Shooter Video Games

Adventuresome gamers aim to eliminate a maniacal dictator -- for the good of humanity, as well as significant monetary compensation from the highest bidder. As its title suggests, Mercenaries puts players in the roles of soldiers for hire, who find ample opportunities for employment as an unexpected menace leads the nations of the world to the brink of disaster. In a quick and bloody coup, the prime minister of North Korea has been displaced by a power-hungry general called Sung, who now threatens the world with nuclear attack. In the role of an American, British, or Swedish soldier of fortune, players choose their patron and price, and then go to work at eliminating the 52 most wanted perpetrators of the new North Korean regime. Each target is assigned a different playing card, for easy reference.

Naturally, the threat of nuclear attack draws considerable international interest, and players may choose employment by such diverse entities as the United Nations, the U.S. Coalition, China, or the Russian Mafia, as they work to collect the 52 bounties which will complete the deck. While the employer may set the basic mission objectives, mercenaries decide for themselves how to get the job done once they're on location. The game features over 30 weapons and more than 20 different vehicles, including cars and trucks, planes, helicopters, and tanks, allowing players to reach their goals using the tactics and equipment of their choosing. Mercenaries' storyline features multiple possible endings, and the game's conclusion will depend on moral decisions made by the player's character throughout the various missions.

With the phenomenal success of Rockstar's 128-bit generation Grand Theft Auto games, the notion of "emergent gameplay" created a buzz among some game developers and journalists. The general idea is to present an open-ended world that reacts naturally and appropriately, no matter what players try to do or when they try to do it. The gameplay "emerges" from the game world itself. This style is prominent in contemporary games such as Jak II and Beyond Good & Evil, and according to the publisher, it's fundamental in the design of Mercenaries as well. Player characters are set loose in large "sandbox" levels, where they must choose how they'll accomplish goals in terms of the game world's overall dynamic, instead of by following a scripted series of events. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Invoking the name of Rare's 1997 first-person shooter for N64 -- easily its most highly acclaimed James Bond game predecessor -- 2004's GoldenEye: Rogue Agent is an original super spy adventure experienced from a different point of view. Developed by Electronic Art's Los Angeles studios, the game has players taking the role of an MI6 agent working toward elite "00" license-to-kill status, who is dismissed for "reckless brutality." Seizing the opportunity to bring such a highly skilled and well-trained operative into his own organization, infamous Bond supervillian Auric Goldfinger welcomes the player's disenfranchised agent into his ranks.

Like its N64 forebear, the 128-bit version of GoldenEye is a first-person shooter with lots of opportunity for multiplayer action. Standard deathmatches and domination games are supported, as well as a "Tug of War" game that has teams competing to move a bomb across the map by flipping a series of switches. Four-player split-screen play is offered, and properly equipped PlayStation 2 and Xbox gamers can go online to find competitive multiplayer games for up to eight. Also like the original, Rogue Agent features a full single-player campaign as well.

Though playing as the "bad guy" in GoldenEye: Rogue Agent, gamers may find that their opponents are often other evil minions from rival underworld operations. As the game begins, Goldfinger is in a struggle with the nefarious Dr. No for control of the world's most powerful criminal organization. The game is officially licensed by MGM (which holds the rights to the franchise), so players can expect to meet other famous (and infamous) characters from the James Bond universe, such as Oddjob, Pussy Galore, Scaramanga, and Xenia Onatopp, as they make their way through this adventure. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

After winning 2003 PC "Game of the Year" awards from a number of magazines and online publications, the World War II-themed first-person shooter Call of Duty seeks its Finest Hour in this 2004 console version. As in the home computer original, Xbox players experience the game through three different campaigns, which have them taking the roles of an American, British, and Russian soldier in turn. Each campaign is designed to offer a distinct perspective, as the player's characters and their squad mates participate in historically inspired battles across four different continents. The Call of Duty series is noted for its historical accuracy and cross-cultural perspectives, its interactive environments, and its cinematically styled approach to story-telling. The PC original was developed by Infinity Ward, a team comprising several designers who had worked on the successful Medal of Honor series. The Finest Hour console versions of Call of Duty are the first games from developer Spark Unlimited. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Featuring exclusive content and following its own storyline, the Xbox version of Ghost Recon 2 is set in Korea, a short time after the events that take place in the PlayStation 2 version of the title. Amid a military revolt, a charismatic general takes control of North Korea -- including its nuclear weapons. To squelch the general's aggressive actions before they spark an international war, players lead a team of characters through operations in the "Axis of Evil" nation. Each squad member has a distinct look and personality. The game is built on a new, specialized version of the Havok 2 game engine, and offers players a new "over-the-shoulder" camera angle that's designed to blend the advantages of traditional first- and third-person perspectives. As in earlier Xbox editions in the Tom Clancy franchise, various multiplayer modes of Ghost Recon 2 are playable online through the Xbox Live service. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

The sequel to developer Bungie's best-selling Xbox launch title returns for more first-person shooting action against a host of new alien races. Players once again assume the role of a genetically engineered soldier known as the Master Chief as he battles the remaining forces of the Covenant for control of the galaxy. The Master Chief will now be able to acquire new weapons from fallen enemies and explore the planetary landscapes from inside more than double the number of vehicles found in the original. In addition, Halo 2 features both a single-player campaign playable across multiple difficulty settings as well as online competition using the Xbox Live broadband service. No matter which mode is selected, players won't be alone in the conflict: allied forces will once again join in the battles and skirmishes to help repel enemy forces. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The sequel to developer Bungie's best-selling Xbox launch title returns for more first-person shooting action against a host of new alien races. Players once again assume the role of a genetically engineered soldier known as the Master Chief as he battles the remaining forces of the Covenant for control of the galaxy. The Master Chief will now be able to acquire new weapons from fallen enemies and explore the planetary landscapes from inside more than double the number of vehicles found in the original. In addition, Halo 2 features both a single-player campaign playable across multiple difficulty settings as well as online competition using the Xbox Live broadband service. No matter which mode is selected, players won't be alone in the conflict: allied forces will once again join in the battles and skirmishes to help repel enemy forces.

This "Collector's Edition" of Halo 2 comes packaged in a tin case, with an additional DVD disc containing several documentaries and short films about the making of the game, the creation of the Halo franchise, and the history of Bungie Software. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Developed by the team responsible for Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, Sierra's Men of Valor: Vietnam is modeled after its successful World War II counterpart. Players are thrust into the thick and stifling jungles of the Vietnam War in a first-person shooter focusing on infantry combat. Using a graphic engine based on Unreal technology, Men of Valor hopes to create a realistic environment fraught with many of the dangers that made the war a harrowing test of survival. Authentic scenarios such as the Tet offensive, Danang airbase, and attack on Hue are featured as well as elements like prostitutes, air strikes, and burning huts. Players will fight alongside fellow soldiers controlled by the computer or team-up with a friend for cooperative play. Additional multiplayer modes offer selectable characters from the North Vietnamese Army, Viet Cong, and U.S. Forces. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The third in the Conflict series of squad-based shooters, Conflict: Vietnam revolves around four American soldiers trapped behind enemy lines during the Tet Offensive. Including 14 missions in locations ranging from the Vietnamese jungle to small villages, players will encounter numerous enemies as they attempt to travel 100 miles to the safety of U.S. forces.

Interactive environments can be used to the player's advantage, by shooting out lights to avoid being seen, for example, or exploding a building believed to contain the enemy. Based on their performance as the game progresses, players are awarded points that can be used to develop characters in 12 different skill categories, such as sniper, medic, demolitions, and leadership.

Era-specific weapons and commands are available, including assault rifles, mortars, .50 caliber machine guns, and the ability to call in napalm air strikes. Blasting through an area may not always be the best approach, however. Each mission includes different objectives, some requiring the ability to move silently to avoid detection.

Along with the appropriate weapons and artillery are historically authentic vehicles, such as APCs, Jeeps, tanks, helicopters, and riverboats, offering behind-the-wheel action as players race through an environment the enemy considers its backyard. ~ Damian Francis, All Game Guide

In this third installment of the popular Japanese anime-to-console game series, players must protect the planet from an evil alien species known as the Invid, who are determined to make Mother Earth their new home world. Featuring online play (via either Xbox Live or the PlayStation 2 Network Adaptor), the game allows up to eight gamers to join the fight. Also featured are 3D environments, similar to those in the New Generation series, as well as an advanced AI engine, whereby each enemy type demonstrates different behavior. ~ Damian Francis, All Game Guide

Players take the role of a mob enforcer in this value-minded 3D shooter adventure. Throughout the game's eight missions, the protagonist must silence witnesses, sabotage the operations of rival gangs, and perhaps even break a few bones -- to send the right message to the right boss. Missions are set in fitting locations such as deserted loading docks, a busy casino, and an Italian restaurant. ~ All Game Guide