Hands-on with Warhawk: Operation Broken Mirror
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Apr 9th 2008 at 7:45PM }
Click for high-resolution image.
Although the Broken Mirror expansion won't be ready until April 17th (day of the PLAYSTATION Store relaunch), we had a chance to play it with fellow online journalists. Majed and myself took to the skies in split-screen action as we played a round of Capture the Flag and Zones on the brand new map: Vaporfield Glacier.
Ten variations are planned for the largest Warhawk map to date, and the two that we played today were both intelligently laid out, with multiple routes possible by foot, car and sky. Unlike in Omega Dawn, these variations never feel overwhelming large. The level was just the right size for our group of about a dozen players: it wasn't too small to feel barren (a problem in Omega Dawn), and wasn't too small to create a too-chaotic feel. Although the weather is supposed to change, we experienced clear skies in our play session. It might be an ice level, but don't expect to slip 'n slide.
The additions of the recent 1.3 patch were put to good use in our play time. The new weapons and shields certainly add a new level of depth to the game, without drastically changing the pace of the experience. It's clear that the Vaporfiled Glacier level is an excellent addition to the Warhawk universe, and we're certain the passionate Warhawk community will embrace the moderately priced ($8) download when it releases in two weeks.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
massive_98 @ Apr 9th 2008 7:58PM
"with multiple routes by... sky". Good to know. I was afraid they would make the Warhawk's run on tracks. This map sounds fun though.
Robert @ Apr 9th 2008 8:23PM
As much as I love to play this game, I have become to dislike it. I hope some time in the near future they will make the servers more skill leveled. like generals down to air marshals and privates to captains ect. when you get into games that have players not just a couple but most of the team that don't know how to play or just play to shoot anything and dont work as a team takes the fun out of the game. I play games to win and if i loose i dont mind if it is to great play and not by blatent mistakes from my own team.
DrunkRaba @ Apr 9th 2008 9:57PM
even in "skilled" rooms with higher ranking people, the biggest problem is just how many people don't have or use their mic.
Did they say whether the APC is able to be carried by the dropship? Cause I imagine that shield could potentially help it at times. If only you could spawn in the dropship. :(
Rye21 @ Apr 10th 2008 10:02AM
I agree with you, this is a top notch game but in recent times iv began to play it less and less. Why? For the same reason above.
Its brilliant when you get an orchestrated team that acts as one and has a number of warhawks, tanks, jeeps, snipers to over come the enemy base and steal the flag.
Yet that is a rare moment, you try and steal a flag on your own or with just a jeep and maybe a warhawk that tags on, its flipping difficult and is more down to luck than judgement. Usually when u get it everyone realises whats happened and try and get to you but ur already dead.
When you try and get a team together, they either don't listen and run off, tell you to go do one or mute you. Im not trying to force it down their throats but for some matches you really need teamwork.
Unless your in a clan (which im not btw my psn is ryesher1 if u wana add me) its hard to win in certain matches. Most online games are like that though iv heard MGS ONLINE FORCES you to do team play.
This is still the best balanced game, in terms of each vehicle can be destroyed fairly and il get the APC no doubt.
Sorry to moan and im not talking about the community as a whole just some of the games iv played.
SSG @ Apr 9th 2008 8:26PM
i had no idea there was split screen play. online or just offline?
Draco @ Apr 9th 2008 8:29PM
There is only online play (technically I guess you can play 4 player split screen offline) , and you can only play split screen on non-ranked servers.
Draco @ Apr 9th 2008 8:28PM
I haven't played in a while, but where have the dedicated servers go? or did they change the way the list shows, I only ever see a dozen or so servers on my list, and random kicking is annoying (okay happened once last time I played right before the end of the game) all the red team was booted.
phillip @ Apr 9th 2008 11:39PM
sounds like you got a filter on, and for the split screen, only a non dedicated server (user created) you can have the option of letting split screens on, its fun to tow a couple of guys together, just imagine their tv with 4 big booms :)
Meximan @ Apr 9th 2008 8:41PM
There aren't any dedicated servers anymore because people would rather use player ranked servers so they could play instead of leaving the PS3 on just so others could play.
What I do want to see are more Death Match SONY servers. They only have a couple running everyday and I love the frantic action of killing everyone without worrying about an objective. I'd host my own player ranked server for DM but it takes FOREVER to get 8 people to join.
Draco @ Apr 9th 2008 8:45PM
What this game really needs is PC based dedicated servers, I would definitely host one if I could still use my PS3 in the mean time.
Napalm @ Apr 10th 2008 8:18AM
there still are several (30+) dedicated servers from sony america/europe
vegi-saurus @ Apr 9th 2008 8:54PM
Will definitely get this. I hope this will be better than Omega Dawn.
starwarz24 @ Apr 9th 2008 9:48PM
"it wasn't too small to feel barren (a problem in Omega Dawn), and wasn't too small to create a too-chaotic feel"
Shouldn't it be it was too large to feel barren, not too small? You better get a new editor! How'd you guys miss that one?
Kodros @ Apr 9th 2008 10:15PM
Meximan, yes, there are still Sony dedicated servers.
HeartAttack @ Apr 9th 2008 10:41PM
I think they should add a squad system that you can toggle on and off when creating a server, just to add a bit of a tactical aspect to the game. Warhawk was the first game I bought when I bought my PS3, soon after, my friends bought it, but they said it sucked (they are big tactical warfare fanatics). I mean, Warhawk is a big success, no? So why not improve it and get more people to buy it?
never$$hort @ Apr 10th 2008 1:48PM
your friends suck!! haha
MrDaBucket @ Apr 10th 2008 6:14PM
....damn store revamp. I just want the damn content.
phillip @ Apr 9th 2008 11:41PM
the dude abides, look for BT.ALWAYS.ON, need omega map pack though :)
NaCHOburger @ Apr 10th 2008 1:03AM
on my list to get on the day it comes out. i can't wait.....well sure I can but I AM still excited.
Dehshizknight @ Apr 10th 2008 1:46AM
"it wasn't too small to feel barren (a problem in Omega Dawn), and wasn't too small to create a too-chaotic feel."
Lol, might want to fix this sentence since you mistakenly put "small" twice. I'm guessing the first instance is supposed to be "big" instead of "small"
matjet @ Apr 10th 2008 4:16AM
"it wasn't too small to feel barren (a problem in Omega Dawn), and wasn't too small to create a too-chaotic feel"
???
Skippy @ Apr 10th 2008 12:04PM
"Although the Broken Mirror expansion won't be ready until April 17th (day of the PLAYSTATION Store relaunch)
...
priced ($8) download when it releases in two weeks."
Not sure what calendar you're using, but the 17th is only 1 week away.
never$$hort @ Apr 10th 2008 1:51PM
So this is coming out the 15th now and not the 17th because thats the day the new PSN store is up, right??
ruffnek @ Apr 13th 2008 5:20PM
does anyone else think that we need parachutes? Am I crazy or something? Think of all the things we could do with it. Not only can you eject before your warhawk goes up in flames, but you could plan a normandy invasion and drop six people from a dropship right into their base. You could strap some mines on your warhawk and then boost it into your enemies. Just as you're about to explode you eject, using your plane as a weapon and slowly floating down like James Bond. Of course using the parachute you would be a sitting duck, just to keep it fare.
We also need mechs. Not the stupid japanese animation giant robot types, but more like the ones used in the matrix. The ground troops have become helpless against the warhawks and some balancing out must be done. With a small mech you could strap some mini guns on the arms and rpgs on the shoulder. With the armor that it comes with the warhawks would have to think twice before they attack the lowly foot soldier.
i've also realized the fact that tow missles have become much to powerful. Though I love killing with them, i hate getting hit by one, and it seems to happen very often. We have two options here, tone down the toe missles appearance once it's been grabbed or my choice which is to make some kind of rocket launcher that's designed to take down these things. I'd like to see them mounted on the jeeps and the tanks as a secondary fire. It's more like the chaffs in the warhawks than anything else.
the last thing i'll say is how come we can't shoot from the passenger seat of the jeep? What's the seat for? At least let us shoot our rifle if not the rpg or flame thrower. It makes sense, that's why it's called shot gun right? Let me know if i'm crazy guys. peace.
Velocity @ Apr 14th 2008 10:31AM
What this game needs is integration into the PSP. Even if you cant do remote play, why not have it integrated so the PSP can be used as an auxiliary screen, like displaying the field map, and you can switch to other options as well. So you know what weapons you have and what your ammo situation is like.
This would improve the game 10 fold.
I got a PSP for the PS3 and have yet to see it utilized the way Sony hyped it.
warbs7791 @ Apr 27th 2008 12:09PM
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hi, i just downloaded and installed the broken mirror pack, and it still doesnt let me play on the servers. can any one help.
many thanks
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Rob Persons @ May 2nd 2008 4:24PM
This is going to be a stupid question, but we don't see options for adding the dropship or APC in games that we create. What do you have to do to add these vehicles? We own both omega dawn and broken mirror so we should have access to them. But how?