Brute Force

I figured Brute Force from Microsoft game studios would be another Halo try-hard with no appreciable other assets. I first played it in deathmatch mode via X-Box link with another X-Box (yes, finally a decent game that supports it other than Halo) and was pretty unsurprised and uninspired......until I started a campaign and could use the character's specific skills to complete the mission co-operatively, absolutely fantastic (and the only way it seems to differ from Halo). Better still, when I unplugged the other X-Box and my friend went home I could continue the mission where I left off with a rather intelligent and co-operative computer operated player/s as an ally.

Controling 3 other players and yourself, switching between the characters is easy and very rewarding as each character has a special skill. The characters are basically 2 male thugs and 2 female sneaks. The team moves up on new ground, leap frogging each other using 2 scouts in front and 2 thugs behind to catch the melee that ensues when the 2 scouts are seen. The game has great depth and can be played as a pick it up and play shoot 'em up or a long slow campaign of pinpoint accuracy and tactics. Either way it's an absolute blast.

I don't generally like Shoot 'em ups as I've been through the PC Wolfenstein, Doom, Quake, Half Life era and quite frankly, I got bored. This one (and Halo) is a breath of fresh air.

You don't need to know which wall the BFG is hiding behind, you don't have to press 15 buttons at once to jump over a flame while carrying 17 keys. It doesn't matter if you miss collecting a particular gun hiding in the grass or under a rock and it's not paramount that you are carrying/using a particular gun at specific points in the level.

As complex or simple as you want it to be.

Buy it now before it's sold out!