Secret Weapons adds 16 vehicles, 6 weapons, 8 maps, and one new game mode to Battlefield. I was as skeptical as anyone when I installed this expansion, but it turned out to be more balanced and playable than I expected.
The new vehicles range from relatively plausible motorcycles with sidecar-mounted machine guns and amphibious transports, to the rather far-fetched rocket planes and guided rockets. Some of the jets fly so fast that it's difficult just keeping them on the map. Unless you're flying in circle, you will be constantly harassed by the "deserters will be shot" message. With a little practice, however, they can be mastered, and the unguided missiles used by several of these new aircraft are easier to target accurately than bombs. Fortunately, there is also some very lethal anti-air weaponry in Secret Weapons, such as the Flakpanzer, to bring things back down to earth.
The Wasserfall guided rocket is an amusing addition, allowing players to steer a missile into enemy units from a stationary launch pad. Again, it will traverse even the largest maps in a matter of seconds, making it a challenge to control, but its payload is equally deadly against planes and ground troops.
Borrowing an idea from the Desert Combat mod, Secret Weapons introduces the C-47 cargo plane, which serves as a mobile spawn point. Although trying to keep this large, slow moving craft in the sky for more than one or two passes is not easy, anything that cuts down on spawn camping is a welcome addition. I would like to see something like this patched onto the original game.
As for the infamous Rocket Pack, it is surprisingly well executed. It doesn't permit you to zip around like Superman, but rather gives you the ability to make large jumps, reminiscent of low-gravity Quake. You are still susceptible to fall damage, and its volatile fuel will explode upon a direct hit from the enemy, so its strategic value is limited. However, it can prove quite useful for jumping from heights that would otherwise kill you, leaping over barbwire, and reaching sniper nests that were formerly inaccessible.
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