New Game Modes

A new CTF

The first of the new game modes is Single Flag CTF. At a "neutral" point on the map there's a flag point where the flag spawns. Once this flag is taken by a team, that team must then run it into the enemy base onto the score point.

Unlike regular CTF, you don't need to have someone defending the base on a nearly constant basis. However, the moment the flag is dropped, anyone can pick it up, so suddenly you might find yourself on defense if your team drops the flag. The moment someone scores, the flag respawns in its spawn point and the struggle begins anew.

Opening up a Can O' Spam

Pick it up

Defend and Destroy?

Overload is similar to Defend and Destroy from Tribes. Perhaps, it can also be described as a two-way Assault with one objective per team. Each team has an Obelisk, a giant floating skull, at its flag point. The Obelisk has 2500 hitpoints (up from earlier estimates of 1000) and regenerates at a rate of 15 hitpoints per second.

The goal is to destroy the enemy's Obelisk while protecting your own. The first to score X number of times, wins. Obviously, this is easier said than done. The enemy will constantly respawn around you as you kill them, and they'll have easy access to weapons and powerups, while you're far away from your base and supplies. Two evenly matched teams could go at it a very, very long time on Overload.

Ain't that purrrty?

3rd person blows for fighting

Macabre

The final new way to play is Harvester. This mode is clearly catered towards the hardcore Deathmatcher and places more emphasis on individual skill than most teamplay games. Like Single Flag CTF, there's a central, neutral point on the map that you must control. However, unlike CTF, there is no flag.

Instead, there are skulls which spawn at the flag point. For each person you kill, a skull spawns there. You or a teammate must collect these skulls (you can carry quite a few, we didn't hit a limit, but had as many as 10 one time) and then run them like a flag into the enemy base. At the same time, you must prevent your enemy from doing the same thing.

He scores!

Fark

Unlike CTF, however, when you die, you don't drop these skulls like you would a flag. They disappear and you must re-gain them by killing more foes. You can also remove your team's skulls from play by picking them up at the spawn point.

The number of skulls you have also affects your likelihood of being a target. Your opponents, instead of having to split up to chase down 4 different runners into their base, will know exactly how many skulls each one has so they can concentrate on the dangerous few. You see, for every skull you pick up, one appears behind you, following your every move. With their bright, aquamarine glow, they're rather noticeable and illuminate the target (that's you) quite well.

That almost looks like the Unreal 'U'

Blast that Obelisk!