This review is based on the PC version of the game. I consider my PC to be mid-range and I esentially maxed out all of the game's setting in both dx10 and dx9 with a few exceptions (well optomized). If you want the best performance for your rig please download the latest hotfixes from both the Nvidia and Ati websites specifically made to increase performance for this game. Here's the general specs of my review machine (for full specs, visit my page):
Opteron 175 @ 2.5ghz (939 socket)
Ati 2900xt @ stock
4gb DDR Ram
Microsoft Vista Basic 64-bit
And now to the bulk of the review: the game starts off with you choosing a character to play as all of whom differ based on background, ethnicity, and gender. Once you choose a character you are placed in the middle of Africa and discover that a war is about to be waged between two rebel factions and your job is to "terminate" the Jackal, the guy supplying both sides with weapons. The problem is that you have maleria and need medicine every once in awhile to stablize your condition.
In order to progress through the game you need to take missions from people you befriend along the way. Along with giving you missions, your friends can also assist you with other missions from other people including giving you advice in best to approach the situation or giving you alternatives into best ways of completely the mission. you take missions from anyone including boss lords. Once you complete or accept a mission you are rewarded blood diamonds, the only form of currency around these parts and with blood diamonds you can purchase many different types of weapons (assault rifles, mortars, flamethrowers, and so forth). The weapons and the vehicles breakdown over time so it's best not to use the same thing for too long (like guns will rust, jam, and break if you use them for too long).
The game world is very huge and will take you quite a while to get from one side of the map to the other. And along the roads are guarded checkpoints and vehicle patrols who drive down the roads searching for enemies, so frequent battles with them are obivious. During battles, if you take too much damage you will be in critical condition and will require over the top procedures which involve doing things such as pulling out a bullet from your body, pop your shoulder or limbs back in place and so forth. For small injuries all you require is a needle (health) and you stick into your arm to replenish all your health. The battles are very sandbox like too, you can approach any battle head-on driving through town and gunning everyone, or you be sneaking, your choice. This type of gameplay is very appealing since you always have a different experience every time you play through the same or different missions. Also, depending on the different time you do a mission, you get a different experience (for example, at night there will be less guards and less visibility for them to see you so it's generally a better setting for sneaking around).
The graphics look amazing, the trees, grass, and the enviorment looks colorful and lively. I checked screenshots of both Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game and the graphics in those games don't look as nearly as good as the PC version even though my PC can't max out EVERY setting in the game (Consoles also run on Dunia, a different game engine). But, that's not to say there's no problems with the PC version, IMO the Field of Sight is rather small, it seems this game wasn't well optomized for widescreen monitors since I constantly feel like I'm zoomed in and can't quite see my sides as well as other games. Widescreen support works, just not the ratio aspect of it which takes time to get used to for all people who game on widecreen resolutions.
The multiplayer is somewhat fun, I haven't spent much time on it, but it was fun nevertheless. The only downers for multiplayer is that you cannot enter a game which is already in progess which blew me by surprise since I never heard of any/many PC games that do that. But once in it, it's fun with different game modes that will give you several hours of play time well after you're done with the story, though not much people can play in a single server so that sucks (I'm spoiled by multiplayer games that support many players on a single server).
Overall I had a great time. I'm still not finished by any means with the game, but so far so great. This game has really got me hooked and if you like sandbox type gameplay, and want a game that will last you a long time with good visuals then this your game. It's a fun game that'll give you a different experience no matter how many times you play it. Get it for whatever version suits you best, if you're thinking of getting it for the PC, it's well optomized in my opinion (and of course you got a keyboard/mouse setup) and you'll likely be playing it come christmas and beyond.
