Team Fortress 2 may be getting all the press right now -- we gamers do like shiny orange things -- but fans of Valve's Team Fortress Classic shooter (or even the original QuakeWorld Team Fortress) have an alternative HL2 team-fragging platform. Released just last month, Fortress Forever is a scratch-built multiplayer mod that's been in development almost as long as Half-Life 2 itself.
Of course, that begs the inevitable question -- why would anyone want another HL2 Team Fortress mod when the original TFC game (or the newer, highly acclaimed TF2) already serves most peoples' Source-based team-fragging needs? The answer depends on your personal likes and dislikes. TFC may still boast legions of fans but Valve based the game on older Half-Life code that shed most of its graphic wow factor years ago and, while the newer TF2 does deliver an engaging romp, its comic book-style gameplay premise differs significantly from the original Team Fortress. Enough, perhaps, to turn off many TFC traditionalists.
Enter Fortress Forever with its clean-looking HL2 Source graphics and respectfully retro gameplay mechanics. Developed by a 50-strong team of programmers, mappers, and 3D artists -- of whom 24 still remain -- the 555MB download ships with a dozen or so maps (a blend of old and new) and all of TFC's traditional soldier classes: Scout, Sniper, Soldier, Demoman, Medic, HWGuy, Pyro, Spy and Engineer.
Capture the Flag mode is the most common match choice for online gamers but FF supports a few alternate modes like Attack and Defend. Bunnyhopping (pressing the jump key repeatedly while holding a movement key to move faster) remains a valid gameplay tactic and the dev team also chose to eliminate all teleporters from the mod to keep the action as faithful as possible to the early TFC game. Weapon upgrades and changes include new ammo counters on some of the guns and the assault cannon will now overheat following sustained bursts, reducing its effectiveness. Spies can no longer fake their deaths but they can cloak themselves and sabotage enemy defensive structures. The sniper rifle is also less accurate, has a slower rate of fire, and now comes with a reloadable magazine. Players using this rifle can also "radio tag" enemy players to mark their positions on teammates' HUDs.
I could usually find populated servers while testing the mod but the numbers were far from overwhelming. Those that were playing seemed mature and experienced enough to appreciate all the work that went into this impressive piece of software and, more importantly, they were all having a lot of fun.
Time will tell if Fortress Forever will find an audience with hardcore TFC traditionalists or the newly minted crop of TF2 fans but, if it doesn't, it certainly won't be for lack of craftsmanship.
