"the sweet smell of gunpowder... *SNIFFS*"

Never, have I EVER, been so immersed in such a realistic, tactical shooter. That's the bottom line.

The first time you see a grenade explode right in front of your face, whilst tracers light up the sky above you, you know your in the sh*t. Yeap, everything feels authentic, everything feels IN YOUR FACE good.

Sure, it can be a lengthty download (600mb+) or a long ride to your local recruitment station. (im assuming) But trust me, it's worth it.

This game was made from the taxes YOUR US government collected, and made into a top-of-the-line shooter/recruitment tool. And it's completely for free.

But before you can go online and start playing, (now comon that wouldn't be so fun, there's gotta be SOMETHING special?!) you gotta go through an authentic feel basic infantry training. Yup, you can't touch nothing online until you've finished your rifle range, obstacle course, weapon familirization and other forms of training.

The really immersive thing that grabs me so much is that you feel like your crafting your own legend and saga in this game. If you don't finish basic infantry, you don't play at all. If you don't finish advanced marksmanship after qualifying with good results on the rifle range in Basic, you don't get a sniper rifle in all your games. If you don't finish your medic school, where you ACTUALLY have to sit through a lecture and than complete a test (no jokes, but I liked it cuz it made me felt proud when i passed with flying colours on the test) you don't get to be a medic in all your games. If you don't get your Special Forces badge, you don't get access to Special Forces map and the chance of using your own customized M4A1.

And trust me, Special Forces and Advanced Marksmanship is NOOOOOOOOO walk in the park. It's hard, and its meant to be that way. Same with the airborne school, where you had to do a live jump. All these make you feel SO proud of yourself when you earn yourself a badge and a role in your SOON TO BE fireteam.

THat's just a quarter of it. After training, (note: you don't have to finish everything, as long as you finish Basic) you can refresh server list, and start playing.

Graphics are top notch. No complaints here. It's free, I'm a gamer, I play games, and this game supports some fine graphics using the Unreal Warfare engine.

Sounds are crisp, and the first time you hear yourself shell-shocked, you'll know you are involved in somehting big. Authentic weapon sounds and the lovely GUSH GUSH sound of footsteps on snow immerses you into the battlefield.

And man, the gameplay. I'd seriously give it a million out of 10 if I had the chance. I have never felt so immersed in the tactical feel of the game, and the sense of duty when I take my online avatar into the battlefield is absoultely inspiring. The game makes you feel so there, you can smell the gunpowder stench from grenades and guns. Missions vary from objective take-downs to POW rescues, but made to be so fun you will forget your playing on a computer. never have I seen smoke grenades been so useful and effective in a game before.

This game is recommendable as a priced shooter, but when it's for free, WHOOF! You won't want to miss out on this game. Trust me.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/25/04