Conflict: Desert Storm II - Back to Baghdad

"Saddam is Back, are you a bad enough dude to stop him?"

After playing the first game, (and loving it) My friend and I took three gift cards to walmart and bought the game free. We then got home and played it the entire day, and let me tell you... Wow.
Graphics: 10/10
The system requirements are really high if you turn up your settings but it is worth it, the lighting, special effects, models, everything becomes ....awesome... During the night missions if you stand under a light it is incredible, you have complete shadows that follow your guy, as well as mini shadows on him from his backpack or head, this is some of the best lighting I have ever seen. The character models are awesome too, the faces look really nice, as do the uniforms, backpacks and weapons.

Sound: 9/10
Sound in this game is right on, each member of your team calls out, if they take down their man, or if a gernade is thrown. The explosions sound great as do the weapon fire. They even did a great job with the small noises, you can hear the bullet caseings hit the ground as well as gernades bounceing around. The sound of bullets hitting different materials is right on.

Gameplay: 8/10
Personally I like this game over its rival ''SOCOM'' just for the ease of use. I tried both and SOCOM never really appealed to me, with all of its menus. Now CDS II has a straight forward menu system, you hold: shift (brings up inventory) you scroll to what you want and you select it, easy. if you want someone (or your whole team) to go somewhere, follow you, or guard the area just press: alt+ whatever letter for what you want them to do. Its fast, not overaly compilcated. Your team members, are for the most part fairly smart. When their life gets below a certain point they use a health pack, when they spot an enemy they tell you (and what kind.) However They are very stupid at times, fireing into walls because their is a guy on the other side, Or just standing there while they (or you) gets shot. They also have a nasty habit of running into gernades...

Replayibility: 7/10
This game was very fun, the levels are massive and each one seems like a game unto it's self. There is no set way of doing missions, all you have to do is complete the objectives, anyway you want. if you have to blow something up why use C4, when you can have the enemy tank shoot at it, or just fire you gun at it for a really long time. Got an extra anti-tank rocket launcher? shoot it at the target.

In closeing I would like to say, if you are into games like Counter Strike or Halo, a FPS where you have a team, it would be a good idea to buy this game, I think you will love it.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/27/03