Review: Operation: Mutant Strike

Details
Title: Operation: Mutant Strike
Creator: Monkeeworks (Dumscheissekopf (AKA - Majik Monkee))
Released: 07/10/2004
Length: 10 Levels (No secrets)
Level Format: Continuous
Story: New
Graphics: Mostly Original, some new.
Sound: Some new, some original
Special Features: Harmful Sprites, Additional enemies.
Dos/SDL: Dos

Initial impressions: At first look, this looks fairly similar to a lot of other mutant based mods that have been released over the years. The first level is fairly basic with just room after room of mutants and the usual piles of bones and blood lying around. The addition of the non-shooting mutant, the 'sleeping' mutant and the flying bat (although a little bizarre) are nice additions to the usual 'Mutant only' theme. The first mini bosses comes as a surprise and can be a little hard to kill the first time you meet, especially if you are unaware of his presence.

Gameplay: The gameplay is decent and there are some rooms with harder challenges mixed in from the normal ones, especially as the multiples of enemies increase. The earlier maps are basically all room after room of the same thing which gives the player a chance to save and regroup before facing the next battle. It's only later on where you are fighting multiple mini-bosses in levels, and the levels become more complex, that the difficulty and challenge really steps up.
The proliferation of ammo and health is a bit high on the early levels and it's very easy to stay on full health and ammo through most of these levels.

Mapping: The mapping is fairly basic with most maps made up of room after room of similar attacks. A lot of the rooms seem to have similar looking walls throughout. There is some variance in level design later on in the maps (After map 6) with some larger open spaces and varying designs, but some of these maps can also be quite mazey.
There are few secret areas used through the first 6 maps with most only offering a small benefit if found. The secrets become more important after Level 6 to find as the player can quite often be running low on health and/or ammo.
The ammo levels on a couple of levels (especially Level 7) are a bit low so care is needed, especially on levels where fighting multiple bosses and mini-bosses.

Likes: The gameplay and graphics are well done, especially the mini-bosses and bosses, and all fit and help build the theme nicely. The maps increase in difficulty and complexity as you progress which helps build the tension of impending challanges still to face.
The music is nicely done and fits the theme well, especially the later levels, which helps build the tension when fighting bosses and exploring.

Dislikes: The damaging sprites, like in other Monkeeworks mods, are the most annoying things by a long way in this. The radius is too large and can easily kill the player from too far a distance away. At least knowing this, the player can do the best they can to avoid them where possible.
The ammo balance is a little out on some levels. Some levels have more then you could ever use and some you are seriously left wanting of just a few more clips!


Ratings
Dean's Score: 7.0/10
Difficulty: Harder than normal due to mini-bosses
Best Level: 7
Worst Level: 10 (I was just hoping for a bit more from the main Boss level)

Wrap-up: This is definitely one of the better mutant themed mods out there. The Level length (10) is quite suitable as I couldn't imagine just fighting mutants for 60 levels!
An integral part of both Monkeeworks releases as well as the Mutant Strike series (With a 3rd part soon to be released) this is a fun little mod that gives the player enough of a challenge and will leave them looking forward to it's sequels.

Where Can I get it?: You can download the mod HERE or by clicking on the screenshot at the top of this post.

This is week 2 of 4 of a special I'm doing by reviewing some of Majik Monkee's 'Monkeeworks' projects. The next 2 weeks will feature reviews of 'Operation: Mutant Strike 2' and 'Operation: Hundscheisse'. Last week featured a review of 'medEvil' which can be read HERE.
I have also previously reviewed Monkeeworks mod 'Halls of Stonehenge', the review of which can be read HERE.

Disclaimer: All reviews are only my opinion when playing the mod and are not intended to discredit anyone or the hard work they have put into creating their mod.