Similar to GOW in gameplay, but otherwise innovative. Unique combat style. Good graphics. Limited multiplayer options.
The game is set in a near future Soviet country where a biological compound infests people with painful mutation which drive them crazy. The main character Hayden is also infected, but due to a certain disease he cannot feel pain and thus keeps his sanity. The good part is the mutation dramatically changes Hayden's right arm giving him a three bladed throwable weapon known as the glaive which can be controlled remotely. It can be used to kill enemies, as a sort of boomerang and also to solve some environmental puzzles. At the end of each chapter Hayden gets a unique ability which he uses to fight through hordes of infected and enemy soldiers.
This is NOT the typical zombie shooting game (not at all!). The glaive brings in a whole new dimension to combat, making them a lot of fun to play, even though sort of repetitive. Boss battles are also extremely well crafted and often require some out of the box thinking. The glaive can be used in a number of ways like generating light and harnessing electricity from nearby power sources. Later in the game Hayden also gains the ability to form an invincible shield and become invisible for a short time. The player has to use the environment and all these abilities in a proper sequence to defeat the boss. Sometimes, however, the unique way of defeating the boss doesn't seem very logical. For example, why the Jackal Tank can't be destroyed simply by deflecting the missiles it hurls towards Hayden? Anyways, the environmental setting of the game is also very nice and doesn't make the player feel very gloomy or nauseous as with most games of this genre.
This game doesn't feature many multiplayer options.
Finally this game, for what it is, is a must for all action adventure fans. Here is a quick look at its good and bad points.
The good
• Innovative combat style
• Good storyline
• Decent graphics
• Involved boss battles
• Doesn't make the player feel very gloomy after long hours of gameplay
The bad
• Limited multiplayer options
• Certain points in the storyline and gameplay seem artificial.