Frontlines tries to revolutionize the fps formula. Let's get this out of the way now. It doesn't. I've played worse games, and mechanically it's sound...but it just isn't fun, and certainly not worth 60$. So here we go:
First off, many thanx to the fella who recommended I buy this game right after finishing rainbow six. yeah, right... So thanx Mr. F.....you know who you are.
So what's wrong with the game? Well a lot. it controls like a pretty vintage fps, all very straightforward. But it doesn't do anything new. it does stuff "knew". which is to say, all innovations that gamers have known since Halo. And no this is not a complimentary comparison. The original Halo was pretty slow in it's control and response. So is F.O.W.
On a bright note, the story concept is near-future apocalyptic, and is well-crafted. Which only adds to the disbelief and dissapointment once you start playing. And it steals, or "cribs" to an almost obscene degree: the cinematics are poor copies of cod4, and the vehicle mechanics are direct theft of the warthog from halo.
The first time you fire your assault rifle (in the first 30 seconds of play) you immediately know something isn't right here. Weapons fire have virtually no rumble effects, and -completely- nonexistent recoil. Your gun fires like a mini-gun, and is always perfectly steady. The tracer rounds on weapons fire is so profuse it looks cartoony; like you're shooting yellow banana bullets at the baddies.
The a.i. is insultingly laughable. Fortunately the future enemies of our "coalition" are apparently all autistic, and in a drug-induced haze...awesome!
The drone usage is a really cool idea, but they control so poorly, the excitement dies almost as soon as you take control of them.
Finally there is the level design and progression method. It's very disjoint, and compartmentalized which makes you feel like your squad is alone in an empty world, with no sense of urgency, not like a tense setpiece of warfare, ala cod4.
The save slots make the entire game appear arcade-y, and broken up for quick bits of action. In and of itself, this is not bad, until you slap a 60$ price tag on it. This game would have been fun and perfectly acceptable...an xbox live arcade download at even 1600pts. As a retail title however; Frontlines Fuel of War is an unmitigated failure both as a revolution, and as a serviceable first person shooter.
