Full Spectrum Warrior

"Bravo Team reporting for duty!Sir!"

When I first heard the idea of idea of Full Spectrum Warrior I didn't know what to expect. I was sadly disappointed by the fact that you do not shoot in the game.
But as this game started to get good reviews and loved by many people I said "What the hell" and tried it. I can safely say this is one of the most fun and realistic games ever made. Also I can safely say this is unlike any game I have ever played before, but that is one of the reasons I love it.

Graphics:10/10
The graphics in this game are phenomenal. I never expected this when I turned on my Xbox but was in for a huge shock. This game looks beautiful from the first cutscene all the way through. The environment's look so real and you actually feel like you are in the game. Also the characters all look different with different personalities. The tanks and vehicles look great and look even better when destroyed.

Sound:10/10
The sound in this game actually pulled me in and made me feel like I was really in the stuff. All the soldiers sound different then the other. The sound of the tanks firing, the rocket launchers destroying cars, and the helicopters flying overhead have never sounded so good. The sound actually fits the mood of the game and for ever situation your in the sound fits that situation.

Gameplay:9/10
The gameplay in this game is different then any other war game out there. Don't go into this game expecting Ghost Recon or Rainbow Six. Unlike those games you don't actually shoot in this game. You control two squads in this game Alpha team and Bravo team. You move and position your men and tell them where to fire but you don't actually press a button to fire. This concept sounds very weird yet it is so fun. The way it was executed makes the game unbelievable.
You start out missions by your team is given an objective. They must make it to the objective and complete it without losing to much men or else it is game over. Objectives can range from finding a downed team to holding a position somewhere. They vary from mission to mission. Along your way to completing your mission you will run in to many enemies who are trying to kill you. You must take out the enemies any way you can to get to the objective.
The enemies in this game are not the smartest enemies sometimes but once in a while they will surprise you. When you run into an enemy they take cover behind something and fire at you. Once in a while the enemies will run from there cover if it is getting close to being destroyed. The only problem is that somethings enemies will allow themselves to be flanked really easy. While not the best AI it is still pretty damn good.
My only complaint is that I think the enemies could move around a bit more also the camera can get in the way sometimes. You can control the camera with the right thumbstick but sometimes you can't see when moving your men from one corner to another. This happens rarely though and is a small problem. Besides the small AI and little camera problems here and there the gameplay is top notch.

Controls:9/10
The controls in this game were really pulled off well. After looking at the instruction manual I was lost on how the controls worked. Luckily the game starts off with a 45 minute training exercise that teaches you all the basics.
The controls in this game are quite simple. It is kinda hard on how to explain the controls but once you get through the training you will know what to do.

Overall:9/10(not an average)
Overall Full Spectrum Warrior is a fantastic military sim and achieves what it set out to do. It is one of the most realistic and fun military games out there. It is also very different from any military sim out there. It is a unique experience that should not be missed.

Pro's
Good Graphics
Great sound that makes you feel like your in the game
Fun Gameplay that is unique and different from anything out there
Top notch controls that are easy to learn

Con's
Enemies don't move much
Camera problems
Some may go into it expecting Rainbow Six

Buy or Rent

If you are looking for something unique and want to give it a try I say Buy.

If you are still unsure about it for the fact that you don't shoot I say Rent and see how you like it.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/05/04