Shadow Force: Razor Unit

"Pretty damn amazing for 5 bucks"

Skimming through the PC games at my local CompUSA, this five dollar FPS caught my eye. The game looked pretty neat , and, knowing I could use the extra money, choose this game over some of the more popular, expensive titles such as MoH: AA and BF 1942. I wasn’t disappointed. Shadow Force: Razor Unit is a great game that provides about just as much fun as some of the other heavy hitters for a price that anyone can afford.

Gameplay 8/10
One of the most realistic FPS’s I’ve even played. The developers included little (but useful) tidbits like the ability to peak behind walls, and use night vision goggles or binoculars, giving this game a lot of depth. Painting targets for allied air strikes is a pretty nifty and useful feature as well. I enjoyed the later levels in this game, but IMO the first few levels were repetitive and boring. They mainly take place on flat, boring areas and are basically just “run-in-and-shoot-everything-that-moves-without-thinking” type levels, which can get repetitive rather quickly. The later levels however, require lots of strategy, include civilians, and are set in stages that have many obstacles and places for ambushes. So don’t get discouraged when you first fire this game up; things will get better later on.

Control 8/10
Like all games with plenty of depth, the controls can be hard to get used to. Once you do however, this game controls like a charm. Everything a FPS needs is included, as well as a few little other great tidbits that the developers took the extra time to add. The mouse/keyboard combination is the best FPS controller out there, and will always be.

Graphics N/A
Believe it or not, I was actually able to play this game under the minimum requirements. This game requires a 3D accelerator, which I do not have. Playing this game without one heavily waters down the graphics, and probably cuts the frame rate in half. My system specs are also way below the recommended specs, so the graphics are dumbed down so much on my computer, judging whether the graphics are good or not would be impossible. I’ll update this section as soon as I receive my new, updated computer, which should be a little before Christmas.

Sound 8/10
This game’s sound effects are pretty good. The gunshots of the different weapons sound realistic, the foot steps are nice, and the cries of dying terrorists will make you cringe. The explosions could have been modified to sound more realistic, however. Personally, I think the background music should have been left out of this game, as it doesn’t fit the suspenseful tempo.

Replay Value 7/10
While this game has plenty of depth and is hard to master, most of the levels aren’t as fun a second time around. Flat terrain and few good places for an ambush can make things very boring, and the not so clever locations of enemy troopers hurts as well. On the up side, this game a has a very detailed online capability feature, which adds a lot. The only problem is nobody’s ever on.

Story 8/10
According to the box, this games story was ripped straight from actual headlines, which is good. The game also does a very good job explaining what the current mission is going to be about and clearly explains your objectives. The missions don’t seem like they carry over all too well. Each mission feels like it has a plot of it’s own, rather than have the same plot flow throughout the entire game.

Buy or Skip?
For only $4.99, this game is a definite buy. It’s quality far exceeds that of a budget game, and online play makes it better. If you see it for $14.99 or up however, wait for a cheaper price. Not because it isn’t worth it, just because most places sell it cheaper.

Overall 8/10
Shadow Force: Razor Unit is a very well rounded game that you won’t be disappointed with. It may not be Counterstrike, but it is still a worthy addition to your collection.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/17/02, Updated 10/17/02