Haze (PS3)

A subpar shooter that misses the mark.
5/22/2008 4:31 PM | 0 Comments | Page 1 of 2

My head is still spinning from playing Haze -- and that's not a good thing.

What was built up to be an intense, gorgeous and smart 3-D shooter for the PlayStation 3 has proven to be anything but -- in all three respects. OK, so the game has a few interesting moments, including somewhat memorable level design and cool multiplayer maps, but just when you think the game is about to get better, along comes the ridiculous dialogue and stupid artificial intelligence, not to mention an inconsistent visual experience that hurts its overall appeal.

Halo for the PS3 this is not. Heck, it's not even on par with the recent Turok.

Designed by Free Radical, creators of the TimeSplitters series, Haze takes place 40 years in the future, where governments hire private military corporations to do their dirty work. You play as the young Sergeant Shane Carpenter, an employee of Mantel Global Industries, called into the Boa region of South America to put an end to a guerilla faction called The Promise Hand. It seems this rebel group is led by a maniacal, er, madman, known as Skin Coat, a nickname allegedly earned by wearing the skin of his fallen enemies. Lovely. You'll begin to uncover the truth about The Promise Hand's cause and begin to question whether or not you're fighting for the right side, before making the switch to fight as The Promise Hand rebels.

The story isn't great, but what whatever suspension of disbelief you can muster is ruined by annoying -- and at times abhorrent -- dialogue, especially during the first few hours of the game when you're forced to complete missions with American jarhead idiots who, about every five seconds, utter bonehead remarks like "Who wants my foot in their ass next?" and "I'm fired up and ready to shoot some locals," and disgusting lines like "That was like taking candy from a crippled baby." Now, I don't think you're actually supposed to like these dudes, and they make it clear they're not too fond of you either, but if I hear another "Boosh!" as two alpha males bang chests I'm gonna freakin' lose it.

What helps separate Haze from other 3-D shooters is a "nutritional supplement" of a drug called Nectar developed by Mantel to give their boys a boost in the field. When injected, which you control with the PS3's L2 button, Carpenter experiences a temporary improvement in speed, strength, aim and perhaps most importantly, sight, as well-hidden enemies in the field become illuminated with a yellowy glow so you can easily pick them out. But with the good comes the bad, as you can overdose on Nectar if you hold down the L2 button too long, which causes the screen to blur, making it hard to fend for yourself during battle. Similarly, if you're shot while administering Nectar, you'll enter a temporarily crazed period where you shoot uncontrollably, even at your own teammates.

Speaking of shooting up, high-tech weaponry in your arsenal range is of the usual variety -- handguns, sniper rifles, grenades and rocket launchers -- though some stick out more than others including the "Donkey Puncher" close-range shotgun that blows an enemy to the other side of the room or strapping Nectar onto a grenade that causes a plume of yellow gas, causing overdoses to Mantel soldiers within reach. On a related note, a melee attack while under the influence of Nectar gives 10 times more power so you can really smack someone while up close and personal.