11-Jun-2004 Tanks and tactics - if you saw 24 on the telly you'll have a pretty good idea what to expect from Full Spectrum Warrior.
Taking place in a war-ravaged Middle-Eastern hell-hole over the course of a single day, FSW recklessly yanks out your pin of inexperience and tosses you, grenade-like, into the thick of the strategic squad-based action.
This is an entirely different beast to the squad-based thrills of SOCOM and Rainbow Six - FSW is less of a tactical shooter and more an all-out RTS game, albeit one played out at ground level in the field.
Rather than controlling your Alpha and Bravo teams directly, you'll merely issue appropriate orders and wait for them to comply. Movement requires you to position your context-sensitive cursor at your chosen destination and your men will adopt the safest, most logical formation when they arrive.
Once in a safe zone, you're free to continue to your next objective or engage the enemy as necessary. Combat simply involves tapping the X button and positioning the on-screen cursor to assign a Fire Sector - all enemies in the selected area are gun-fodder if your team can get them in their sights.
On top of Standard fire there's Suppressing Fire, which keeps threats down until your other squad is in a position to attack, or lob one of your limited but invaluable grenades into the fray.
Cover Yo' Ass The emphasis here is on stealth and strategy though, and you're actively encouraged to use your surroundings for protection - failure to stick to cover often has dire consequences.
Importantly, and in sharp contrast to traditional tactical shooters, you'll rarely encounter bad guys simply mincing about the landscape - most use cover as intelligently and effectively as you.
In most cases, the only way to end a stand-off, with both sides firing from under completely safe cover, is to command your second squad along a different route and take out the enemy from a different vantage point while they're distracted.
What's more, you don't have a limitless supply of fresh-faced rookies to rip through on the battlefield - lose a member of your squad and that's it, game over.
Adding yet another layer of strategy to the proceedings, if a member of your team is injured in battle, you'll need to hoist him onto your shoulders and transport him to the nearest CASEVAC for immediate medical attention. This means you'll have to throw your current strategy out the window and venture into unknown territory before your man bleeds to death.
Phowar-Fare There's plenty more ingenious stuff thrown into the mix - like a stunning wobbly hand-held camera that follows your men about their missions, and the clever replay function that allows you to rewind, wince at your cock-ups and jump back into the action before it all went horribly wrong. Such attention to detail makes the whole experience a real joy - albeit a gritty, grimly realistic one.
Plus your team is stuffed genuine, well-rounded characters who'll laugh, cry, joke and swear. You'll actually come to care when you're lugging your man back to base with blood gushing from his wounds, knowing his life is in your hands.
In The Zone Then factor in some atmospheric graphics and sound and Pandemic has created a wholly believable war zone in which to stage its finely honed action.
What's so captivating is FSW's constant assault on your senses - whether shaken by explosions or hanging on live-or-die decisions, you are always in the thick of it.
Aside from minor issues (like a few repetitive objectives), it's an almost flawless experience. FSW is as about as close to the horrors of war as you're likely to get in your living room, and with the Iraq situation as it is, this should sell faster than shit off a shiny entrenching shovel.
More thoughtful than your average tactical shooter and just as intense. Stunningly realised and immensely rewarding - war just shouldn't be this much fun.
As well as Standard and Suppressing Fire, there's a barrage of projectile weapons to chuck in the direction of your enemies. There's a standard frag, grenade-launcher, smoke canister and mortar attacks to aid you in your quest. Remember though, unlike normal ammo, you can't restock your grenades back at a CASEVAC so use them sparingly.
Indirect fire can prove invaluable when faced with heavily armoured and impassable vehicles like tanks
For situations where there is simply no cover to use as protection. Deploy the smoke and leg it to safety
This targets more localised areas with a high-powered blast – great at taking out cars used as cover
Standard grenades are great for taking out enemies when there’s no other way to penetrate their cover
// Under Cover
Sticking to cover is instrumental to progress. Shields appear above your team and their combatants, indicating the level of cover currently provided. If you're hiding behind destructible cover, such as crates or cars, your shield will diminish. You'll need to send your second team ahead to take out the threat from a different angle if the enemy is engaged behind impenetrable cover.
But the same is true for your opponents – while both of you are protected, you’re in stale-mate
Sandbags and buildings provide permanent safe areas – perfect for taking out targets without danger
Send your other team round the back of buildings to find a new vantage point – take ’em out!
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