If the innovative "Full Spectrum Warrior" (THQ; Xbox, PC; $49.95; Rated Mature) had a few major wrinkles ironed out, it could very well rank as the best war game we've seen. Even with foibles, its realistic look and sound make it a worthwhile purchase for hardcore wargamers who want a different experience.
Set exclusively in a small, war-torn neighborhood that could be Mogadishu or Baghdad, the game follows two four-man squads of American grunts as they fulfill various goals, such as rescuing a wounded comrade, escorting an ally or calling in a Bradley armored fighting vehicle.
"Full Spectrum Warrior" boasts the best graphics and battle simulations we've seen in a war game. Forget anyone who thinks the "Ghost Recon" series has anything even remotely visually impressive. It's a joke compared to this offering, in which you can practically smell the scorched desert air and feel the dust settle on your helmet.
Players give commands to their squads, such as move here, toss a grenade there or open fire on an enemy, and then the GIs move out, peeling off one by one with realistic movement and dialogue to carry out your orders. Taking cover is a must, and the grunts will creep along walls and even break into two-man teams to cover one another.
It is an incredible and possibly unparalleled gaming experience to switch to first-person perspective when a unit is moving, as you adopt a TV reporter's herky-jerky perspective, complete with jostles and bumps.
While you have various tactics at your disposal such as smoke grenades and suppression fire -- you can even call in reconnaissance, which sends a "Little Bird" chopper zooming overhead to update your satellite map with enemy locations -- after the first few levels, the game turns somewhat rote.
Missions can be difficult, but ultimately employing the same tactics over and over will win the day. More strategic than not, there is little visceral sensation or satisfaction in taking down enemies, whose status is represented by tiny icons over their heads, including one for dead.
One of the game's biggest downfalls besides its plodding pace is the lack of interaction in an environment that cries out for soldiers to kick down doors, take over buildings and commandeer vehicles.
With too many hiccups for an all-out buy recommendation, "Full Spectrum Warrior" will be more than worth the price when it hits the discount bin.
'Shadow Ops: Red Mercury'
This militaristic first-person shooter begins with a bang, setting you down smack in the heart of a Middle Eastern urban war zone with RPG-toting thugs gunning for you. The action is impressively hot and heavy right away, making you want to run for cover and providing a pleasantly disorienting introduction to "Shadow Ops: Red Mercury" (Atari; Xbox, $49.95; PC, $29.95; Rated Teen).
For a while, it's a top-notch adrenalin rush that has you -- secret agent Frank Hayden -- scurrying about as the lead flies, picking your way through hulks of demolished buildings, and clearing enemies from dark rooms and narrow passageways.
But as "Shadow Ops" progresses with your character on the hunt for a mysterious nuclear weapon called "red mercury" that is in the hands of terrorists, the game devolves into just another shooter.
Although better-looking and -sounding than many war games, "Shadow Ops" ultimately breaks no new ground and offers more of the same to any game-hardened veteran of the shooter genre.
On the downside, levels are completely linear, keeping you on a set path with little room for deviation. Save points are only at the ends of levels, meaning you'll need to repeat tough levels numerous times.
And no matter how many times you play a mission, enemies pop up at the exact same locations, making the game predictable.
Taking place around the globe in Syria, the Congo and the former Soviet Union, "Shadow Ops" has a long single-player campaign that is, without a doubt, fun. It has some shining moments, but not enough to warrant a full buy rating. If you're just killing time until "Halo 2" comes out, though, you could do worse.
First Published: October 15, 2004, 4:00 a.m.
