Shooters Preview 2005 (part one)

Sam looks at all things action-packed this year

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2004 was a grand year for the FPS genre. Sequels to the two biggest shooter franchises made near simultaneous appearances and set new standards for the genre in both graphics and gameplay. The beginning of the year also saw a new contender step into the ring. Far Cry was a revelation, offering up some of the best graphics and most gorgeous environments of any game in any genre. It also had some wicked AI. 2004 was also the year of the physics engine, when every new FPS had to include some form of object manipulation and was obligated to include ragdolls for all character models. Half-Life 2 was a stunning indicator of how this newish technology could be used. AI took a step backward in many shooters last year with only Far Cry offering up the kind of convincing combat that fans have been clamouring for since the Marines of the first Half-Life tactically assaulted their way onto the scene.

Fortunately 2005 isn't going to be a fallow year for FPSs. While there's nothing coming along which will match the hype of DOOM 3 and Half-Life 2, a number of important sequels sure to get mouths drooling will scramble their way onto the shelves over the course of the next eleven months. And thank the maker, it's not all sequels and retreads, with a number of exciting and fresh new titles, from both the U2s and Red Man Walkings of game's developers, getting ready to flash their bits at a seducible public. This collection of mini previews for 2005 will start off with one of the more keenly awaited titles and the one about which the least is actually known.

Quake IV

Work on Quake IV has been causing genre fans to cross their fingers in hope that the old Quake magic will grace their monitors again. Like Wolfenstein, Quake IV is another piece of prime id IP being handed over to a different development team. In the more than capable hands of Raven Software and utilising the DOOM 3 engine, Quake IV will take players back to the Strogg universe. Details are extremely thin on the ground with the development of Quake IV being one of the most closely guarded of recent years. There's rumoured to be some bullet-time effects this time round and vehicles are confirmed. Details on multiplayer are extremely sparse, going no farther than to equate it to the Quake 3 experience.

Quake IV will also eschew the small numbers of DOOM 3 and thrust the player into some proper large scale firefights, often joining up with squad-mates who are also engaged in the military campaign against the Strogg. So far we know that the Blaster, Nailgun, Machine gun and Shotgun will all be returning, no doubt accompanied by some new bang-sticks. With Quake II being one of this gamer's most memorable FPS experiences I have my toes crossed as well.

Battlefield 2

Battlefield 1942 took the online FPS and gave it a proper chewing out for its lazy attitude to teamwork. Its success in recreating large scale combat has been influential on a number of other developers and has led to the creation of a new FPS sub-genre. Battlefield 2 will take the series into the modern world. Featuring combat in locations as diverse as the US, China and some sandy windswept place that looks a little familiar even though I can't quite put my finger on it, Battlefield 2 will up the ante by supporting up to 64 players on a single map. Players can choose between three different sides; the USA, China or a collection of Middle Eastern countries, the coalition for the killing, if you will. Developers DICE are working on a system which will dynamically alter the size of a map depending on the number of active players, which should hopefully cut down on the over-realistic military marching sim which empty Battlefield servers can quickly become. Number two will also ship with an overhauled graphics engine which promises to ramp up the detail level. All that ordnance will have an effect on the environments this time so hopefully the destructible environments could lead to a tactically shifting battleground.

The number of player classes has also received a boost. Regardless of the side chosen, gamers will be able to play as Engineers, Medics, Anti-Tankers, Snipers, Support, Spec Ops and Assault. As before, each class will have access to different weapons and abilities, with Support troops being able to drop ammo packs for their comrades and Spec Ops able to paint enemy targets for missile strikes. Classes will also have an effect on vehicles, so a medic that enters an APC will turn that vehicle into a mobile aid station. Battlefield 2 will also deploy a new commander role so if you fancy directing the action more than getting your knees dirty this mode is for you. The Commander assumes strategic control of their side, directing players to objectives and trying to keep them working together as a collective. This new mode and the versatility of the expanded class system should make for some incredibly engaging battles and could prove to be a satisfying blend between the military authenticity of classic Operation Flashpoint and the arcadey thrills that gamers have come to expect from the Battlefield series.

The more you play Battlefield 2 the better your online persona will become. With ranks going all the way up to General, promotions will unlock new weapons and medals. There will also be a wide range of game types; Conquest, Head-On, Double Assault, Tactical Conquest, Assault and there's a full single player campaign to get stuck into as well. A variety of 30 different vehicles will range from tanks, helicopters, hovercraft, fast-attack vehicles to fighter jets. Planned for release next month Battlefield 2 is a title this gamer is keenly looking forward to.

SWAT 4 - Irrational Games

This is one sequel that has been in development for so long it was recently announced that it and Duke Nukem Forever were now living together as partners. Word is that SWAT 4 has become fed up with Duke's constant groping and obsession with makeovers that it's had enough and wants to move out, preferably onto the shelves of your local games emporium.

SWAT 3 remains one of the best ever squad-based shooters - especially in co-op play - and as it was one of the first in the genre hopes have been running high for its follow up. These hopes were dashed when the publishers VU stated the game was on indefinite leave, then that it had been sent into early retirement on medical grounds. Well recently its been put back onto the line with this all new attempt promising to immerse gamers in the world of SWAT like never before. Using both the Unreal and Havok engines and developed by the same crew which made Tribes: Vengeance, SWAT 4 has also been under the watchful eye of one Ken Thatcher, a 25 year SWAT team veteran who should help to ensure as much authenticity as is possible in a game.

While the limited information available on the game is superficial it does indicate that the intense gameplay of number three should remain intact, with players responsible for not just the safety of their squad but that of hostages and innocent bystanders alike. There will be four different modes; training, career, instant action and quick missions. In the last mode gamers will be able to edit each map, moving suspects around or changing their numbers as well as tweaking a variety of global settings. These maps are bound to become the focus of many a multiplayer sessions and it is with glee and much joy that I can confirm that co-operative play will be included from the off. Making arrests will again be a central theme with non-lethal takedowns in the form of pepper sprays and bean-bag guns making a welcome appearance. The balancing between stealth, combat and law enforcement will hopefully prove to be as compelling a gameplay experience as the last time round presented in a snazzy new uniform. SWAT 4 also intends to remain all about the action, bypassing the trend towards character interaction and development and heading straight for the cupboard marked 'auto-shotguns'. The new streamlined interface should also cut down on the amount of time spent pondering the keyboard as the cursor is now context sensitive. And snipers will now be part of the commander's arsenal, taking up places outside the target area and offering up shots whenever a tango comes into their sights.