Best drill sergeant ever and do 50 push ups!
The game starts out easily enough. You play a New York cop name John McClane. You have been invited to a 'Xmas party' (as you really want to meet your ex-wife) and then all hell breaks loose. Whilst washing up in the men's room, a bunch of terrorists storms the building placing huge demands on the directors of the building whilst using hostages (including your ex-wife) for bait. Of course, being the hero, you are a one-man killing machine with no shoes on your feet. Although I have one question here - how many terrorists are actually in that truck in the beginning cut scene? They probably can pull the Guinness book-of-records for the number of people in that truck and believe me that is going to be pretty hard to beat. Actually, almost impossible. A truck load of midgets cannot top this.
Anyway, the overall effect in this game makes you feel like you're in the movie. That's the main reason I played this game pretty much in one sitting. It's not a very long and demanding game as it's pretty much a stock-standard FPS.
In the game you have a small arsenal of weapons ranging from a 9mm pistol (your butter knife has more effect) to an ever-so-reliable submachine gun (only because there is ammo galore), sniper rife (not really effective but usable), M-16 and the grand daddy of them all the M-60 (save this for the mini bosses).
Other than weapons you can also use the radio (well that's really for cut scenes), lighter (light radius = worthless), badge (rarely use this), axe, fire extinguisher (this comes in handy for one particular scene), flash bang grenades (flash bang my a$$) and wire cutters (probably the most useful non-weapon). Overall there is not much to say here with the non-weapon's category other than worthless (save the wire cutters).
The AI in this game is pretty good. They do hide and cover but some do run to their deaths towards you. Praise them for their gallant efforts!
The sounds and graphics are pretty mediocre. Considering the game uses the LithTech technology 2.0 I expected a little better.
However there are 'issues' in this game and I mean MAJOR issues. Many-a-times when you play the game, you will get stuck in certain areas and only a multiple jump combo can save you (that's including escaping the dreaded coffee table), 'bounce' off something when you accidentally collide into a solid object (including the same coffee table), or simply trying to jump through a hole which requires all your skills and super-reflexes. Others includes falling off the map (yes you've read it correct - level 24) and god-mode terrorists (level 1 - yes level one! Go on, try and kill them - I dare you and the fellows on level 18 - they are located across the other side of the pool. I have snipped them trillion times yet they survived but when I sneak behind them they die in an instant). They do die hard (pun included).
Overall the game is OK however I wouldn't make love to it. Therefore if you like Soldier of Fortune you will probably like this (on a lesser scale of course).
One last thing - the meaning of 'best drill sergeant ever' arrives from level 18 (gee - what a famous level). If you decide to play the game, read what the drill sergeant has to say and do 50 push ups.