HEADS-UP DISPLAY
NAVIGATING THROUGH THE DEPTHS OF MODDB’S MOD LISTINGS CAN BRING UP A MIXED BAG AT THE BEST OF TIMES. WE’VE SIF TED
THROUGH THE ARCHIVES FOR YOU, AND FEEL THAT THESE MODS REPRESENT SOME OF THE BEST OFFERINGS RELEASED OR UPDATED IN 2009. —Ryan Anderson, ModDB
AGE OF CHIVALR Y
HALF-LIFE 2
www.age-of-chivalry.com
Parry, stab, and slash your way to victory
in this medieval, class-based Source mod.
Not many mods pull off melee combat,
but AGE OF CHIVALRY provides a satisfying
(and very gory) representation. Extensive
Steamworks support makes this the
first mod to offer detailed stats and
achievements.
THE BALL
UNREAL TOURNAMENT 3
http://theball.toltecstudios.com
THE BALL has you exploring ancient Aztec-style ruins and fighting the animated
remains of its former inhabitants with
nothing more than a large, magical orb. The
game’s puzzles are nicely varied, and play
on the connection bet ween you and the ball;
it’s not until you wander into trouble without
it that you realize how much of a friend it
really is.
THE HAUNTED
UNREAL TOURNAMENT 3
www.moddb.com/mods/the-haunted
Zombies and demons will probably never
go out of style, and THE HAUNTED offers a
nice take on the subject in terms of both
aesthetic and pacing. The quick arcade action
rewards your kills with weapon upgrades
and teammate revival checkpoints keep
you from camping in any one place too long.
Gorgeous to look at, fun to play, and free (for
U T3 users)—what more could you ask for?
RADIATOR
HALF-LIFE 2
www.radiator.debacle.us
RADIATOR is a series of short-form,
experimental single player experiences.
The first two episodes play on themes
of love, astronomy, memory repression,
and gay marriage. The mechanics in each
of these episodes are quite limited, but
the emotional impact justifies this artsy
mod’s placement on our list.
THE NAMELESS MOD
DEUS EX
http://thenamelessmod.com
A colossal undertaking several years in the
making, NAMELESS drops you into Forum City
as an avatar named Trestkon. The environment
itself is a “physical embodiment of Internet
forums and bulletin boards,” but is filled with
just as much conspiracy and intrigue as the
world of JC Denton. A branching, responsive
storyline with high quality voiceovers and
high definition graphics upgrades make this
mod a must-play.
NEOTOK YO°
HALF-LIFE 2
www.neotokyohq.com
At first glance, NEOTOKYO° seems to be
another COUNTER-STRIKE clone. Spend some
time with it and you’ll find there are several
nuances that set it apart from the pack. The
combination of vision modes and therm-
optic camouflage offers unique checks and
balances, while the “Capture the Ghost” game
mode encourages tight team coordination.
Impressive visuals assembled by a team of
industry pros speak for themselves.
THIRD AGE – TOTAL WAR
MEDIEVAL II: TOTAL WAR KINGDOMS
EXPANSION
www.twcenter.net/forums/
forumdisplay.php?f=654
THIRD AGE is a fan-made imagining of the
Lord of the Rings universe. A complete and
detailed campaign map of Middle Earth,
along with 12 factions straight from the
lore allow you to create large-scale battles
of epic proportions. The mod features a
plethora of other custom content, from
new voice work to cinematic cut-scenes
that round out the entire experience.
PROJECT REALIT Y
BAT TLEFIELD 2
www.realitymod.com
PROJECT REALITY is a mod that turns
BAT TLEFIELD 2 into a perfect blend of arcade
and simulation elements. Strategic planning
and team coordination are required, but
the action focuses around specific capture
zones. Utilizing a force of combined arms,
whether it’s infantry, armor, or air support, is
the key to winning. The best part: you don’t
have to spend half the match traveling to
where the action is.
FALL FROM HEAVEN II
CIVILIZATION IV: BEYOND THE SWORD
www.civfanatics.com/ffh
FALL FROM HEAVEN plunges you into a world of
dark fantasy built on the mechanics behind
CIVILIZATION IV. It adds an incredible amount
of content; choose from two dozen different
factions—each with their own heroes, magic,
religions and technology. There’s even a card-
based diplomatic mini-game! FALL impressed
Soren Johnson (CIV IV Designer) enough
to write up an interview with the creators
( www.designer-notes.com/?p=120).
EUROPE IN RUINS: REINFORCEMENTS
COMPAN Y OF HEROES/COMPANY OF
HEROES: OPPOSING FRON TS
www.europeinruins.com
EUROPE IN RUINS transforms COH into a
persistent environment in which you
command your o wn battalion. Experience
points carry over from previous battles,
allowing you to unlock new abilities and
increase your options on the battlefield.
Custom maps and units tailored to
EIR’s unique style of play make this a
deeper strategic experience than the
original game.
= SINGLE PLAYER
= MULTIPLAYER
GAME DEVELOPER | AUGUS T 2009 4
