take my money, GOG! it'S been so long since i played that game! it's weird, because even if the game looks and feels kinda generic, it's anything but. there's a depth of play here that, once you experience it, will make you want to come back for more, again and again, trying to beat any given level in a different way. the fact that you can play a portion of a level, get back to the sewers(hub area) then enter and play a part of another level, then go back to the first one... is pretty nice also. adds even more strategy, and also gives you the chance to crank up the challenge, if you feel like it. i've always loved how you can tackle any given situation: do i go in with my squad, all guns blazing,(or, if you're the Rambo type, alone) as all hell breaks loose around you, or; do you issue a cover fire order to your squad, while you try a flanking maneuver, or; pick most of them off with a sniper rifle before going in? assaulting a machine gun emplacements was always my favorite moment, throwing a few grenades in, then run in to pick off the remaining soldiers before they had the chance to get back up, and then turn the machine gun on them. each weapon behaves VERY differently(as they should), and depending on what you have, you might have a harder time finishing your mission, or you might need to finish it in a completely different way. of course, all i've said above is pretty commonplace in games nowadays, but, for the time, it was pretty well executed and thought out. to round all of that up, add an awesome soundtrack that convey the feeling of how big a predicament you're in: the USA are on their knees, russians have crushed most of their forces, ruling its people with a steel fist. you're the last spark of resistance, a daunting mission awaits you. it's cool, love the what if scenario. i always loved a game where a sniper can take you down in one shot. always a challenge to pick them off before they pick you off. that crouching walk, tho...XD
this game is fun beyond belief. it'll poke fun at the clichés, conventions we see (current or not) in rpg's, action games and all. ("press the button to jump, boyo!" "press a button to jump!?! what button!?! are you mad!?!") XD i mean, how many games can we name where the player character gets into heated arguments with the narrator^^ the narrator, voiced by Tony Jay, is just... superb. as always. Cary Elwes as the bard is also great, very believable as the cranky bard. granted, as a topdown basic hacknslasher, ala baldur's gate, champions of norrath, it can't start to compete with those. but what it lacks in gameplay options, it more than makes up for in story and laugh out loud moments. i've always liked a good comedy, and with the market going more and more for violent, dark, mature games, it's fun to just sit back and enjoy a good (no, make that great) storyline which will, at the very least, put a grin on your face. one of the most original storylines i've encountered, btw. one ending had me laughing so loud, when, in typical bard fashion, i just decided to...XD before i'm done, one last thing worth mentionning: the music. Tommy Tallarico studios took care of that, and it's pure genius. when i heard the first song, "beer,beer, beer", i was hooked and just wanted to hear what was next. same goes for ambiant, background music. even if the game is set in a fictional world, it's easy to see that they were going for that "highlands, scottish" typeof atmosphere.
