Before I start I'd just like to say I think the mod is very well done and has exceeded my expectations. Not sure what TF2 will be able to offer that is better unless you like cartoon textures (which you will probably be able to get a texture pack for in FF pretty soon).
Whos to say if it was broke or not? Plenty of people got fed up with that game because of the constant spam. Or to quote from another forum
Im glad they went and reworked the game, gets annoying to me when i see old tfc players saying TF2 is for "noobs" just because old sad tactics that got boring about 8 or 9 years ago most likely wont be usable anymore. its nice to see a company that doesn't do the "iD" routine of slapping in the same snorefest multi thats barely changed any from quake 2, then "iD" wonder why quake 4 died as a game in general.
Pc gamers in general get more and more confusing to me, it seems most would be happy with new graphics every few years as long as the game plays exactly the same so their cheap little tactics they learned years ago still work. Yeah that makes for an amazing experience.... Dunno about any of you but i like to see games change so new things have to be learned, if i jump into a game and its identical with slightly updated graphics then wtf is the point? May as well have been a mod or a texture pack for an existing game rather than a full price game from a store. Then again for people that want to play a slightly graphical upgrade of tfc, fortress forever is there for them..
I would not have been happy with just a straight 'graphical update' of TFC, and FF is certainly not just that.
They too have highlighted the areas that people became frustrated with in TFC such as the immense spam. Rather than remove grenades altogether, they have instead reduced the damage radius of them - meaning they are required to be throw accurately and at the right time for them to be of use rather than just lobbing them aimlessly like you could in certain situations in TFC.
That is just one example of something the FF team has changed. There are many more.. Bunnyhopping is different (and the speed cap is actually lower), teleporters are gone, all the bugs that Valve decided to just leave in the game are gone, the classes are more balanced (or so they say). The list is quite extensive.
If you would read the FAQ on their site you will find that it says this:
Fortress Forever is a Team Fortress mod for Half-life 2's Source Engine. Our independent team is creating this mod entirely from scratch.
Fortress Forever should please those who have stuck with or been a part Half-life: TFC over the years while at the same time doing more for new TF players than any prior Fortress attempt.
Is this a direct port of TFC?
Strictly speaking, no, but we want to stick to the fast paced gameplay we love in TFC. Some have suggested we should concentrate on releasing a direct port as soon as possible and then make changes at a later date. The amount of work required for a direct port is quite high. Translating our new ideas in the main development cycle is more efficient, not to mention exciting. New players want a game worthy of Valve's Source engine, not a rehash just as easily done on HL1. Everything in the game is being remade by the team from scratch.
TFC was like a bike with wheels that were out of true - you will ride it but it soon become annoying. FF seems to have trued these wheels while Valve have just decided to rip the wheels off with TF2. If it ain't broke don't fix it does not quite apply to the situation, but 'If its only slightly broke don't brake it even more' probably does.
The decision to remove such key elements of gameplay from TF2 could end up being a great design decision, or the one of the worst. Ask any former Team Fortress player and most of them will say the latter.
TF2 may end up better, who knows. I will still give it a try even though I'm liking FF so much. However do not simply dismiss FF as 'just a port of TFC' when it isn't. I haven't completely dismissed TF2 yet either.
