Ok to open this up I want to make it clear that this game is for sure a rental or "It's priced so low I can't pass it up" buy.
Now that I got that in the open I would like to say that I liked this game. It is a very good example of a stealth action game focusing a little more on stealth and a little less on action. Fortunately for us (The Gamer) when we do hit those action scenes they are pretty damn cool.
Visually this game is pretty sweet. It's based on the GTA engine so if you want to get a mental picture of how it looks, think GTA beefed up a bit. The point of the game is to make you feel like you are part of a gritty underground snuff circle, and it does that quite nicely. The basis of the game, without giving away any spoilers, is run around and hunt your hunters. To help you along your way is a man who views your progress through a series of cameras, which is also how the player sees the character. It is very convincing to think that you are viewing the character through a camera because of the gritty snowy effects used to give it that old camcorder feel.
The sound quality and mechanics in this game are very nice. A lot of what the gameplay is based on is atmosphere. Your surroundings can either help or hinder your progress. Rocks, broken glass, trashcans, and gravel are all scattered around each area to help alert your pursuers to your location. If not walked softly upon they have the power to unleash all kinds of hell upon you.
The weapons in this game are far from innovative but they are quite amusing. I really think this is the first game that allows the player to kill using only a plastic grocery bag. Unfortunately the combat at times can leave a little bit of a sour taste in your mouth. A lot of the times when you are fighting with the A.I. they can throw in a couple extra hits when they shouldn't be able to. Also if one happens to call another buddy over you might as well restart, because they WILL eat you alive unless you can manage to run from them and get into a safe hiding spot.
Now the reason why I say this game is for sure a rental and nothing else is because it is seriously repetitive. Sneak, hide, and kill make up about 95% of this game. Now being a stealth based action game one would think that that is all the game should focus on and needs, sadly it doesn't and that is where this game lacks. If you can manage to get through the at times, crappy combat and the fact that once the guards are alerted they can almost 100% of the time find you if you don't run far away you will find that it lacks something. Maybe more of a variety of weapons, maybe a little variation in the way you use your stealth? Bottom line, the game is good, it is entertaining for a little bit, and it gives you the opportunity to make use out of little blue plastic bags. I give this game an overall rating of 7.5 for its ingenuity, excellent atmosphere, and use of sound. Unfortunately the combat and the depth of the game need a little re-working.
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