Full Spectrum Warrior (Xbox)

I just want to start off by saying that I have never played an Xbox game like Full Spectrum Warrior before. The type of gameplay is one of a kind, and at first it may seem weird, but after you complete the training (the training is 100% necessary or you will miss out on some of the better things in the game), and start the first mission, you will become addicted. I was in the middle of another game when I bought this game, and after the first mission I stopped playing the other one and went all out on Full Spectrum Warrior. The cheap price of this game almost made me shy away from buying it, but then I read that it is based on the training aid developed for the U.S. Army, so I figured I would give it a shot. I am only in the 8th mission and I have a good amount of gameplay hours, so I have a feeling that this is going to be a long game. The missions are long, so sometimes you have to only play half of one and then come back and play the other half later. Each level has been taking me an average of 45 minutes to complete, and usually with one restart per level (seeing that if just one of your eight soldiers dies, you fail the mission.) It is hard for me to explain the type of gameplay without you just playing it for yourself. When I first started playing it I was kind of disappointed because you just command your two squads (Alpha and Bravo) of four men, and do not actually carry a gun yourself. DO NOT let that scare you away from buying it.

Once you start the first mission and jump right into the chaos of Urban Warfare in the vacant streets of Mid-Eastern cities, you will love it. This game is 100% strategy. It requires more strategic ability than any other game I have ever played, so if you like strategic war games, then this is the best you can buy. Every enemy that you encounter requires a different strategy to eliminate him. You can lay down heavy suppressing fire (but be careful not to use up all your ammo or you will be a sitting duck) with one squad, while the other squad uses a back alley to flank the enemy, or you could use smoke grenades to cover the movement of your squad so you can sneak past him. Whatever strategy you can think of you can do it with all the objects in the road to hide behind, such as wrecked cars, dumpsters, even an old couch (but the couch will not last long under heavy fire). Last of all, I just want to say that this is an all-round great game from the graphics to the gameplay, and it is definitely worth triple the price that I paid for it.

Full Spectrum Warrior (FSW), originally commissioned by the US military's training division, (paid for by the u.s tax payer). It's a fact that when the u.s army received Sony developed `Spectrum warrior', tactics were already outdated. Not a very good sim then. So... what about the game? I thought this type of thing wouldn't appeal to the majority of Xbox`ers but apparently, folk have been going mad for it in the states. FSW received a 90% rating from most official reviews.... it dropped in price pretty quickly after release however.

Personally, I can't stand it. Being a sim incarnate, the action seems dull and less interactive than other war games. Any action's more focused on strategic team movements over actual FPS play. For a sim based in realistic virtual environments with several possible outcomes, FSW feels very limited.

Excellent graphics are plentiful with the best animation. There's also some great sound efefcts and environmental interaction. Unfortunately, realism isn't enough to pass this thing off. My problem with FSW is that it's just not fun to play. Undergoing training to familiarize yourself with controls is mind-numbing but essential. The Xbox shudders and lags whilst loading different training scenarios. You find yourself waiting to issue commands and repeatedly pushing buttons until Xbox catches up. All the while, you're praying the actual game won't exhibit the same dysfunction. The main game is, thankfully, more responsive but the nature of team movements throughout make it feel more like playing chess. For me, FSW provides as much thrill as watching paint dry. In fact, it's more like watching a movie. I hardly felt immersed or wrapped up in the Spectrum Warrior world- just restricted.

Gameplay - The waypoint marker used to navigate team members keeps getting stuck on bits of scenery & the game camera moves far to fast, causing heaps of frustration. Add to this, repeatedly having to perform the same actions over & over because one team messes up ... it's a recipe for shouting at the tv. Also, the controls are confusing & difficult to remember on xbox. Training and practice reduce confusion but there`s still too much to remember. Ultimately, I wasn't impressed. Found it boring and just not my type of game (even though it's marketed under the pretence of something I`d play). I've seen more excitement in my backyard. Only recommended for serious army/war enthusiasts or RPG buffs.. not for FPS fans.

Read my good points of Full Spectrum Warrior, go and get this game, it's a beast!

"POINT FIRE"

"NO TANGOS"

"RPG!"

"ENEMY SIGHTED!"

L.R.

Full Spectrum Warrior is a truly excellent game. Whilst Halo hardcore fans will miss being able to actually pull the trigger, anyone with a thirst for realism, suspense, tension and action will love this game. You have eight intelligent charecters to guide rather than control. You send them off into danger and your orders are played out in front of you. You feel the loss of just one injured man (thanks to the sepia toned slow mo death). This leads to some frantic retreating to the aid station. The question of what is round the next corner is always present but I have not tried it online yet. Superb game.

Full Spectrum Warrior for the XBox has excellent A.I, differing missions that give you an option on solving problems. (ie - do i give suppressing fire or just throw a few grenades in? Enemys behind a wall so get guessing!)

An excellent game that will keep you coming back for more time and time again. And dont even get me started on the live gaming!... one word - excellent!