| Codename Eagle | |
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| Developer(s) | Refraction Games |
| Publisher(s) | Take 2 Interactive |
| Engine | Refractor graphics engine |
| Released | USA November, 1999 UK April 3, 2000 |
| Genre | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Ratings | DJCTQ: 16 anos ESRB: Teen (T) PEGI: 16+ OFLC: M15+ |
| Platform(s) | Windows 95/98 |
| Media | CD |
| Input methods | Keyboard, mouse |
Codename Eagle is the name of a computer game developed by Stockholm-based studio Refraction Games and was released in November 1999. Since then Refraction Games has been bought by Digital Illusions, who with the Refraction Games team developed the famous Battlefield series of games. The Game is set in an alternate time line, centered around events in Russia in 1917. World War One has not yet happened, Germany has not yet become involved with the other world powers, and instead Russia's expanding war machine threatens to throw the continent into a bloody war. The other European powers are allied against the invasion. You take control of "Red" one of the secret organization "Shadow Command"'s finest operatives. It is your mission to uncover the Tsar's plans for Europe, using whatever means to demolish the Russian war machine from within. Codename Eagle features vehicle and first-person shooter game play.
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Game Engine
Codename Eagle uses the Refractor graphics engine, which influenced the development of the Refractor 2 graphics engine used in the hit game Battlefield 1942 (2002). The Refractor 1 engine has a more arcade-like feel, while the Refractor 2 engine has a more realistic feel. Vehicle physics, player physics and the interface are also clearly different between the two Refractor engines
Multiplayer
Codename Eagle is most popular for its multiplayer mode, where players can battle it out in one of three modes: Deathmatch, Capture the Flag and Teamplay. Capture the Flag is by far the most commonly played of the three modes. In multiplayer, there are two bases, one for each team. Each base contains a variety of vehicles, including planes, tanks, motorbikes and helicopters (added in patch 1.41). The vehicles form a crucial part of the game - they are vital for swift transport around the map. On-foot combat is reasonably uncommon in comparison to vehicular combat because of the large size of the maps. Most of the on-foot combat is typically centered around the two bases where players spawn and go to capture the flag. In terms of gameplay Codename Eagle and the Battlefield series are surprisingly very different multiplayer experiences. While the Battlefield series tries to force teamplay in a conventional warfare setting Codename Eagle allows the player to decide on their exact input of teamplay. This gives the player the freedom to play as a one man (or one vehicle) army. Examples include the ability to pick up a large assortment of weapons and supply items around the map whereas in the Battlefield series a restricted weapon kit must be chosen before spawning (although players' kits stay behind for a short time after they die, so if another player walks past they can pick up that kit). The power of infantry held weapons against vehicles is also greater in Codename Eagle such as the Bazooka which proves a deadly foe for both pilots and tankers because of its rate of fire, munitions capacity and range. Players on foot can also force enemy players out of vehicles using the flamethrower which sets fire to the player inside and burns until they lose half their health points; if this is done twice and the driver does not pick up more health points they are killed and their vehicle remains intact. Other differences include the balance of arcade and realistic gameplay, as well as the role of the player. There are 7 official multiplayer maps,
- No Mans Land
- Breakpoint
- The Palace
- Carrier War
- The Airbase
- Fever Valley
- Fortress
Indubitably, the most popular of these is No Mans Land. Fortress is another favourite among many CE players, while others such as Carrier War are generally avoided due to sheer impracticality.
Critical Response
Although the general response to Codename Eagle was mediocre at best, the multiplayer element of the game, and subsequent fixes provided through patches, helped to keep this game alive and promote the growth of its own online community.
As the forerunner to games like Battlefield 1942, Codename Eagle started building the foundations for future releases.
[5.8/10] - "Codename Eagle is a short, linear, and really goofy game that's much more frustrating than it is interesting." -Gamespot
[7.3/10] - "New action game from Talonsoft hits several highs and several lows." -IGN
[4.0/5] - "There comes a time when even the most devoted first-person shooter fan wants to do something other than separate another crew of witless virtual bad guys from their lives. Talonsoft's Codename Eagle offers an inviting alternative." -GamePro.com
Recreations
A Codename Eagle mod for Battlefield 1942 was released in 2003 that featured the same multiplayer content but with up to 64 players. A few years later a similar effort was made for Battlefield 2, which took advantage of engine improvements. In both cases, it helped keep the original CE community alive.
Currently, the "Codename Eagle: Legends" mod for Battlefield 2 is available for download and in a completed state.
External links
- Codename Eagle Official Website - Now a dead link, site dismantled.
- Unofficial Codename Eagle Website - Dead link
- CE and BF community
- ModDB's page for CE: Legends -Completed Codename Eagle mod download and information.
