Shadow Ops: Red Mercury

This FPS is an interesting blend of military shooter (like Soldier of Fortune or classic CoD) and arcade shooting. The problem is there's nothing particularly interesting here aside from Steve Blum's surprise performance. The shooting isn't as satisfying as most games out there, even at the time, you're limited to weapons given to you at the beginning of each stage, and the shotgun is one of the least satisfying weapons in the game. If they had Soldier of Fortune violence or BLACK destruction or Resistance weapons then it could have stood out a bit. But instead, it's basic and bare.

As the title suggests, the game offers itself as a FPS, that could have been set in a cheesy 90s film vibes NES game. Not visually of course, the game looks pretty good. The gameplay offers some challenge as if you die, you got to start all the way over from scratch in the beginning of the level. All progress gone. You keep your ammo you had, HP, etc etc. I pretend the game is a older plat-former like from back in the day where you had to start from the beginning of the stage and my brain did not get as angry about dying. What sticks out is the gameplay overall. The range of weapon is fair, you are locked to 2/3 weapons at a time per level and to the setting, locked too. You can not pick up weapons from enemies as you would hope. Instead you are locked to a pistol, a shotgun, a Autorifle, a burst rifle, or a (useless sometimes) Sniper rifle. Ammo is very limited at times if RNG is a cruel mistress. Enemies are predictable in points in their spawns. The game itself has a few minor issues. Saving. Yes while I mention in the long run of it, it is not a horrid thing, its still one that urks me a little bit. I hope at some point they can add in a community patch made save system for manual saving, or checkpoint based. Some of the levels do go on for a while and having a half way point would be nice. Specially during crazier missions. The other thing that urks meis the lack of being able to NOT pick up weapons. I like you can pick up ammo, but its random what gun gets it. so if anything being able to wield a few automatic rifles, would have been nice. The game itself is a cheese fest, per janky cheese. In a good way. The story itself makes no sense with plot points that are just there, but those are not so much important. If you are expecting high grade story, it does not exist in this game. Past all those points, the game is still pretty fun. Pretend you are playing a old nes/genesis game and have at it!

Never heard of this when it was new. I found it fun and enjoyable. I feel like it deserves a higher rating. Cons: No saving games in the middle of a level No vehicles Limited weapons on each level (you get 3, preset, plus maybe a later heavy weapon pickup) Pros: Difficulty is balanced. Not too hard, not too easy Emplaced machineguns are fun to use Sound and visuals are good, no lag, good loud bangs from guns, screen shakes with heavier weapons There's a basic story, you're a spec ops superstar, terriss steal red mercury to make a suitcase supernuke, Russians/Arabs/American traitors blah blah. Basic Tom Clancy fare. Ignore it, the game itself is fun.

Since i joined GOG in early 2014 i was annoyed. A list of games NOT on this site annoyed me. This List is: Soldier of Fortune Shadow Ops Rainbow Six Rogue Spear Project IGI With SoF from the list we now get another gem from the golden Era of "Modern Warfare games before Modern Warfare was a thing" Every time a CoD Kid or a wanna be YT channel tells me how CoD 4 invented the Modern Warfare genre i come up with a sophisticated laughter and lecture them which games did that in the early 2000s. So which games did that? Project IGI, Operation Flashpoint, DFBHD, Soldier of Fortune 1 and 2, Ghost Recon 1 and 2, Black aaaaaaaaaaand of course Shadow Ops. And here we are. Finally that (sadly unknown) Action Shooter arrived on Gog. I played it back then in 2004 on the X Box (that version comes with oversensitive controls) and in 2007 i got the PC Version. What is Shadow Ops? It is a fast paced action Shooter in a Modern Warfare Special Forces setting. It comes with all the stuff from its time: Medikits, Crazy Action, a Michael Bay storyline and an unforgiven difficulty. GOG Version and how it aged. The Cutscene look like total trash filmed with a potato (but i dont care, thats how it is with such old games). The visuals are 2004 and still look ok. The controls are spot on and it still plays smooth and fast. Why should you buy it. 1. it is one of the grandfathers of the MW genre and if you like FPS then you should have played it 2. Call yourself a good FPS player because you played the last CoD Games?! How about showing your skill with a real challenge?! 3. Shadow Ops was CoD 4 before CoD 4 even existed. PS: i see a lot of people complaining about the lack of a save function. Come on kids! Grow some balls and practise. The Levels are short and this game is never unfair. Dont blame the game for your lack of skill. Dear Gog! Rainbow Six Rogue Spear Project IGI (No save function and Missions that wont end. I wait for the tears about this one) MAKE IT HAPPEN!