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There are 3 reviews for this product.
I bought this game thinking that it would be like the recent UFO games but implemented in a way I would have liked. I was half right.
The emphasis of this game is not turn-based like UFO at all. Its real-time with the ability to pause the game at any time and make command decisions if the need arises.
Gameplay
I want to start this portion by saying that the installed version of my game has a bug in it from the offset that adds to some of the frustration I experienced. Apparently, due to one of the many codecs my PC needs whenever the game repeats a music file I have to wait 25seconds for it to reload in which time the game freezes. And the only fix for it? Remove all except basic MicroSoft codecs. Fantastic.
According to the games forums they had experts that helped them with the weapon stats. That stinks more than the local water treatment centre in mid-summer. Id like to see anyone survive a direct hit with a .50cal shot let alone continue fighting. So realism is out of the question right away. But that didnt make the game less fun, just meant that you had to play about with the game to see how things would react and that took some time. Things like a single RPG7 round completely annihilating an apartment block. Sweet moses!
Pathfinding is a tad awry as well. Vehicles are often getting lost, driving into buildings or taking the long way round that means driving right into the minefield you made an effort to avoid. Means a lot of shift-clicking to queue commands which should not even happen. Soldiers are just the same. You order them to sneak around the back of a house as to avoid being shot to crap by the BTR youre trying to avoid and what does he do? Walks around the front of the house to get to the back. I dont usually scream at my PC but I found myself doing so in abundance.
Another niggle that could raise a buddhas blood pressure to dangerous heights is the grenade throwing. The system itself is fine but stand too close to a wall or building and for some reason your soldier just launches it into that object and blows both it and himself up. You have to stand quite a way back. Another thing you have to learn to do.
Its not all bad. Although the game is riddled with annoyances it does have some perks. The story is somewhat interesting. Not very inspired but it at least makes you want to continue.
The fights can be quite exhilarating. Once youve placed all your men in their locations and set the ball rolling, seeing the fight turn your way fills you with a certain amount of pride. More because it seems the game is fighting against you constantly that overcoming all the bugs and weirdness that youve managed to beat the enemy. Seeing your decoy lure a T55 tank down a street only to have your two TOW humvees zoom in from the rear with complete success is something to behold and the amount of relief you feel is almost tangible. This is usually because you have to out-think the enemy rather than out-gun. Youre rarely given the means to outright fight the enemy so you have to be inventive. This is where the game really comes into its own. Superior weaponry doesnt always mean victory. Its all about superior tactics. And that is what is keeping me playing it.
Graphics
Seeing as though the game is almost 4 years old now, it would be unfair for me to rate the graphics by todays comparison. Back then a 3D strategy game was something quite new and even today the graphics look quite pleasent. Were not talking Act of War level, were looking, again, at UFO Aftermath level. Everything looks like its supposed to be, theres a few niggles with appearing textures but I can let that slid as this happens in a lot of games and the cause is usually to aid texture compression.
My only real nerks are the models for the AK-74 and MP5. They looks similar but theyre not AK-74s or MP5s. The MP5s all have straight 9mm magazines which isnt that common. The more common curved magazine wouldve been better. To be honest, it looks more like a shortened G3 variant.
Sound
Which side of the coin will it land...
The sound effects are fantastic. The weapon sounds, although not perfect, are pretty good and you could believe that it was an actual AK-74.
Now...the voice acting. Oh dear god. What is it with these european games and their english voice acting. Some of the characters I can understand being from Texas or the American Mid-West but almost everyone in post-apocolyptic Russia is American. Theres the odd Brit thrown in at various points. To be blunt, its rubbish. It sounds like one guy putting on different voices. I die a little inside when a cutscene comes on.
Value
At the time of release, Im very glad I didnt buy it like I was going to. The game still feels unfinished after all these years. It had so much potential yet fell flat on its face in the eyes of the gaming community. Pick it up now in the bargain bin or 2nd hand on eBay or Amazon and youll get a good day or two of gaming.
Reviewed by: Amazon Reviewer Rating:  Date Reviewed: 30Oct2008 | | | I had never even heard of this game when i bought it so the `impulse buying` that happened has made me very happy and satified in this intance.
This game is extremely refined and the plot is the first along its lines that ive ever come across.
This i would put more in the RPG category than the strategy genre considering you have to scavenge your ammo from your enemies and distribute it to your troops.
I was worried when i read on the back it had only 13 missions, after playing it i cant see why i was worried, it is taking and age to learn and ill probably NEVER master it, but its worth the try.
Worring perhaps that the story could becoming true as we speak (SARS virus) but a fantastic game in every respect
Reviewed by: Amazon Reviewer Rating:  Date Reviewed: 24Apr2003 | | | This game is a hybrid of Commandos, Command & Conquer, Jagged Alliance with a role play factor, as your characters increase in their capabilities. This is one of the best RTS games out there and is definitely worth your money.
Reviewed by: Amazon Reviewer Rating: Date Reviewed: 12Mar2003 | | |
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