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DELTA FORCE: LAND WARRIOR
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Novalogic has done it again...
By JAMES ANTHONY
The chaps at Novalogic are getting
mean - and ultra nasty too.
Not only do they make life almost impossible to keep in their latest Delta
Force offering, Land Warrior, but they have a damn good laugh at you as
the camera hovers over your dying or dead body. Pussbuckets!
The scenario I'm spewy over is one in which you have to helicopter in
to a fortress-like complex in the Aegean Sea and nab a super viral agent
that could kill billions if it gets into the wrong hands. Which it has.
That sounds okay, you say, well how about this - you've got only one partner
and you're up against scores of bad guys in three locations.
It took five tries to get it right and each time the score was looking
good - James 63, bad guys 0 - then bang, some swine gets me from behind
and as the body twitches you can hear the report come in over your communications
headset: "Reinforcements moving in, better pull out." Bit blinkin' late,
bucko.
Now, while slightly miffed over the black humour, it has to be said that
this is one seriously good game and so engaging you'll pack your spouse/partner/girlfriend
off on an expenses-paid weekend to sit at the computer without interruption.
In the past the Delta Force games have always meant the highest quality
gameplay that had you dismissing the often up and down graphics. That
has changed big time with the Novalogic mob putting down some beautiful
imagery to go with even better missions and campaigns.
Land Warrior easily competes with the likes of Counterstrike and Rogue
Spear in the looks department with super smooth rendering and textures
throughout a host of environments within which to hunt down the enemy.
The landscapes are consistently excellent and whether it be at a distance,
or up close - a failing in the past - they are sharp and recognisable.
You do need to watch yourself as admiring the beautiful transparent water
can leave you open to a bullet behind the ear.
And, if your weapon has a telescopic sight, you can marvel at how far
the face texturing has come in a short while. If you're a sicko then you
will also enjoy the agonized cries and moans of the wounded and dying.
You can battle terrorists hidden in the great Egyptian pyramids and the
Sphinx, trek through the dank, mosquito-ridden swamps of South America,
try to retire a hit man in the American south-west, clamber around an
oil rig or take on squillions of heavily armed crooks in that tougher-than-tough
Greek Island complex.
One of the best scenarios for multiplayer will be one where you need to
defend a strongpoint against a number of assaulting bad guys. In single
player it's fun, although exceedingly difficult to win because you spend
more time running around trying to cover their all-points attack than
you do firing the heavy machine guns you can get behind.
The range of weapons and equipment has had a major boost, as has the way
you go about using them. (Methinks the Novalogic lads have had a bit of
a play at Counterstrike). In past versions of Delta Force you were limited
to your at-start choices, but in Land Warriors you can add to your personal
arsenal if the area you are in has an armoury.
Players will also note with delight the benefits of being able to carry
a main weapon, a handgun, and also a sub-machinegun. In those scenarios
where you are up against scores of enemy soldiers the third gun comes
in very handy - as does the ability to save three times during a mission.
Another little improvement is being able to fire AT-4 anti-armour weapons
at attack choppers. Burn, baby, burn.
The maps are huge and while the trademark outdoor focus remains, there
has been an obvious move towards getting up-close and personal with the
enemy while they are inside buildings.
There are some glitches - sometimes you can waste ammo shooting at a far-away
soldier before realising He's actually behind building's wall - but overall
this is almost perfect. Can't wait to go multiplayer with this beauty!
Lock and load, fire in the hole!
ORIGINALITY 80%
SOUND/GRAPHICS 90%
PLAYABILITY 95%
ADDICTION 90%
ENJOYMENT 95%
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