PC - Eidos Interactive
When you start the game there is no intro movie but there is one when you start the game; it is intentionally vague and mysterious but sets the scene and the mood well. The menu system is straight forward but some of the advanced options are a bit confusing and annoying to use.
When the game starts it is intially quite difficult and it takes a while to get the hang of the gameplay. A solid tutorial teaches you the basics of how to play but the real game is quite different. The goals are quite vague, you know what you have to do but it is left up to you to figure out how. This is quite usefull as there are different ways of playing the game and it allows you some freedom.
The game is fun as it is a very clever FPS game; not only does it have classic FPS action but allows you freedom to play to suit your favourite style. This can be stealthily, guns blazing, hand to hand, or long range and more. The slight RPG elements such as being able to make slight choices to do with the story and pick character skills which add a great deal of depth to the game and story.
The visuals are good but do not do much special, one thing which is good are the overlays it applies to the screen when the player is under different effects, such as a tranquiliser, which actually make play harder rather than just being annoying.
The game has intelligent NPC opponents which react to noises and hear you approaching if you sneak up on them too fast. They will also call for help or run and get help if they know they cannot win which makes the gameplay more intelligent and makes you think about the best way to overcome a situation rather than just rishing in. Although it is a bit limited, the game will also react to your play style and give slightly different cut scenes depending on what you do.
The game has a great story line which it is easy to get immersed in; plus the addition of the RPG character elements allow you get really involved with your character. The only thing which is a bit disapointing is tha the story line gives the impression of being controllable by your actions, however nothing you do effects anything apart from a brief change in cut scene. Also when you are actually given the chance to change the direction of the storyline the game will not allow you to choose the 'bad' option.
It is a classic first person viewpoint that works well and never seems to cause any problems.
The controls are fully customisable but the default setup is quite annoying and a lot of customisation was required to make it comfortable.
The RPG elements are a great idea to get you involved and to let you play the game through in different ways. The dynamic storyline elements are a good idea, its just a pity that it is not carried out very well.
The most memorable part of the game is the fantastic story and the variety of ways you can play it. The intelligence that can be used to play the game is also fantastic, it allows you to be either go in guns blazing or sneak around and find the alternative route.
A solid FPS with a great story and really intelligent game play, the inclusion of the RPG elements really adds something and keeps it enjoyable for longer.