Rogue Warrior Review for PC

System: X360, PS3, PC	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Rebellion	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Bethesda Softworks	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Dec. 1, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Mature	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

This is where it gets interesting. I've read several other reviews of this game, and there seem to be issues that pop up almost individually based on the particular disc you play. While this is probably impossible I will say that I had several problems that I never read about in other reviews. The most troublesome of which I haven't ever had playing a videogame before... EVER!

Rogue Warrior screenshot

At several points in the game, I was using a sniper rifle to scope out enemies hiding behind crates and other warehouse flotsam, before attempting to switch to a machine gun to clean up. My weapon controls froze and I couldn't switch them out, or fire, or at times even throw grenades. I was, of course, killed every time. It only happened three or four times, but it was super annoying. Even once is unacceptable. Four times is a worst game of the decade contender.

Gameplay innovation is non-existent and everything else follows the cookie-cutter FPS formula to a T, yet it still manages to bleed the fun out of every moment. Yeah, you'll sneak up on hundreds of soldiers and snap a few necks, but… *yawn* why? AI is on again off again. At times, during obvious stealth segments, you can literally walk up to some enemies and shoot them in the face or stab them next to allies without even a passing glance. At other times, enemies seem preternaturally aware of your presence and a dead companion will send them on a hunt for your blood, making illogical twists and turns to patrol routes to find you. The whole experience feels cheap and canned and it provides absolutely zero payback for being a smart or conservative player.

Consider this: there aren't an astounding number of Achievements/Trophies to be won, so it's not even great for your gamer score. They are easy to achieve though, since most of them (Kill three guys with a grenade, Take twenty head shots, etc.) are more like obligatory gaming milestones. I earned most of them without trying with a single three hour playthrough (who would go back for more?). Good luck trying to get that 'Host a multiplayer game' or 'Kill an ally'. Any friend you convince to play this game will likely never speak to you again afterwards.

The next time you are playing a terrible game and you think to yourself 'this is awful', please consider those unfortunate enough to have actually played through Rogue Warrior. To paraphrase a classic Futurama line 'the only thing Rouge Warrior does better than other games is suck'. I wish this game would go hibernate in a deep, dark corner of the forest, emerging only to find food every few months until it was too fat to hunt on its own and was eventually and inevitably selected as the weakest of its herd and taken down with a few well placed buckshot rounds, dragged from its wooded home, and splayed on the hood of a Chevy pickup. It absolutely blows that much.

By Leon Hendrix III
CCC Freelance Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

2.0

Graphics
Even the better textures are dragged to the bottom by pop-in, and the sharp moments are few and far between. The North Korean and Russian armies have around three character models between them.

1.0

Control
Typical FPS controls, but they are glitchier than every other game you have ever played.

1.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
There are three speaking roles. Mickey Rourke's character goes from offensive to unintentionally hysterical.

0.0

Play Value
Hmm… I suppose… Nah, there is none.

1.0

Overall Rating - Avoid
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Stealth attacks let you silently take out enemies.

Based on the real-life adventures of Richard Marcinko.

Use a variety of weapons including grenade launchers and AK-47's.