|
Conflict fans will remember the series for its real-world war zones, detailed weaponry and squad tactics. Be prepared for a shock. All of the much loved features found in the previous titles have being scraped from Denied Ops.
Denied Ops is the fifth title in the series. It is also the simplest edition of the shooter franchise that developer Pivotal Games has produced. The four-man squad is cut down to a duo, the real war zones are now a past dream that struggles against rouge terrorist gangs and there’s no new additional weapons.
The story line will see you taking charge of two Special Force Operatives named Lang, a heavy gunner, and Graves, working to unravel a nuclear-arms conspiracy through 10 missions located all across the world.
Denied Ops still has a tactical edge to it, but it doesn’t have the intense action related to previous titles. In single-player, commands are given simply and quickly. Point at a place onscreen and send out the command to assign your partner to that position, or order him to regroup at your position. Tag a gun placement or vehicle to order your friend to catch up and use it. Controls are simple, instant and obvious.
The inclusion of Cooperative play is one positive aspect of Denied Ops. You can play through the entire game either alone, online, or using split screen with friends. It’s nice to see this mode as it’s not a feature you see in many other shooters. Other multiplayer modes are inclusive which includes deathmatch, team deathmatch, and conquest; there isn’t alot here beyond the co-op.
Sadly, there isn’t much good to say about the visual and audio quirks. Graphics are stable and cutting edge on the Xbox 360 version of the game, but a darkened palette along with ridiculously small text spoils this. Disappointingly these flaws give everything a dark, dim and murky feel that will result in you squinting alot. These flaws will appear far worse on the PS3 console along with frame rate issues. Poor audio quality is a major drawback. Voice acting is shoddy and repeated phrases quickly become irritating and annoying. The music is old tacky rock which further adds to the irritation.
Anyone who's never played a shooter before should be able to pick up the game and progress through the levels without much frustration. If you don’t care about ordinary characters, loose controls and repetitive set pieces, you might have a good time.
However, if you're a Conflict fan or shooter fan, you will probably find Denied Ops shallow and dull. The two-man control system doesn’t work properly. The visuals can be ugly. Yes, it’s easy to pick up and play. But if you're after an experience with real challenge and depth, you won’t find it here.
|
