Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers: An Army of Ten
Company: THQ
When it was first released in 2004, Full Spectrum Warrior offered a different approach to squad-based combat. Unlike other games in the genre, action took a backseat to strategy. In fact, the player never personally took a shot. Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers takes the same path as the original and adds a few tweaks, hopefully resulting in a game that plays even better than the first. Fire-teams can now be split up into smaller two-man teams, which should offer a little more freedom as well as making some objectives easier to accomplish. Why take the whole squad and risk putting everyone in danger when two guys can complete a task better? Of course, smaller teams also come with the risk of less fire-power, so there is a bit of strategic gamble that comes with splitting up the team. You can also choose to send one troop out and scout a situation. Finally, while they weren’t used too much in the demo, you will also have command of two additional companies, Charlie and Delta, which suggests that bigger engagements will take place during the game’s 12 missions.<
Squad command is still a major element in Ten Hammers, although now you’ll be able to take control of one of your soldier’s weapons for a very brief period of time during missions. Doing so pulls you into an FPS mode where you can manually aim and get off one shot at someone. This option turned out to be most useful when firing at enemies behind cover, though it should turn out more useful in the final build. Another addition to the formula is vehicles like tanks and jeeps. These add to the game’s already complex strategies. The same goes for entering buildings, another thing you couldn’t do in the original.
Full Spectrum Warrior was originally intended as an Army command simulator, which is why the game focuses so much on realism and authenticity in its missions. The original did a good job of delivering on this feel and Ten Hammers looks to do an even better job. All of the A.I. is completely non-scripted, so each combat situation should be a completely different experience. Because of this, Ten Hammers requires patience and planning rather than running out into a field and shooting at everyone not on your side.
Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers’ story takes place sometime after the original in the fictional country of Zekistan. The Northern and Southern regions of the country are at war, so the UN has decided to send a US-led international peacekeeping force into the region. The two areas are divided by a river that is crossed by the Tien-Hamir Bridge, otherwise known as the Ten Hammers. This area is where most of the game’s action will take place. Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers is shaping up to be everything a good sequel should be. It refines what made the first and original an engaging title while adding new elements that should make the game more accessible to a larger audience and a better overall experience.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Related Links: THQ
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