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Few things are as hilarious as the consequences or aftermath of a close-range shot gun blast as portrayed in the average cartoon. Daffy Duck's beak falls off, Elmer Fudd gets the arse of his pants ripped open, Foghorn Leghorn's face looks like a spent match and it's all in the name of good, wholesome family fun. I wonder if Chuck Jones or Tex Avery would feature the Looney Tunes characters smoking crack and hanging out with the homies in the hood in an attempt to update the series and add some gritty realism that middle-class punks crave from the safety of their parents' Oak Street bungalow?
Who need realism? That's why I watch cartoons and play video games in the first place. I know that if I take a load of buckshot in the ass it's going to hurt while I'm sure eliciting a few guffaws from observers. And I know that crack is eventually going to destroy whatever intellectual abilities and dignity I have and I will end up as a frequent caller to a psychic hotline or an audience member on Ricky Lake. So why would I want to play Rogue Spear, a game that mirrors reality and doesn't let you get away with taking a lead injection to the chest? Why do I want to play a game that makes me have to think and plan strategies? Let me put it this way: this game is so intense that it is the ultimate escape. You know how your mind wanders when you're playing games like Matt Hoffman's Pro BMX; in the middle of a Superman with a triple spin you start thinking maybe you should start looking for a new place to live because mom is going crazy and grandma is emitting weird scents that you know are just not healthy.
You won't have time for your wandering mind when you're playing Rogue Spear. If you can't keep a focused mind on this game you're going to miss out on a lot of fun. But if you enjoy chatting on the phone while downing Pepsi and playing Crash with one hand then read no further. Most of the action of this excellent shooter game takes place in Russia and the former Soviet Union. That should tell you something right there. The game may be sobering and serious but that doesn't mean that it's not a ball. It's the sequel to Rainbow Six and it picks up where Six left off as far as gameplay, graphics and sound are concerned. The improvements are not Earth shattering but they are improvements none the less and that's always a welcome change when it comes to sequels.
Rogue Spear is essentially a series of missions that you must execute as an anti-terrorist agent. You have no superhuman powers, no magic wands and no extra lives. One good shot to the head and you're dead. You do have some opinions to consider before embarking on a mission. You can choose your squadron, alter the selection of weapons and plan your route. Or you can opt for the default and let nature take its course. Entry-level agents will find the controls border on the moderate to difficult, but there are plenty of tutorials available onscreen to give you pointers and practice, something I wished Resident Evil had when it came out on the PSX. You won't have any problem getting started with the game, the manual is excellent and the menu selection is straightforward.
Some of the improvements that Rogue Spear has made since Rainbow Six is a better designed AI and more lifesaving moves such as the ability to peek around a corner without having to actually expose your entire vulnerable body to the enemy. The graphics have been improved with more detailed backgrounds, lighting effects and an overall smoothness which puts the game that much closer to its goal of total realism. The sound is incredible and if you have a great system then prepare to be amazed. The music is rich with lots of depth and tension, the voice-over are commanding and the sound effects will have you taking cover in your bedroom, or wherever the hell you are reading this now.
One of the better shooters out there, Rogue Spear gets even better in multi-player mode. The more, the harrier. Regardless how discriminating you and your friends are of new games, you will find little to bitch about with this one. Now go out and get your mission, we've got a world to save.
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