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Developer: Day 1 Studios
Publisher: LucasArts
Release Date: Oct. 7, 2008
System: Xbox 360 (reviewed), PS3
ESRB Rating: T
0:00 I'm not the world's biggest FPS fan, but I am looking forward to playing around with the Havok system that was shown off so well in
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
0:01 The game's logo sits on a lightly lit piece of asphalt, which explodes with a magma-infused fissure between the syllables. On to the menu screen, where a creepy marine with body armor and a big-ass gun stands in front of scenes from the game with somber music in the background. Seems cluttered...
0:03 The difficulties are Casual, Standard and Hardcore. I like the description for Casual: "The Pacificans cower and grovel as you smash your way to victory." That sounds like fun, but I choose Standard to avoid charges that I'm a wimp.
0:04 The loading screen teaches me a bit about ground deformation. For instance, did you know people go slower when going up hills? I know! Revolutionary!
0:05 "How did it come to this? By the 22nd century, global climate change was irreversible." It took that long? Anyway, the Midwest became a water-filled wasteland and the country is now divided by a 200-mile-wide Mississippi. Each side of the country saw a different way of human evolution. The East passed the Defense of Humanity act, making substantial genetic modification a federal crime. The West seceded in response, with a new capital of San Francisco and a new leader named Sheridan, who says, "You can't stand in the way of progress." The president says Sheridan is a "dangerous threat." I'm impressed with the concept, as well as the writing and presentation, so far.
0:07 Cut to the Golden Gate Bridge, with futuristic flying transports hovering over. My character looks down from the open pod door. We have to infiltrate a downed freighter in Alcatraz to get information. The Colonel describes my HUD. "If you get in trouble, just find some cover and let your shields recharge." ARGH! This "free health" system is a pet peeve of mine.
0:08 And I'm in control. I get a brief demo of the "Entrencher," which can raise or lower mounds of dirt. It's a pretty dramatic effect when a five-foot-tall hill just pops out of the level ground. Reminds me of Populous, but with guns!
0:11 They're still leading me by the hand, getting me used to raising and lowering the ground. The sound effect reminds me a lot of "Star Wars," which I suppose isn't surprising given the LucasArts pedigree.
0:13 Damn, those grenades create some nice explosions. The rocket launcher, too. Pieces of ground and buildings fly in every which way.
0:16 Sticky grenades, um, stick to stuff and blow it up. Spike grenades are more interesting, causing jagged pillars of rock to sprout up from the ground. THE POWER!
0:18 Tutorial done, the Colonel flies in to talk with me directly. General Sheridan walks out with some guards. The Colonel tells him he's relieved. "You should have sent more men, Roy. You're not taking me alive." With that, a bunch more guards come out from behind walls. Sheridan makes a good point ... why did they send just two people to take out an opposing General with his own army?