he date is the mid-21st century and the world has turned into little more than a vast playground for huge and hugely violent gangs. The United States government, in an effort to regain control of its cities, establishes an elite team of soldiers and trains them with the most advanced simulator known to mankind. That simulator is titled GORE and the troops that it trains become the Ultimate Soldiers.
The gangs, and the troops employed to silence them, are bad news for the citizens of the future world, but good news for today's gamers. At least for gamers who love straight-up first-person shooters. For that is what Gore: Ultimate Soldier is—a no-frills, almost throwback, first-person shooter. Accordingly, the player controls his character through 20 levels, each filled with numerous weapons that can be used to slaughter the various enemies that populate the levels.
Of course, if this is a first-person shooter, there must be a robust multiplayer component ... and there is. Gore: Ultimate Soldier ships with a host of multiplayer games. From deathmatch to capture-the-flag and tactical combat, there is a multiplayer match for just about every gamer.
Same wine in a brand-new bottle
There is a story here, although I'm not sure that it took much thought. Hey, there is nothing wrong with Gore: Ultimate Soldier. In fact there is quite a bit right with the game. In addition to numerous levels, the game offers unique character classes (small characters are quicker than their larger brethren, but are not as strong) and a neat take on stamina (run too much and you'll tire). Once you tire, you can't move. If you can't move, you're dead meat.
No, there is nothing wrong with Gore, but neither is there anything fantastically right. For example, the enemies' artificial intelligence is dull; they aren't a challenge for an experienced gamer. Neither, with the exception of a haunted mansion, are the levels worth writing home about. There is the typical warehouse, drug-lord mansion and stained-glass cathedral. It's not bad, nor is it particularly good.
The same goes for the graphics. Four years ago, they would have stunned. Now they are very ho-hum. The colors are nice, the weapons effects are interesting, but neither can hold a graphic candle to Unreal Tournament, let alone its soon-to-be-released sequel.
Don't avoid this game. It's not a bad buy, at least not for 30 bucks. I wouldn't, however, make a special trip to Babbage's for it. By now, most everyone has played something similar, or something just as good.
Nothing great here. I enjoyed playing, but I also enjoy playing my old copy of Quake II.
— Mark
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