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| PLATFORM: XBOX |
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| MAJOR MALFUNCTION |
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 ith the Army’s new aggressive commercials airing on TV, this game is one advertisement that doesn’t work. If anything, it’s less an Army recruiting tool and more a deterrent. Hell, maybe you’ll even be so dissuaded as to go join the Navy instead. The Village People have always said they are looking for new seamen. As a game, Rise of a Soldier is a poor first-person shooter that is not only behind the times for the genre, but also one that confines players in a way that your normal FPS fan might not like.
Although you learn basic Army tactics such as the importance of maintaining squad groupings and following orders, the title is structured like a normal FPS, where you are more prone to act like a one-man killing machine. However, that’s not tolerated in this game, and I understand that. The problem is that the game does not effectively bridge the gap between being an FPS and a strategy game like Full Spectrum Warrior – which follows similar military rules to much-better results. For instance, in an attempt to bind you to your squad, the game sends you from checkpoint to checkpoint via obnoxious icons. These make the game feel like you’re collecting coins in an out-of-date platformer. On the FPS side of things, the action simply never feels that exciting as generic situations pop up and you mow down brain-dead enemies.
On a positive note, I do like how the game is structured. You get to try your hand at several roles, whether it’s as a rifleman or sniper, and the points you get to pour into your skill set correspond nicely to your growth as a soldier. Despite earning some acclaim for the game’s adventures on the PC, America’s Army is a title that is not only behind the times, but it’s buggy and not very much fun to play. In fact, I’d rather be labeled a traitor and take my chances with a stint in Gitmo Prison than undergo more of this torture.
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Despite the butt metal-filled commercials, a game whose sole goal is to be as close to being in the real U.S. Army isn’t quite as fun as a fictionalized action title like Call of Duty. However, I still have to give Rise of a Soldier points for its outstanding realism, which really does lend a certain immediacy to the missions. Also, the single-player campaign’s method of rewarding you with skill points for completing objectives and following orders is a nice incentive to do well, rather than just stay alive. Rough edges plague most areas of the game, though. Controls can be unresponsive at times, AI tends to be rather lacking, and the occasional bug will force a mission restart. The total lack of player freedom is a drag, too – even if it does accurately portray being in the Army. |
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6.5 |
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| CONCEPT: |
| Step into the boots of various soldier roles in America’s Army |
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| GRAPHICS: |
| Like the ham and gravy they serve up in the mess hall, this is a pretty bland concoction |
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| SOUND: |
| There is some dialogue here and there, but the sergeant doesn’t like a lot of unnecessary chatter in his squad |
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| PLAYABILITY: |
| Crouch commands can be stupidly unresponsive and the AI isn’t great |
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| ENTERTAINMENT: |
| Full Spectrum Warrior presents military doctrine much, much better |
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| Copyright
1991 -
2009
:: Game Informer Magazine
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