Review

[AMEDooley]

Alright, just completed the campaign so I thought I’d give my two cents. I wait until I’m through the campaign (or almost through if there are complications) before I write my thoughts. Please understand that any criticism is meant to be constructive and is not an attack on the creator or anyone involved in the campaign. With that out of the way, let’s do it!

Overall I thought the campaign was just okay. It wasn’t overly challenging or exciting. Overall mission design was good and I enjoyed the kneeboards. I do wish there were some bingo numbers or ladder numbers in there, but it’s not the end of the world. My biggest complaint was if they asked you a question and you got it wrong the mission would just end. The last mission being a prime example. I didn’t see anything at WP 5 but I did see what looked like a truck at WP 6, and I didn’t see anything in the brief or docs that would suggest I was looking for a huge convoy. I knew I was looking for a coach so I see a truck and call it in but I was wrong. So end of mission. Maybe have your wingman say something to point out you’re wrong and do a points deduction. That seems like a better solution than failing the mission. But even that complaint isn’t a horrible one and it didn’t detract from the fun I had overall. 

The voice acting wasn’t all that great, it wasn’t awful, but using Reflected with a voice mod was strange, and keeping your wingman the same just with a country accent was a strange choice. But that might be due to limited volunteers for the VO work. The mix of AI and human VO work was also strange but I’m sure for the same reason above.

Best part for me: I really did like the first two missions, doing a cross country to the Abe was a fantastic set up. So kudos for that.

This is more of a pet pev of mine, but we need to talk about MODEXs. Having been station in a Hornet squadron that did a lot of transferring of jets, the 110 and 420 jets staying the same was just killing me. When a jet transfers squadrons it takes on the MODEX of that squadron. So in VFA-97 when I was there we were a 200 series squadron. When we got a new jet we would mark it as a 2XX to replace whatever had left (Ex 206 left, new jet comes, repaint with squadron logos and info, MODEX 206). So in this case VFA-113 was an 300 series when I was in so change them to an 3XX MODEX and call it a day. Again just a pet pev of mine and nothing to do with the overall campaign.

At the end of the day, if you're looking to get into a campaign that’s not too realistic or overly complicated, then this is for you. If you want a very realistic campaign then I would recommend something else. I did have fun though and they were some good moments, but nothing that really jumped out and made me say “That was awesome!”

 

Amy!

Edited March 31, 2024 by AMEDooley
Corrected my thought on the VO

[Badger633]

Hey @AMEDooley

Thanks for your thoughts they are appreciated.

By way of explanation we have a few comments below.

This campaign follows on from Serpent's Head 2. The suite of campaigns Serpent's Head, Serpent's Head 2 , Rise of the Persian Lion and Rise of the Persian Lion 2 have been designed to become more difficult  as each campaign progresses. This allowing pilots to progress smoothly rather than hitting a brick wall and giving up. Many have reported this has helped them  learn the Hornet step by step. It's always a difficult balance where to pitch a campaigns difficulty. It's the easiest thing in the world to make a mission almost impossible even for the most accomplished pilot. The problem is, what is a great challenge for one, is impossible for another, to the point of them giving up. It's a difficult one, that's why we have added more difficulty as the campaigns progress. Our latest campaign, "Operation Green Line",  which has yet to be released, allows the player to select the experience level of the AI at the beginning of each  mission, so hopefully goes some way to deal with this issue. ( Even then though what appears to be a good balance on release can become too easy or to difficult when DCS updates  updates the AI as they do from time to time, but not much we can do about that, only monitor pilots comments as time goes by.) 

We have set out  in the 'details' of the campaign in e shop campaign description that we have not tried to capture reality so explains why we have not tried to cover the MODEXs etc as you have suggested.

Noted your comments on the last mission, so checked it out to see if we needed to adjust it. The brief document does cover the meeting and explains "There will be vehicles, buses and troops evident in the right location".  the right location having some 16 vehicles and coaches and troops.   Also checked the script. If you get the location wrong you do not get an immediate fail but there is a prompt, " Are you sure about that". Only if  you confirm a second time do you get a mission fail. This being the case as it could not be a deduction of points as finding and attacking the site of this important high level meeting is really the point of the mission, and the campaign for that matter.

Must admit thought description of the voice acting as 'awful' was a bit harsh but do respect everybody is entitled to their own opinion. 

Thanks again for your comments, as we said, they are appreciated and we will always keep them in mind when carrying out improvements and creating future campaigns.

Cheers

Badger633 

 

 

 

[AMEDooley]

@Badger633 that was supposed to say it wasn’t awful. Sorry. I meant to say it wasn’t good, it wasn’t awful, it was just kind of bland. Sorry I’ll correct my post to reflect what I meant and proof read a little better next time.

I must have missed the part with the busses and vehicles. I only saw the mention about the coach. I suppose the “are you sure” promt is a good way to get that point across that you’re wrong. I just think having your wingmen do it would feel more immersive. Plus on one mission I counted every sub I could find and I was still wrong  

As for the MODEX stuff, it is just a me thing. I personally don’t like it. Since I was in multiple squadrons seeing it is kind like nails on a chalkboard. But that’s a personal opinion and I understand not everyone cares like I do.

Either way, the campaign I felt is a great start for beginners or someone looking for a less complex/realistic campaign. And I did have fun with it.

Edited March 31, 2024 by AMEDooley
Updated for clarity and adding a comment about the MODEXs

[Badger633]

6 hours ago, AMEDooley said:

@Badger633 that was supposed to say it wasn’t awful. Sorry. I meant to say it wasn’t good, it wasn’t awful, it was just kind of bland. Sorry I’ll correct my post to reflect what I meant and proof read a little better next time.

I must have missed the part with the busses and vehicles. I only saw the mention about the coach. I suppose the “are you sure” promt is a good way to get that point across that you’re wrong. I just think having your wingmen do it would feel more immersive. Plus on one mission I counted every sub I could find and I was still wrong  

As for the MODEX stuff, it is just a me thing. I personally don’t like it. Since I was in multiple squadrons seeing it is kind like nails on a chalkboard. But that’s a personal opinion and I understand not everyone cares like I do.

Either way, the campaign I felt is a great start for beginners or someone looking for a less complex/realistic campaign. And I did have fun with it.

 

Totally understand how the MODEX issue would grate with your background.

Glad that was a typo Thanks for the update.

Always appreciate feedback though as it’s the only way we can make things better

Cheers.