Shooter Video Games

Newton's third law is put to the test in Black, a first-person shooter from the development team behind the acclaimed Burnout franchise. Players are cast in the role of Jack Kelar, member of an elite tactical squad, whose team is assigned to Eastern Europe on a hunt for an American traitor. Rather than slinking through environments making quick, covert strikes, players in Black perform a full-on assault through nine levels of explosive action. A total of 13 cutting-edge weapons are available to eliminate the enemy threat, but the most distinguishing aspect of Black is its physics engine: fully destructible environments allow players the freedom to shoot inanimate targets as well as live ones. Instead of firing at a patrol of soldiers, for example, players can instead target nearby vehicles or barrels to trigger explosions, shoot out windows and balconies, and more. As Kelar blasts through the besieged cities, snow-covered wilderness, and other levels, shell casings, glass, dust, and debris will fly across the screen as plumes of smoke and raging fires dot the war-torn landscapes. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

With Mega Man X Collection Capcom offers fans of the Blue Bomber and his counterpart, Zero, a compilation of their first adventures from Mega Man X through Mega Man X6. Also included is the first U.S. release of the racing game Mega Man Battle & Chase. ~ All Game Guide

Intended exclusively for mature players, this unapologetically violent game features the monetarily monikered rapper in its starring role, as a streetwise tough seeking revenge against a mysterious gang of thugs that filled him with lead and left him for dead. The hero can gain access to a variety of firearms and other weapons, and can learn more than 25 deadly reversal moves. In the third-person shooter style of the popular 128-bit generation Grand Theft Auto games, players follow a series of missions that lead them through the game's storyline.

Bulletproof features previously unreleased music and video by 50 Cent, and the game allows players to set up their own music and video play lists of this included material. The voices and likenesses of other famous musicians portray supporting characters, including Lloyd Banks (lock pick), Tony Yayo (demolitions expert), and Young Buck (weapon specialist) as members of 50's G-Unit posse, Eminem as the "shady" Detective McVicar, and rap music luminary Dr. Dre as the wizened back-alley arms dealer Grizz. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Without Warning is a technological thriller set in the campus of a large chemical factory, which has been seized by a fanatical organization. Commanding a selection of six diverse heroes, players must infiltrate the Peterson-Davis Chemicals compound, assist any civilian employees they encounter, and ultimately, neutralize the eco-terrorist threat. In addition to combat and stealth objectives, challenges include exploration, puzzle-solving, hostage protection, and a number of plot-related mini-games.

The six key characters include three military operatives: a veteran squad leader, an unproven rookie, and a bomb disposal specialist. The three civilian heroes are a frightened Peterson-Davis secretary, a security guard who escaped the terrorists' initial raid, and a TV news cameraman whose helicopter is shot down while covering the complex.

Not unlike the contemporarily popular television series, 24, Without Warning involves different characters taking actions and influencing the plot at the same virtual time. The game's "Timeline" features allow players to take the roles of each of the six main heroes in turn, ensuring that each agent completes his part of the job before time runs out for everyone. As one operative reaches a critical, suspenseful point in his part of the plotline, the focus may switch to another character, so gamers can experience each part of the developing story first-hand. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Imperial soldiers and Rebel insurgents are called back to duty in Star Wars: Battlefront II, a multiplayer-oriented sequel shooter based on the famous movie series. Like the original Battlefront, scenes are set in environments familiar from the films. For example, mission maps in the sequel have players fighting on the swamp planet of Dagobah, as seen in Empire Strikes Back, or defending Princess Leia's diplomatic blockade runner, as in the opening scene of the original A New Hope.

While designed to retain the features that helped make the original Battlefront the best-selling Star Wars game to date (at the time of Battlefront II's release), the sequel's technological refinements allow for new gameplay elements as well. With seamless transitions across an entire mission map, players could now begin a confrontation on their own capital ship, board a fighter to engage the enemy in a dogfight, then land on the enemy's capital ship and disembark for an assault raid, all in a single battle.

In response to fan requests, playable Jedi characters are introduced by the sequel, allowing gamers to take control of heroes such as Yoda, Grievous, or even the Emperor himself. To keep the battles balanced, players can only play as these hero characters for a limited time, and may temporarily lose access to them if they are not used to their potential in battle. Once again, the single-player game centers on a "Galactic Conquest" mode, but map-specific objectives add new tactical elements. Online multiplayer modes support as many as 24 in the PS2 version of the game. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

First-person shooter enthusiasts are drafted back to the European theatre of World War II, in Call of Duty 2: Big Red One, the follow-up to 2004's successful Call of Duty: Finest Hour. As many real-life veterans and history buffs will recognize, the sequel's subtitle is an affectionate name for the United States Army's most decorated division, First Infantry. Players take the role of a soldier among its ranks. In addition to a vigorous campaign that leads them past grim landmarks of war-torn Europe and Northern Africa, players are given an opportunity for some light role-playing, as the game's story encourages them to bond with their fellow soldiers. This sense of trust may even carry over to the battlefield, where communication and cooperation are critical. As in an actual firefight, blindly storming an enemy location with guns blazing is seldom the best way to win battles in Call of Duty 2, but enhanced squad commands allow wise soldiers outmaneuver nearly any opponent, through tactics and teamwork. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

First-person shooter enthusiasts are drafted back to the European theatre of World War II, in Call of Duty 2: Big Red One, the follow-up to 2004's successful Call of Duty: Finest Hour. As many real-life veterans and history buffs will recognize, the sequel's subtitle is an affectionate name for the United States Army's most decorated division, 1st Infantry. Players take the role of a soldier among its ranks. In addition to a vigorous campaign that leads them past grim landmarks of war-torn Europe and Northern Africa, players are given an opportunity for some light role-playing, as the game's story encourages them to bond with their fellow soldiers. This sense of trust may even carry over to the battlefield, where communication and cooperation are critical. As in an actual firefight, blindly storming an enemy location with guns blazing is seldom the best way to win battles in Call of Duty 2, but enhanced squad commands allow wise soldiers outmaneuver nearly any opponent, through tactics and teamwork. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

The first follow-up to Road to Hill 30 returns players to World War II, in the new role of U.S. Army Sergeant Joe "Red" Hartsock. Players will witness the D-day invasion at Normandy first-hand, through Hartsock's eyes, before pressing forward to Carentan and beyond. Once again, the game calls on virtual squad leaders to organize the men beneath them to operate as a team; instead of hell-bent running and gunning, soldiers must work together to recon their surroundings, provide cover fire, and pin down the enemy, before they move in for the final kill. This teamwork is well served by a sense of camaraderie, which can be developed through the game's RPG-style aspects.

Aside from the setting and characters, new features in Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood include weapons such as the M3 "grease gun" and vehicles like the M10 "Wolverine" Tank Destroyer. The enemy has access to new resources as well, however, and refined enemy A.I. is designed to pose at least a much a challenge as in Road to Hill 30. Earned in Blood also introduces a same-screen cooperative mode and expanded online multiplayer support. As in the development of the first Brothers in Arms game, developer Gearbox elicited input from real-life veterans, including Airborne Ranger Col. John Antal, in its effort to create a historically accurate World War II setting. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Large-scale multiplayer warfare comes to consoles as Digital Illusions' Battlefield series brings Modern Combat to PS2. The series is known for its fast-paced competitive warfare, and as many as 24 Internet-connected players can fight together online in this edition. Headset-equipped virtual warriors can communicate in real-time, as they blast away at the enemy. Battlefield 2 also features a single-player mode, which fills the levels with artificially intelligent 'bots, both enemy and friendly. As in the PC sequel on which the console versions are based, the game's fictional war is set in the modern era, so players have access to cutting-edge military equipment, including more than 70 types of weapons and 30 different vehicles to move them across land, air, and sea. Players can choose to fight for the United States, the Chinese, or the "Middle East Coalition," and through repeated victories and outstanding achievement in the field, they'll work their way up the ranks, all the way from Private to General. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

This arena combat spin-off of the PS2's popular platform series features empowering weapons customization, multiple modes of play, and a wide selection of fan-favorite playable characters. Somewhat similar to the multiplayer combat modes introduced in Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Deadlocked involves third-person shooter competition across a variety of open, three-dimensional maps.

As the story goes, Ratchet and Clank have been kidnapped by a twisted media mogul called Gleeman Vox, who broadcasts gladiator-style battles to the delight of millions of bloodthirsty fans across the galaxy. In order to control them, Vox places explosive "deadlock" collars on all unwilling contestants. To save himself and his friends, Ratchet has no choice but to compete, and his skill and bravery quickly move him up the ranks.

Each big win is rewarded with new equipment and upgrades, and a revamped modification system allows players to customize the strength and abilities of their favorite weapons. Squad-style control of customizable 'bots adds another element to the competitions, and good can teamwork sometimes be the difference between victory and defeat. In addition to the non-linear single-player campaign, a number of multiplayer modes are available, both competitive and cooperative, online and split-screen. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide