Conflict: Desert Storm II - Back to Baghdad

"They didn't improve much for a sequel"

I was hoping Gotham Games would make Conflict: Desert Storm II a better game than it's predecessor, but after finishing the game, they let me down. Practically nothing was changed in the game, and a sequel felt more like an add-on or expansion. The game is basically four guys vs. the whole Iraqi army and a bunch of tanks.

Graphics: 4/10
I really didn't see any major changes from the first game. The character models are average at best. Iraqi models really stunk because it was pretty much all the same model. The vehicle models look really nice but that's probably the only good looking thing. The environments look decent and most of it is monochromatic brown, but there isn't a lot of fog compared to the last game, so that's a good thing. Other than exploding barrels and running over bad guys and using mounted machine guns, the environments aren't all that interactive. The graphics sound pretty decent, but what drags down the score is the poor lighting. Gotham tried to combine some sort of Splinter Cell with this game but half of the game I couldn't see without nightvision goggles, which resulted in taking too many bullets. Also, the cut scenes are nothing to rave about, but a good way to chew up time.

Sound: 5/10
Sounds are ok. All of the respective guns (tank fire, grenades, machine, guns, etc) have their own individual clips, but nothing special. The soundtrack also sounds like it was rushed, and it actually repeats in midgame. Maybe these guys should take a page from Medal of Honor, which has excellent sound quality for a decent game.

Control: 4/10
If you can't see in the game, you might as well have good controls to see, right? Think again. Sometimes I wonder how a 1st person shooter is possible without a keyboard and mouse. Conflict still has the same clunky controls from the original game. If you need to heal yourself in a heated battle, you have to stop shooting and select a med-kit and voila you're all patched up (unless you're hit by a tank). What makes up for the bad controls is auto aiming, which is a good thing, but it's a real cheap shot how the crosshair magically moves when you're behind a wall and once you turn the corner there is a band of Iraqi brothers waiting to get shot. Telling soldiers what to do isn't a bad thing if it's co-op since there is less management, but in single player it is a chore to assign the soldiers what to do.

Gameplay: 6/10
Although this game has many negative qualities, it actually turns out to be decent if you play with a friend. Conflict is no fun if you play single player mode, and it is harder to manage the soldier's movements. There are 10 fun and frustrating missions to be accomplished, but there are no extras to be found other than extreme mode. The load times aren't too bad for the large environments, but I don't like the fact that you can only save twice a mission. It is painful to find out after saving too early in the game and failing late in the mission.

Rent or buy: Rent it, and make sure you have a buddy with you. Or else the rules of engagement shall be a burden.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 11/04/03