POE 1.7 New Map Preview
As a tester, our role is to make sure everything is perfect or as close to it as we can get. We attempt to break the statics, the vehicles and equipment as well as provide feedback on maps, and balance issues that crop up. Since the beginning of the year the testers have put roughly 600 man hours into planned sessions and individual testers have placed several hundred hours of their own time outside of these sessions into testing and providing feedback. We appreciate your patience in waiting for the mod, but we are confident that you will be pleased with the high level of polish provided in our latest release. As a tester though, we get to know the maps inside and out and today, I get the pleasure of describing the new maps to you!
Assault on Odessa: Assault on Odessa features a full urban environment with many enterable and scalable buildings. This is one of the first US invasion maps and includes the full gambit of vehicles for what will be an impressive battle of combined arms. Most of the fighting within the city means that while jets and choppers may roar overhead and tanks rule the streets, the infantry man will still be king from the tops of buildings or throughout many of the enterable statics. Odessa features some of the best balance for the 64 player map and also includes a frontline map that runs the length of the river throughout the city. The 16 player map will offer players an interesting dilemma. Do you attempt to own the high ground where there are no flags, or do you own the flags themselves? In an 8vs8 environment, it will be extremely difficult to own both.
Berezan Island: The US begins with one foot on the island and this map could run any number of ways with the US getting pushed off the island or breaking out quickly. This particular map is more rural then some of the other maps with sparse trees, wide beaches and steep cliffs. There aren’t as many buildings as in Odessa, but there is still plenty of cover for those sneaky squad leaders to hide. Even though this is a heavy air map, the well placed anti-air and forest cover offer plenty of areas for infantry and armor to operate. With a couple of solid players in the Tomahawks on the US carrier this will open up some gaps within the Ukranian’s defense. Of the new maps, this is my personal favorite as it should offer good balance, abilities to strike any flag if your flexible in the routes and is one of the few POE maps that offer air cover from the 64 player to the 16. Berezan also offers Coop and Single Player support
Blue Nile: Blue Nile was one of the original maps for POE1 and has received some heavy work to convert it to POE2. The Sunset lighting and heavy brush means that a squad can operate in the hills above flags. The US starts out in the hole immediately with Ukraine holding half the map and very close to a 4th flag. Although they start out at a huge real estate disadvantage, the US brings some impressive firepower to bear including the only air support in the form of a cobra and a reworked APC that contains a climbing gear to get around on the hills. As this map has no UCB‘s , it is entirely possible to push the enemy right off the map. Blue Nile also offers Coop and Single Player support and this map is set up for 32 only however can easily support 64 players.
Blue Nile POE1:
Blue Nile POE2:
Crimea: Crimea is an assault style map done in the style of Omaha Beach. The US has set up a base out in the harbor against a well entrenched Ukraine defense. The US though has a couple advantages this time over Omaha in that they have artillery support and a Cobra attack chopper to assist them in clearing flags. Unfortunately for the US, the Ukranians have solid cover, and own the high ground. Anything less then a well coordinated attack will leave the US dead on the battlefield. The Ukraine will deliver a beat down early in the round, their success on this map will be how long they can continue to prevent the US from landing. If they give up a foothold early, then the US may be able to push the Ukranians out of Crimea.
Olesko Keep: The clouds roll over the ancient castle while lightning strikes in the background. Olesko Keep features infantry only battles and a mazelike castle that is so complex that you must expect enemies to be around every corner as well as the one behind you. This map will feature the most intense close quarters action of any POE map. In order to truly clear any area you will be required to clear several floors worth of potential opponents. A new game mode also is introduced for this map titled Incursion. This allows everyone one death only in a round. No longer can you blast into an area, stealth and cunning are required to either eliminate all of your opponents or enough to take their flags away from them. Olesko Keep will be the Monte Casino of POE.
Risen: Remember the downed Blackhawk on Fallen? The reason why it was so easily spotted was due to the radar station on the top of Risen. This hill has suffered massive artillery bombardment and yet the Doppler still continues to operate. With advanced notice, the Ukranians have had time to dig into the hill side for the German attack. The Germans must attack up hill over open land into the worst kind of buzz saw. Ironically, the cover that would help the German infantry was blasted away in the artillery bombardment. The toughest fights will occur at the Doppler Station although this battle will rage all over the hill. Risen is a visually stunning war map unrivaled by any other map that I have previously played. Risen also features Single Player and Coop support.
Lucky Shot
|TG-6th| eGoatBoy
