Conflict Vietnam (PS2)

At last Conflict: Vietnam is finally here. After many years of playing previous titles, I found this one as good as the last. The first image you see of Vietnam is that of a young Private Kahler fresh and unexpected of what lies ahead. The first thing you notice is the amount of texture put into this game compared to previous titles. You look around and rarely see the same texture twice.

Also much more script work has been added to Vietnam where grunts work busily around the camp with their own chores which hasn't been seen in previous titles. Also, the added talk command lets you in on some of the stories being told by the veterans around you.

Finally, after your training in the camp, you have your first patrol and this is where the action happens. You're introduced with a very nice cut-scene and then the war starts. Each level usually starts with this. The jungle around you looks deep and dangerous, but once you move up into it you realise that it's not half as big as you think. You also notice how easy it is to move around and have do the basic tasks, especialy after your training.

But it's in battle where the magic starts as you hear shouts from each of your men who have their own personallity as you fight hordes of VietCong (VC). You may make the mistake of thinking that you will walk all over them like in most other games but you would be wrong.

The VC are smarter and stronger than you think, outnumbering you and attacking you from all sides. This makes gameplay slightly more challenging and adds a bit more thought to your action.

This game is a must have to squad-based game likers as it contains everything one would like with fierce battles with a bit of thought. The multi-player features strongly in this game and the game is played at its best with a friend!

Conflict Vietnam - I have fallen in love with the Conflict series, and this one will be even better. the producers have guaranteed better graphics and gamplay, I just love the 2 player mode! Conflict: Vietnam follows the progress of four US soldiers, Ragman, Junior, Hoss and Cherry, cut off from their unit during the 1968 Tet Offensive and tasked with fighting their way back to friendly lines. A third-person shooter where the player takes full control of all four squad members, Conflict: Vietnam does not set out to depict the course of the war; instead we witness four men struggling for survival in the hostile Vietnam jungle against a ruthless terrain and seemingly ever-present 'invisible' enemy.

With 14 missions spanning a variety of environments, you must lead your squad down Vietnamese rivers, manning the guns on a heavily armoured river boat, into local villages (with friendly and non-friendly fire) to rescue hostages, through ruined temples and the claustrophobic jungle and into the ancient Vietnamese capital of Hue.

Armed with an array of heavy artillery, your squad must also use make use of transportation abandoned by the Viet-Cong or discarded by captured US troops such as tanks, boats and helicopters, in addition to any surplus weaponry you acquire including gun placements and two-manned mortar sites.

Lastly, and by no means least, keep a watchful eye out for the Viet-Cong booby traps, from grenade trip wires and water mines to the punji stake pit trap and the 'Bouncing Betty' anti-personnel mine.