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The Plot:  A long (long...) delayed third-person shooter, "Brute Force" has often been compared to Bungie's "Halo", which continues to be the XBOX's most popular game, not to mention one of the finest games in recent years. Aspects of "Brute Force" are quite entertaining, as the game appears crisp and polished. However, there are aspects of this title that really take away from the replay value. The game is a squad-based shooter that "stars" four characters. There's Tex, the brutest (if that's a word) force of the four, who can use two weapons at once. Hawk is a stealthy redhead, who can go invisible to sneak up on enemies. Brutus is a beast who is good for close-up combat and has a "sense" mode to spot the heat of enemies. Flint can auto-target enemies. Certain characters can pick up and use certain weapons, while others can't pick up certain weapons. Each of them has special abilities that can be depleted (Tex can use two weapons at once), but will refill. However, while switching between squad members and giving them basic commands ("Fire at will" and "Cover me", for example) is easily controlled, the squad aspect isn't nearly as necessary in the game as I'd expected it would be. The story - there doesn't seem to be much of one - is weak, too. "Halo"'s battle of the Marines vs. the Covenant wasn't terribly complex, either, but there quite a few twists and turns throughout the game and the somber, dark atmosphere was perfectly crafted. We really don't learn that much about any of "Brute Force"'s characters (despite their different abilities, the voice acting is average and there's little backstory) and the enemies don't have much personality, either, despite the fact that they occasionally chatter in the midst of an attack. The game also suffers from so-so level design. Almost all of the levels seemed to be entirely a here-to-there linear affair. Enemies attack, the force powers through, more enemies, more force, more...with the rather narrow path (some environments also repeat), things get a tad repetitive and there doesn't seem to be much need for a strategy to take on the enemy forces. Given that there's often quite a few enemies on-screen at once, there's no time to make decisions on how best to approach, one just has to approach. However, the weapons - sniper rifles, miniguns, lasers and all sorts of other stuff (including different grenades such as gas, fragmentation, and sonic) are available for use in the many battles throughout the game. Players, who can carry two weapons at once, can also pick up/switch their weapons with ones that enemies have dropped. Enemy AI is generally quite good, as they often run, duck or try to find cover with a fair amount of intelligence. Up to four players can play through the missions or deathmatches on one XBOX or via system link. Overall, "Brute Force" was a good-looking and polished experience that provided very basic, entertaining action. Given the time in development, however, I was hoping for a deeper and more imaginative experience. It does share some similarities with "Halo", but that title still offers a much richer, more cinematic and thrilling experience. Rating: 8.3/10 The DVD Graphics: Although there are aspects of "Brute Force" that could have been more imaginative given the production length, it can be said that the game certainly looks great. While the structure of the game's environments could have been improved to make the game less straightforward, the environments (such as a volcanic area) do look quite impressive, with lots of fine detail, strong textures and superb lighting. However, personally, I felt that the game's look could have been more effective if it was slightly darker and more intimidating than the bright, vivid appearance that the game does have. The character and enemy animations are okay, but the enemies start to look far too similar. The framerate remains smooth, while there's even quite a few destructable items scattered throughout the environments. Rating: 9.6/10 Sound: "Brute Force" is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. The game's soundtrack isn't quite what I was expecting, largely in regards to surround use. The game's sound effects aren't...well, forceful enough and they really don't venture into the rear speakers as much as I would have liked. The voice acting is average, but some of the cheesier lines do get a laugh. Rating: 8.3/10 Gameplay: With an intuitive control scheme that's similar to "Halo", "Brute Force" is very easy to pick up and play with minimal time to learn. The opening level also provides some brief hints as to the control scheme. Rating: 9.4/10 Rating Issues: "Brute Force" is rated M (Mature) for violence. Final Thoughts: Overall, "Brute Force" provided a moderately entertaining experience and looked terrific. Given the time in development, however, I was hoping for a deeper and more imaginative experience. Those in the mood for a sleek, straightforward actioner should enjoy. |