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You're joking - back to the Middle East again? Insurgency doesn't get any prizes for originality of settings - but you can't argue that it isn't topical! |
Well, I happened across a very interesting video by TotalBiscuit who described a little FPS game that has been out for a while now but which looks like a very promising 'filler'. It's called Insurgency and I had heard of it some time ago but passed over it as I thought it was just a 'Counter Strike' clone.
It seems I was somewhat hasty as the general opinion of a few renowned game-VBloggers is that it is definitely worth considering, especially at the low price-tag of just £10.
So, what is Insurgency?
And to prove that this isn't just sheer randomness here's another positive review from an eminent gamer (LevelCap this time)...
I could have gone on, but time for me not to be so lazy and actually tell you what I think!
As I say, I came across this game on STEAM quite some time ago but when reading the description thought 'CS' and if there's something I don't need any more of it's more Counter Strike! But these video reviews got me to take the plunge and download Insurgency and I have to agree that it isn't just a weak 'twitcher' dash and camp title.
What makes this game a little different is the what the developers have left out - there's no jumping, there's no mini-map, there's no kill-score, there's no hip-fire cross-hair, there's no health packs, revives, bonuses, kill-cam, etc, etc, etc...
What there is is pretty much a one-shot kill tactical team shooter that rewards players who take their time and play as part of the team.
I think it's a fun and challenging little game. Of course it's not as in depth as one of the big money titles, and the maps are a lot smaller, but it's a really nice 'warm up' and practise title.
There are down sides, the most obvious of which is the quality of graphics...
Now, you are going to say 'why is this a tactical shooter'? Good question, and in truth Insurgency is really a hybrid of sorts - it mixed non-arcade attributes that you expect of a proper tactical shooter (like the 'no cross-hairs' and 'no jumping & shooting', etc) with the small maps and limited objectives of an arcade shooter.
The up-shot of this is it's like a training ground for tactical shooters. Just as a infantryman might practise doing a 'kill house' with paper targets to hone his muscle memory and speed, so Insurgency is like they took one objective from a big tactical shooter game and plonked it in front of you and said 'get on with it'!
And it kind works, especially if you 'train' with friends (there is a co-op v Bots mode as well as team online matches).
There are a lot of other positive aspects to this game (and negatives) that I am skipping over, but suffice to say that it will keep me amused - and up to speed - until they release something more in-depth (technically) and immersive.
And did I mention it was just £10?
As I say, I came across this game on STEAM quite some time ago but when reading the description thought 'CS' and if there's something I don't need any more of it's more Counter Strike! But these video reviews got me to take the plunge and download Insurgency and I have to agree that it isn't just a weak 'twitcher' dash and camp title.
What makes this game a little different is the what the developers have left out - there's no jumping, there's no mini-map, there's no kill-score, there's no hip-fire cross-hair, there's no health packs, revives, bonuses, kill-cam, etc, etc, etc...
What there is is pretty much a one-shot kill tactical team shooter that rewards players who take their time and play as part of the team.
I think it's a fun and challenging little game. Of course it's not as in depth as one of the big money titles, and the maps are a lot smaller, but it's a really nice 'warm up' and practise title.
There are down sides, the most obvious of which is the quality of graphics...
Now, you are going to say 'why is this a tactical shooter'? Good question, and in truth Insurgency is really a hybrid of sorts - it mixed non-arcade attributes that you expect of a proper tactical shooter (like the 'no cross-hairs' and 'no jumping & shooting', etc) with the small maps and limited objectives of an arcade shooter.
The up-shot of this is it's like a training ground for tactical shooters. Just as a infantryman might practise doing a 'kill house' with paper targets to hone his muscle memory and speed, so Insurgency is like they took one objective from a big tactical shooter game and plonked it in front of you and said 'get on with it'!
And it kind works, especially if you 'train' with friends (there is a co-op v Bots mode as well as team online matches).
There are a lot of other positive aspects to this game (and negatives) that I am skipping over, but suffice to say that it will keep me amused - and up to speed - until they release something more in-depth (technically) and immersive.
And did I mention it was just £10?