Anzio and Salerno missions coming across as particularly weak.
Milky milky
So we have a curious problem here. The content is actually really very good; the new models are great, the new forces have, er... pretty uniforms and funny accents, most of the six (six!) maps are excellent, and of course there are the bayonets - cool. The single player game, with the addition of the extra missions, feels a little fuller than before, but is it worth the money for an expansion that doesn't particularly, well, expand?
With the mod community still in its infancy and a noticeable lack of extra missions available on the internet, it seems wise for hardcore Battlefield addicts to grab a copy if only to satiate their cravings for a while, and that's who it seems sensible to recommend this patch - sorry - pack to. Then again, you're not going to pass up the opportunity to play it even if I tell you to. For the rest of you casual players, unless you've really got £18 burning a hole in your wallet, it would probably be wise to steer clear if only to show EA that this kind of blatant cash-in is pretty unacceptable.
This is the sort of content that should be made available to faithful customers absolutely gratis, and it's a shame EA feel the need to charge their swelling community for the privilege of getting their hands on a smattering of new missions and models which should have been in the game in the first place. Meanwhile, Digital Extremes today releases a six map pack for UT2003 - for free. Then again, if you're prepared to fork out your hard earned for a patch, be my guest.
6 / 10
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Comments (92) Latest comment 7 years ago
Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!
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But if you're a fan, well it's a no-brainer. You got more with the MOHAA expansion so it's a little mean.
I'll wait; still trying to suss out the main game.
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It's all a bit tight. 6 maps!?!?!?
Once the mod community gets into the swing of things this expansion will look really bad value.
I, however, am also a complete sucker for this game and to be honest, this will cost me less than one visit to the bar near work...
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Expected a review of this ilk...
Laugh about it is that some of the mods around are A) amazing and B) totally free. So as long as there's a modding community like Desert Storm chucking out good product we still get a good deal as BF1942 players.
EA have always been like this though. Always will too.
Peej
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Who says they're working for free?
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Could that ever be in a good way?
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But perhaps the pricing could have been slightly more competitive...
However, let's support 1942 and the quality game that it is.
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However, to me, any addition such as this is a worthy one, and £18 is not a lot to pay for beautifully hand crafted maps, which have also been playtested a lot to ensure balance etc.
The inclusion of tanks with protected machinegun turrets will make a BIG difference to the game as well. Bayonets are, as you rightfully say, cool; as are the new nations (france/italy).
This pack, together with the imminent release of patch 1.3 should ensure that bF1942 continues to grow.
I look forward to the next expansion pack, and also the release of a level editor !
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I stated as much in the review.
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No. Developing games is their job. They earn royalties for games until the games stop selling. They don't stop earning money because they have moved onto developing expansion packs. Think about it.
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Still think it deserved a 7...
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Think of the hours of fun that will come from just these 6 maps. If you get only 18hrs of enjoyment from it, it will have been £1 an hour well spent !
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Er, I don't think there *IS* a good way...!
Peej
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Entirely. Why do you think the map editor isn't out yet?
I'll be buying it anyway, although I won't be happy. Changing the freakin' French at Casino. They didn't take it.
/Goes to sulk in a corner
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It didn't really matter what the review said or score was. It's the value I give to the original game which makes it this way for me.
I enjoy the original game enough that I want such official maps etc to enable me to play across the widest range of BF servers.
I'll probably even get it for Xbox (if it ever arrives) simply so I can have a fix in the living room.
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Joy, Joy
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Because it costs roughly the same price as most other PC games.
"How do you know that thoose money spent on the original game actually was enough to cover 4-5 years of development?"
Please, this is EA we're talking about.
"you gotta look at the value of the pack, of the content - instead of just comparing it to the original game."
The score is based on value, the review is based on fact. End of story.
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When's it out?
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UT2003 having a bunch of maps today given away free doesn't bother me, I don't like the game.
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Oh you can bet your ASS that they will be churning out BF1942 game after BF1942 game. They've even supposedly canned the console versions just to concentrate on the development of more PC versions. So it'll be like the FIFA / Sims series all over again methinks.
Not a bad thing if they do something about tidying up the engine and sorting the shitty single player experience out.
peej
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"Battlefield 1943"?
i.e. the new marketing formula:
"Battlefield " & PresentYear - 60
Man, those EA marketing guys are creative! LOL
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But not the Poles who took Monte Cassino not the French, who were too busy drinking wine and smoking Gitanes at the time. Probably.
I thought I'd save FWB the typing this time!
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Thank-you, Whizzo. I'm training you well.
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What all six of them?
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I forgot how cheap some of you are.
Most of you complaining are probably going to pirate it anyway, so what's the difference.
btw, Mouse, I bet you get to play most of your games for free, don't you, maybe that's why you're so out of touch.
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It'll probably have it's own executable with another CD key so the warez route won't work.
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Sorry, did you even read the review?
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That is purely a matter of opinion, and you know it. The thing is, Epic cares for it's fans. UT2K3's map community is starting to explode with all sorts of maps. EA decide to cash in on BF1942's fans by depriving them of a map editor of any kind and making them wait for an official expansion that adds as little as possible for the highest price tag they could get it through with.
See the differences? Just because you find that UT2K3 sucks does not in any way mean that EA is somehow friendlier to their customers. It's the exact opposite.
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I'll take you up on that, I will.
Så: Gräv fram din engelskabok från mellanstadiet och börja läs. I am, You are, he/she/it is...
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We all know you don't need the word "Swedish" in there.
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1. EA doesn't run the servers, methinks.
2. Addons are meant for the current userbase, although they do have a tendency to sell some original games too.
3. Of course it will get deleted, you know the rules here, no?
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15+ guys sitting there on the airfield on Wake Island, all waiting for planes.
Gee, really great use of a multiplayer game there, arseholes!!!! (great target for the big ship gun though! HEHE!)
Plane campers are just that - plain camp!
Peej
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It's got their name plastered over lots of them so it is a least responsible for them.
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What's almost is bad is plane campers who then get a plane and can't actually fly very well.
More servers should have Coral Sea in the rotation, everyone gets a chance to fly if they want, others can protect the carrier either with AA or stoping downed enemy pilots getting on board and commando types can sneak their way to islands near the carriers and snipe.
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Any one know how Road to Rome installs? Do you run it as a separate entity to BF1942? Or will there be dedicated road to rome servers?
Peej
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Yep. A huge pain in the ass. Esepcially as they run you over trying to take off. Or even more annoying, they grab a tank or car at the start just to get to the plane. It means I have to tramp across the base to pick up the transport.
Any one know how Road to Rome installs? Do you run it as a separate entity to BF1942? Or will there be dedicated road to rome servers?
No idea, but I would imagine it'll be exactly the same for multiplayer (no additional *.exe). Patch 1.3 is going to allow non-R2R owners to play with those who have the addon, just not on the new maps. If that's the case I can't see there being a seperate loading up system.
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Wahey I'm wrong!
Is there a seperate CD key though? If not what's going to stop thing being pirated a lot?
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Peej
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Yep.
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Which is exactly why the community needs a real map editor.
For extra credit, here's the conspiracy theory: EA is holding back the map editor until it sells off RtR enough to recoup dev costs. Imagine those dirty bastards wanting to get paid for their work. Bastards.
With all the success that BF1942 has had since release, you'd think EA would find it financially plausible to just release the editor. Lord knows I'd buy an official expansion pack rather than download a mod made by fans, but EA is not even presenting fans with the oppurtunity to create mods. They just want to suck people dry.
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Sigh. Read the review again. I SAID that the content included is good, I DID review what is included in the pack. The reason it's rated low is because there isn't enough of it. If you were to go out and pay £20 for a standalone game with the same amount of content, you'd be pissed off, no matter how good that content might be.
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I don't know about map editors being available or not but there are 3rd party maps out there for BF1942, I downloaded some yesterday.
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You, sir, are a tosser.
If the reviewer of the product says, that IN HIS OPINION, it isn't worth the rather hefty amount asked, then OBVIOUSLY he doesn't feel it to be quality enough.
And a review is always an opinion. In fact, EVERYTHING'S an opinion - nothing can be completely objective. So go ¤"&%"¤% yourself.
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I disagree that the BF1942 community needs a map editor. If a game is really easily editable, you find the whole community gets absolutely flooded with badly put together poorly finished maps. Same goes for mods. I'd rather wait for good official content and I don't really mind paying for it as it will be widely supported, rather than just take my chances with a bunch of substandard maps and mods that a bunch of idiots put together.
Peej
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When did I say this? Why do people seem to think I did? And, once again, they aren't working for free, they're earning money from BF1942 already, and that money isn't going to spontaneously stop coming in any time soon.
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It does seem that they've just rushed the recent patch out to coincide with this release. In the main its ok, except my housemates computer crashes to desktop if someone joins his LAN game :-/ My main gripe is STILL the complete lack of a Linux server. If EA/Dice want people to buy the game and expand the community they should learn to properly support online gaming. The Windows server has improved slightly, but that doesn't mean anything to the many Linux server ops who have the potential to run online servers. They blamed the delay of 1.2 partially on developing the Linux server, but even after 1.3 and the upcoming release of a mission pack there is nothing to be seen.
As I said, i'll buy the expansion, but I don't expect anything than half-hearted support for the product line. Sigh.
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Peej
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Will play test it tonight !!
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I managed to install and play this game for about 1/2 and hour at lunchtime. Below are my thoughts.
The installation process was totally painless, and I loaded the game using my original BF1942 shortcut (with TRTR cd in the drive).
I played a few maps (anzio, salerno I think), and I have to say, I am staggered. The quality of the maps is awesome - far more impressive than anything seen in the original game, in my opinion. There seems to be far more detail; in terms of the number of buildings, trees, barricades, canals etc etc. It might just be my imagination, but the graphics also seem clearer.
Now to the vehicles. The new tanks are excellent. The protected machine-gun positions really do make a massive diference. The twin engined bombers are aso very good - being very powerful but yet still fairly manouverable (from my brief experience of them). The fixed anti-tank guns, are a welcome addition. Providing mayhem on a large scale.
The Italian and French forces have excellent sounds (voices), and their weapons (ie the new italian assault rifle) is a masterpiece. I love it (especially the wonderful sound that eminates from its death spitting barrel).
Rather oddly, the installation of the TRTR seems to have cured any sound bugs etc that I had with 1.3 as well ! Also the internet play seems even smoother than before.
In conclusion, I would say this - If you own BF1942 buy The Road to Rome. If you don't own BF1942 (and you have broadband), buy the original game and the expansion; it will provide you with probably the most addictive, complete and compelling onlin play since Counter-strike/Tribes 2 etc.
In response to Mouse's review of this title, I would say this - If this pack cost £30.00, I would buy it. If this pack (with only 6 maps) was a complete game (ie. pretend BF1942 never existed) I would buy it. The quality is that good. It is nothing short of sensational.
It is my opinion, that in the years to come, people will look back on the BF1942 series (for this is what it will surely become) as being a landmark title in the evolution of online multiplayer games.
- Errol 6/2/2003
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2/6/03
Update: Battlefield 1942 v1.3 Patch
Since releasing the v1.3 patch two days ago we've kept our ears open, our browsers pointed to several key community sites, and clipboards at our side taking notes. We understand there are a few issues with the current patch and we're working hard to resolve them. Naturally this process takes time so we ask that you bear with us while we work on the next update. We are committed to releasing this update in short order. Details to follow soon.
EAComMike and the rest of the Battlefield 1942 team!
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