By
Matthew Scott Hunter
 ‘Tom
Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier’
(M)
***1/2
Ubisoft
Xbox 360
Toeing the line between science fiction and
science fact as well as the line between stealthy,
tactical shooters and all-out run-‘n-gun-fests
is “Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier”
— a game that follows in the footsteps of its
“Advanced Warfighter” predecessors while bearing
the unmistakable influence of the frantic “Modern
Warfare” franchise. Taking place in the “not-too-distant
future,” “Future Soldier” equips you with an
arsenal comprised of contemporary weaponry as
well as nifty little high-tech gadgets like
active camouflage, which allows you to render
yourself almost completely invisible. Utilizing
this handy cloak, you’ll sneak up on many unsuspecting
lone soldiers for silent kills, but you can
also take down large groups all at once with
a version of the “sync” option showcased in
the most recent “Splinter Cell” game. Just quietly
mark all of your targets from afar, and when
you give the signal, your squadmates will pull
their triggers, simultaneously neutralizing
the threat in a dazzling display of slow-mo.
But the game isn’t all covert kills. There
are plenty of frenetic firefights as well as
scripted sequences designed to make the proceedings
look more epic and cinematic (i.e. more like
“Modern Warfare”). In these situations, you’ll
be thankful for you’re A.I. squad. While “Future
Soldier” doesn’t allow you to micromanage the
actions of your fellow “ghosts,” it does the
next best thing by imbuing them with the ability
to take care of themselves. Only on rare occasions
will you be baffled or frustrated by their actions,
and by then, you’ll likely be ready to swap
them out for flesh and blood players, who can
join you in both cooperative play (the increasingly
ubiquitous “horde mode”) and the fast-paced
competitive multiplayer. The last thing we need
is another “Modern Warfare” wannabe, but “Future
Soldier” retains enough of the distinctive gameplay
from “Ghost Recon” to be a worthwhile entity
of its own.
‘Men In Black: Alien Crisis’
(T)
*1/2
Activision
Xbox 360
Judging from the graphics and load times, you’d
think this shamelessly shoddy movie tie-in game
was meant to accompany the release of the second
“Men in Black” film 10 years ago. This on-rails
third-person shooter fails to capture even a
hint of the film series’ distinctive aesthetic
in its brief, three-hour campaign. Instead,
we’re given bland backdrops, unimaginative weapons,
predictable aliens and two generic agents whose
relentless bickering is a poor substitute for
the banter between Will Smith and Tommy Lee
Jones. After making the mistake of playing this,
you’ll want a flash from the neuralyzer.
‘Mario Tennis Open’
(E)
***
Nintendo
Nintendo 3DS
Given the magical power-ups of Mario and company,
the gameplay of “Mario Tennis Open” is surprisingly
restrained. Aside from the Mushroom Kingdom
locales and the colorful glow that envelopes
the ball as it bounces back and forth, this
is a fairly straightforward game of tennis.
You have four types of shots to choose from
as well as the ability to direct your shot either
with the circle pad or by tilting the entire
3DS. It’s not detailed enough to be a serious
sim, and it’s not wild enough to be an arcade-style
experience. Instead, “Mario Tennis Open” straddles
the net in between. |
