Haze

"A prime example of good but not great"

Haze

I've always told people it's easy to review a great game and even easier than that to butcher a bad one. And what is a “good” game? A good game is one you enjoy your time with, entertaining if not enthralling, a discussion you might share with a friend in a gaming store when you come across its case in the months to come. So why should you try a “good” game instead of a great one? Well that's easy, because if you only save yourself for the great games, you'll be waiting a long time. And good games are what you will spend the majority of your life playing, so ask yourself, is that a bad thing? I could dedicate this review to what “Haze” could have been, but instead I'm going to tell you exactly what “Haze” is: good.

The story takes place in the near future with you filling the role of young Sgt. Carpenter who is part of a private military organization called “Mantel”. The U.S. has dispatched “Mantel” to capture a terrorist threat named Skincoat and remove his “Promise Hand” militia from the land. Soon an event causes Carpenter to switch sides and fight against Mantel. The story is unfortunately ruined by god awful voice acting and some terrible dialogue, it's a real shame too because “Haze” has a very interesting premise. It questions what is right and wrong and who is the just side in war? If anyone. No matter how righteous ones views may be, does killing in the name of it make it the “right” side?

“Haze” plays as any other FPS you're played in the recent years but with a few twists added in. In the beginning you will have access to “Nectar” which is a performance enhancing drug/stimulant. Using it in combat makes you move faster, shoot more accurately, melee enemies with tremendous force and spot opponents even through foliage. However, with every high comes a low. Using too much Nectar will cause you to overdose making it difficult to differentiate friends from enemies and brutally distort your vision. These force players to use it at just the right time and just the right amount to overwhelm their opposition, but when things aren't going well it's hard not to push yourself over the limit. It's an interesting balance and it's unfortunate that your time spent as a Mantel soldier is so short.

As mentioned, you will soon switch sides and fight for the Promise Hand rebels. Your gameplay style takes an interesting twist upon this event as you begin to use your previous faults, to your advantage. Rebels can throw daggers doused with “Nectar” to make soldiers overdose and turn on their enemies. Or you can fake your own death if you've taken substantial damage and rise to your feet after your enemies turned their backs and finish them off. This becomes a very useful ability but borderlines on unfair because you can almost endlessly use it and they'll more than likely fall for it.

“Haze's” campaign is quite long and while not all of the levels may be memorable it does certainly have its moments: from the opening battle in a dense jungle, to defending a rebel village in a fierce thunderstorm and a very cool finale assaulting a giant land-carrier tearing across the land. It's hard not to be impressed by some of “Haze's” set-pieces. The entire campaign can also be played cooperatively with three other players via splitscreen, online or a combination of both. Co-op is always a welcome addition to any game and it makes “Haze's” bright spots shine even more.

A multiplayer mode is also available, and in a nutshell: it's ok. Players can choose either Mantel of Promise Hand to play as and have access to all of their afore mentioned abilities which does spice things up a little, if not a lot. Unfortunately everything about the multiplayer support from its modes, maps and gameplay reeks of mediocrity. With fair superior multiplayer titles like “Unreal Tournament III” and “Warhawk” already available on the Playstation 3 chances are nothing here will hold your interest for very long.

Undeniably the largest complaint people are going to file against “Haze” is its presentation, and it's here where I really can't defend the game on any merit. The graphics are passable at best. Some areas sport some nice lighting and the explosions are impressive but barring those two compliments this is not a very good looking game. When compared to other PS3 exclusives available such as “Uncharted: Drake's Fortune”, “Motor Storm” and “Heavenly Sword” it looks downright embarrassing. As mentioned earlier the voice acting is terrible with characters spitting out lines like “We knocked these asses down like Skittles!” There is really isn't a standout performance by anyone and the cut-scenes are bound to garnish laughs rather than awe. Luckily the weapons all pack a punch that makes them very fun to use.

You can look at “Unreal Tournament III” or “Resistance: Fall of Man” and sneer at the sight of “Haze”. But if you look beyond its presentation and flaws you're bound to find something to enjoy if you're a true FPS fan who doesn't mind playing something that's not going to astonish you. Games fall into the “entertainment” genre and whether or not you find yourself impressed by “Haze” or simply just “entertained”, then a games' fulfilled its purpose. “Haze” may not be a game to be remembered, but it's a game to enjoy in the here & now, and in the end, that's all that really matters isn't it?

Graphics- 6.5
Gameplay- 7.5
Sound- 6.0
Overall- 7.0

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 06/12/08

Game Release: Haze (US, 05/20/08)