It took
quite a while to figure out just where Mobile Forces fits into the FPS
universe. When compared to games like Unreal Tournament 2003 and Halo,
Mobile Forces is hopelessly outgunned. I really dont think that this
game is meant to play in that ballpark, though. You see not all of us
come home and fire up a 2.8 gig P4 with GeForce 4 Ti technology. For
many its just not in the budget. So what are these folks going play?
Only in that instance will my conscience allow me to recommend Mobile
Forces.
This
title has many of the building blocks for a decent FPS, but for some
reason none of them are pulled off gracefully. Im not a fan of shooters
lacking a story either. Mobile Forces is the multiplayer option sliced
out of a complete game. Yes, there are missions within each level, but
they fall way short of those found in, say, a Medal of Honor title. Of
course there are other games that lack a great storyline, like the
Unreal Tournament series, but you have to understand that Unreal makes
up for it through intense graphical prowess and good weapon/character
depth. Mobile Forces has none of these.
Graphically,
Mobile Forces hovers in mediocrity. Characters are basically divided
into two groups: the guys wearing blue uniforms and the guys wearing
black ones. The weapons are represented faithfully, but then again how
hard is it to render a pistol? The graphics are not terrible, though.
Some games graphics prove to be a hindrance, but Mobile Forces does
deliver without slowdown. The vehicles are presented nicely as well,
each with its own distinctive appearance.
Audibly, Mobile Forces gets the job done. The firearms produce loud
and realistic sounds. Youll hear bots taunting each other as well as
expressions of their frustration. There is no musical score worth
mentioning, though.
Mobile
Forces does handle control well on foot and behind the wheel. A lot of
the fun in this title is found when running over opponents in a Hummer.
The vehicles handle well and dont require much orientation, thus
keeping the action to a maximum. Each weapon has a dual function, which
is easily a right-click away. The interface is painfully simple,
offering no chance to get confused. Each gun is assigned a number, nuff
said. Ammo boxes are spread out over the levels where youll refill.
Upon discovery, players need only to push a button then quickly mash the
number of the gun they desire, not exactly novel, but not difficult
either.
So
lets talk a bit more about the vehicles of Mobile Forces. The FPS
aspect of the game is average at best, but the vehicular aspect of
combat will hold gamers a bit longer. Players have the opportunity to
jump in a dune buggy, Hummer, freight truck, or APC (Armored Personnel
Carrier). All are equipped to carry at least one other passenger, so
youll always get at least some cover. While the buggy is fast and
agile, it doesnt do a great job of protecting its passengers. Both the
driver and gunner are exposed to sniper fire. Next in line is the
Hummer, or "Humma" as the game puts it. The Humma is the all around
assault machine of choice. It has decent speed and can carry up to three
of your gun-toting buddies. The driver is more protected, but the game
points out that a patient sniper can still rain on your parade. Also the
Humma is equipped with large tires to get over obstacles, but those
tires can be shot out. Next in line is the army freight truck, the motel
on wheels. This vehicle can house a driver and four other passengers,
making it a hard vehicle to flank. Lastly there is the tank-like APC.
This baby is invulnerable to bullets and can take several rocket hits
before it folds, perfect for storming a base, but not for the racetrack.
Weve
already addressed the mediocre nature of this game, but there are some
problems that go beyond. The biggest of these is the weird balance of
weapon power. You can be shot multiple times at close range with a
shotgun and escape, but after a couple bursts of fire from the assault
rifle youre toast. I had to shoot an opponent four times in the head
with a sniper rifle to bring him down. This will frustrate gamers quite
a bit. Imagine plugging a guy four times in the head only to die when he
turns around and shoots you a couple times with his rifle. Sniping is
nerfed in this game. Players will never be taken unawares. If youre
wondering where the sniper is hiding, just follow the bright red
targeting laser coming from that tower. Precision shooting is not
rewarded.
This
game took quite a time for me to label. It doesnt really "stink" per
say, but it doesnt belong with the big boys of the FPS genre. So where
exactly does Mobile Forces fit in? If you are a fan of the genre, but
you lack the hardware to push a game like Unreal 2003 or Medal of Honor:
Allied Assault, then Mobile Forces is for you. It doesnt have any
flashy special effects or deep, grueling gameplay, but it does carry
several fundamentals of the FPS genre. It is a game tailored for
multiplayer scenarios, so its perfect for the net. Please upgrade soon,
though, because Mobile Forces is just a small taste of what the industry
has to offer.