Conflict: Desert Storm

"A great multiplayer game that is highly overlooked."

A foreword to anybody looking at this game for buying: only get it if you are willing to spend a lot of time trying to figure out how the game works. Seriously. It took my brother and I a few months to beat the first level. And this was on the easiest setting. Once you beat the first level, you will find that the controls are more natural, and you can actually do more than you thought ever possible in a war game. Now onto the review!

Gameplay: 10/10
Well, everything this game is shouts out ''GAMEPLAY! GAMEPLAY!'' If there was one thing about this game that I think anybody who plays it will like, it is the depth and goodness that is the gameplay. The system satisfies a number of gaming categories. If you like RPGs, you might like the system of ranking the game uses and the weapon variety. If you like things like stealth kills, this game has those. If you like shooters, well, this game is one! I guess you could say killing the Iraqis is a sport. If exploring all the areas in each mission is your idea of adventure, than it is also that. Much more is in this game, as well!

Multiplayer Mode: 10/10
If there is one thing I loved about this game, the multiplayer things would be second only to gameplay. Although this game supports 2-4 players, the best mode in my opinion is the 2p mode. Imagine this two-player scenario. You and your friend are commanding two soldiers each. You are going into an Iraqi camp/city/whatever and getting rid of Iraqis, blowing tanks to pieces, slitting throats, and other things I won't mention for the sake of the surprise you will get when you do them. You cooperate and eventually, your team escapes narrowly from defeat just as a whole hoard of Iraqis come after you! I may be mistaken, but that sounds like the most wonderful thing in the world! If I could, I'd give this part 11/10!

Story: 8/10
Basically, it's the Gulf War, around the time Desert Storm took place. The war vets will love it, young people who like war will love it, I loved it! Yea, I agree that the story of this game is great, but then again, most of this did happen in real life, so it isn't like they did much to change it. Not too much effort was put in to change it, but they did try to keep really close to what happened, so that's just another way to do it, I guess. But the part where you have 4 guys and kill hundreds upon hundreds of Iraqis is kind of cool!

Graphics: 9/10
Yea, I know the graphics are a little blotchy, but you can't have everything, can you? I still like them, though. Just go back and look at a tank after it is blown up. Or at a dead Iraqi. Or at a dying partner! (Don't spend too much time on the last one, or he will die! Get a med-kit already!) The whole game, although slightly blotchy, has beautiful graphics, and the title screen is very well done. Much effort was put in, and the result was a beautifully created game with graphics slightly below perfection!

Sound: 8/10
Music: 3/10
I normally aren't very picky with the music, but then again, usually it exists! This game has music, but it sounds like this: (whsssooooooshhhh whshoooshhh whirl wshooshhhshh). The great thing about this being on XBOX is that you can, unlike GameCube, put stored music on. Obviously, this does suit the mood well and stays close to reality, but I think this part could've used a little sprucing up. I'd say the music could even be considered sound effects in this game.
Sound Effects: 10/10
The sound in this game is great! Contradictory to what I just said, why would you want to have music covering these sounds up? Then again, even with music, you can still hear them. If not, turn the MUSIC VOLUME on the OPTIONS MENU down! The fact that the sound effects in this game are great still doesn't quite smooth over the music issue, but it helps with the overall sound rating.

Play Time: ~100 hours first run
Yes, it is! With this, I estimate at least 100 hours of good playing to the end on the easiest setting, but with replay value, I'd say over 1000 hours!

Replay Value: 1,000,000/10
If you are anything like me, you will play this over and over and over (repeat the number of times that this got rated) even with the music problems! Yes, there is replay! I almost never replay, and I played it a whole bunch of times! I hope you will, too!

Buy or Rent?
Well, look at the Play Time and see if you think you could get that with renting. BUY THIS FOR SURE! This game has everything any gamer could ask for, unless, of course, he was a pacifist!

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