Shadow Ops: Red Mercury

Rating:
Summary: Very fun game....
Review: I loved the graphics. I found the AI somewhat weak, but reasonable. I found the cut-scenes satisfying. The levels were creative and quite large. The plot-line lacking somewhat in substance. But, the game carries through that very well. This ran nice on a middle-of-the-road system. I ,personally, think that ATARI did more than just a fine job with this. It was very well executed.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of FUN!
Review: I was lucky enough to participate in the Shadow Ops: Red Mercury beta test and can only say good things about this title.
(When you are playing head-to-head via internet with other people, those other people play a large part in the enjoyment factor of the game and beta was made up of a group of great gamers!)

Anyway, on to the game. With the exception of a few minor bugs (most of these were ironed out during beta) this game is loads of fun! Any technical issues I experienced were pretty minor and did not detract from playability or fun factor. The game, for the most part, is solid and stable.

SORM has plenty of classes to choose from, a good selection of weaponry, medipacks to keep you going, and RPGs to pick up along the way to make fighting in the different maps a blast!

Some of the maps are large enough for a couple dozen players to wage team warfare while others are small enough to accomidate a couple of players in a head-to-head match. Fight in the jungle, the desert, the snowy tundra, experience guerilla warfare in the streets and inside structures, or fight it out in industrial complexes and harbors.

Games consist of capture-the-flag, team death match, and all out every-man-for-himself action. Choose your side, terrorist or special forces, and then pick between a multitude of classes, including sniper, rifleman, close combat, and heavy weapons.

One of the best FPS's I've played!

I can't wait for this one to hit store shelves!


Rating:
Summary: Bland
Review: I've played about half way through this game so far and it just doesn't seem to have what it takes. The graphics are pretty good, the maps, ,shadows, and scenery look beautiful. The models could use a little work, it's only noticable in the movie sequences, but it still bugs me.

The biggest problem I found with this game is how bland it is. All the other games have something really good about them. Battlefield has vehicles, Call of Duty has excellent story telling and good action, Far Cry has an interesting story and amazing graphics, this one is just average. The story is that a terrorist has a new nuclear bomb that can fit inside a briefcase and you have to stop him. Can't imagine it took a long time to write that one up.

As far as playability, it's not that great either. Everything is very linear. Only one option, one way to complete the objective.

The enemies move around really well and make good use of cover but it's mostly scripted. In a more open fight it's clear that the AI isn't very intelligent. This is the kind of game that would look good on the drawing board, but that's about it. Good attempt by Atari but it's lacking something.