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| PLATFORM: XBOX |
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| OPERATION EMBARRASSMENT |
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 rashtalking Operation Flashpoint Elite is a lot like scolding a puppy that’s just taken a dump on the floor. It feels bad, but it simply needs to be done. This PC port means well and tries to do something different, but ends up looking like a hopeless kid with a wet spot on his pants compared to the more polished shooters on the Xbox.
Collecting two Operation Flashpoint PC releases into one Xbox package, Elite’s defining characteristic is that it’s “realistic.” In other words, it’s really boring. A typical mission involves a long ride in a truck listening to annoying squadmates, followed by five minutes of shooting guys who die with one shot, then waiting for the truck to return to pick you up. Let me tell you, the excitement is palpable. Even if the missions weren’t as boring as waiting in the dentist’s office, the pitiful presentation is unmistakable. Usually, environments this muddy and bland are limited to kindergartners’ fingerpaintings. The animations are hilariously stiff, and much of the voice work is culled from a pool of words, rather than fully-recorded lines. The result is robotic soldiers who painfully sputter through lines like “Everyone...move...to...objective...now!” It’s like taking a tour of the military hosted by decommissioned Chuck E. Cheese animatronics.
Although nearly every aspect of Elite simply fails to impress, there’s a lot of content included on this disc. Aside from the single-player experience, there is a rudimentary level editor and robust System Link and Xbox live support, although the sluggish gameplay is even less impressive online. It’s a pretty loaded disc, but how much do you want to eat at a buffet where everything tastes like crap?
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It’s hard to articulate in mere words my total disdain for this game. Negative metaphors would fail to convey the stupidity of the buggy AI. Harsh and sarcastic jibes would do little to explain the foggy backgrounds and jerky animations that infect the game. Flippant dismissal is perhaps the closest tone I’d like to shoot for – a style that I hope is enough to dissuade both casual gamers and fans of the original PC title from what I found to be one of the ugliest and most broken games in several years. What might once have been a strong PC title is now completely out of date. Stay away. |
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5 |
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| CONCEPT: |
| The PC military shooter series is ported to Xbox, since there’s such a shortage of that type of game on the system |
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| SOUND: |
| The cut-and-paste dialogue is hilarious. Who knew the U.S. military was made up of robots? |
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| PLAYABILITY: |
| The choppy movement and aim adjustment make for a gameplay experience that constantly feels a little off |
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| ENTERTAINMENT: |
| Sluggish, ugly and boring, just like that creepy uncle that you go out of your way to avoid hugging at Christmas |
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| Copyright
1991 -
2008
:: Game Informer Magazine
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