Close Combat: First to Fight
Publisher: 2K Games
Platform: PC and X-Box
Taiwan Release: Late May
Midway's Close Combat: First to Fight is the latest in the long line of squad-based PC/console games in which players blast and strafe their ways through modern "what if" scenarios set against a backdrop of Middle Eastern political turmoil.
While it will appeal to anyone with a whim for modern tactical inner-city warfare, those looking for more in depth and realistic game play such as that found in Full Spectrum Warrior and Brothers in Arms will be sorely disappointed with the game's less-than-taxing run-and-gun format.
The action takes place in war-torn Beirut, where insurgents and troops from a couple of neighboring Arab nations are battling for control of the streets. Players take on the role of a Marine lance corporal who is part of a US-led UN peacekeeping force tasked with tracking down insurgent leaders, freeing hostages and undertaking basic search-and-destroy missions.
Players control the movements and actions of a fireteam, which in this case comprises four Marine grunts. Orders are easy to give and, when asked, your squad covers flanks, lays down suppressing fire and storms and clears rooms quite competently. When you don't want to risk the lives of your squad in a full frontal assault, fire support can be called in in the form of Marine sniper teams, mortar crews and Cobra gunships.
The various missions take place both indoors and outdoors and players will find themselves fighting room-to-room one minute and trying to avoid threats from multiple enemy targets in city streets the next.
Graphically the game is on par with any of the latest generation of shooters and all of the environments are rich in detail and fun to roam around. But what really lets the game down is the rather lackluster AI.
At times Marine squad members exhibit inane and unrealistic behavior that results in sudden death and enemy combatants run hither and thither for little or no reason and can be picked off all too easily even when hiding behind cover.
SWAT 4
Publisher: VU Games
Platform: PC
Taiwan Release: Mid-May
It might have been almost five years since the last SWAT game was released, but the wait has been well worth it, as the latest addition to the classic series is the best yet. SWAT 4 offers an intelligent game-play interface, a varied and re-playable campaign mode and, most importantly, a genuine feel of realism.
Gamers play as a SWAT team leader whose job it is to oversee and command a five-man squad. Operations in the 14-mission campaign mode include a
convenience store hold up, a botched robbery in a jewelry store, an arms deal and the arrest of a cult leader.
All the environments are exceptionally detailed and players are free to roam rather than being restricted to a linear format. Regardless of the scenario there are always plenty of civilians around and those with itchy trigger fingers need to be very careful, as the death of an innocent leads to the end of your career as a SWAT leader. Gamers also have to show restraint when it comes to dealing with the bad guys.
Before going on a mission players have to listen carefully to the radio dispatcher, who gives a brief mission overview. Players have to follow the same set of rules of engagement as a real police officer and it is always better to subdue suspects rather than simply kill them. At the end of each mission players are graded and points awarded, which can lead to promotion and medals.
The game's interface takes some getting used to, but once mastered is easy to use and allows players to command the squad with little difficulty. Even if you're out of visual range of one of your team you're still able to follow their progress with the press of button. The only drawback to SWAT 4 is the fact that the game is currently only available in PC format.
Lego Star Wars
Publisher: Edios Interactive
Platform: PC, X-Box and PS2
Taiwan Release: Late May
Over the past three years the Lego series of games has proven hugely popular with gamers looking for something a little different. Lego Soccer Mania and Lego Stunt Rally might not have offered the same level of realism as EA's FIFA series or Codemaster's Colin McRae Rally, but they were incredibly amusing.
Adults may snigger at the thought of sitting in front on their console system and watching as little Lego Jedi Knights battle it out with a little Lego Darth Maul and his henchmen, but Lego Star Wars is an enjoyable romp, regardless of one's age.
The action-adventure game is based, albeit loosely, on Star Wars: Episodes I, II, and III. Players are given control over one character, but can switch to other characters at any time during the game, which enables them to employ a wide range of Lego weaponry from light sabers to laser guns.
When gamers are not solving puzzles or running around bashing and blasting androids and storm troopers they are challenged to one-on-one duels with a whole assortment of well-known Star Wars bad guys. Gameplay is enjoyable and easy and those with previous action-adventure-shooter experience should finish the game within six hours.
While it's hardly challenging, the game's visual appeal and presentation is fantastic. Buildings, spaceships and environments all look like they are made of the little Danish plastic toy blocks and when players destroy structures, vehicles and characters they all crumble into tiny Lego pieces. All of which makes for a pleasant change from blood, gore and severed limbs.
NARC
Publisher: Midway
Platform: X-Box and PS2
Taiwan Release: Late May
Midway's NARC has attracted a lot of attention since its release last month with critics arguing that it promotes and glamorizes drug use. All of which is absolute rubbish.
NARC is, in fact, far less violent and anti-social then either Grand Theft Auto or Driver -- two games that enable players to live out their sociopathic dreams in some pretty nasty ways with the use the assault rifles.
Like the two previously mentioned games, NARC's game engine is non-linear. Players are free to roam around the maps at will and can either play the game properly and amass credit points or simply play for fun.
Like all good shooters, players pick up an assortment of objects as the game progresses, with weapons, cash and drugs being the most prevalent of these extras. If you play as the good cop, then you'll be turning in the evidence you find along the way, which makes for pretty boring game play. As the bad cop, however, you get to keep any and all weapons found and sample the narcotics before selling them for profit.
The funniest aspect of the game is when you choose to sample the many substances. Marijuana slows the game down, LSD gives you hallucinations and the games imaginary drug, Liquid Soul, makes you invincible. It is fun to toy with the drugs for a while, but after getting stoned and wasting a few bad guys it all gets rather annoying and pointless.
NARC might sound like a fun way to kill a few hours, but the game play is not easy to master. The controls for the X-Box version this reviewer toyed with are annoying. Instead of designing a simple single-button interface players need to press and toggle a series of buttons at any one time in order to get characters to undertake the simplest of tasks.
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