By Ned Jordan

Full Spectrum Warrior was originally developed as a training aid for the US Army. Its roots were evident in its gameplay, which required a very methodical almost puzzle-like approach to its heavily-scripted missions. The game’s sequel, subtitled Ten Hammers, began its life as a game and as such promises to take the same tactical gameplay of its predecessor and put it into a more dynamic and wide-open battlefield. Suppression and flanking will still be keys to victory, but this time out you’ll be faced with an enemy that has a beefed-up AI and that can appear anywhere.

The game’s subtitle refers to a strategic bridge in the same fictional Middle Eastern country in which the first game took place. The city in which the bridge sits is located at the foot of a large mountain range, so the action no longer takes place in the dusty streets of desert cities. The setting was changed not just to give the game a bit of a different look than its predecessor, but also to provide a richer environment in which to set the game’s storyline. Story plays a greater role in Ten Hammers which helps it generate a stronger sense of immersion which in turn will enhance gamers’ enjoyment of the game experience.

But the new location and deeper storyline are not the only changes in store in Ten Hammers. First of all you’ll notice that the “fog of war” blur inherent in the first game is gone. Since the AI is more dynamic there is no need to artificially hide their positions from you. Next you’ll find your command selections expanded to include new options such as splitting your squad and issuing each group a separate set of orders. You’ll also get to experience room to room fighting in Ten Hammers as the game now lets you enter buildings.

Probably the biggest change though is in the soldiers themselves. Each soldier in the game will be rated in a number of categories giving each one his own set of strengths and weaknesses. If you lose a member of your squad, then you may be forced to change your tactics slightly to compensate for the replacement soldier’s skill set and the way he fits into the team.

In spite of these changes, Ten Hammers still remains a tactically focused game. If you’re the type of action gamer who prefers to fight with his or her head as much as with a weapon, then you have a game to look forward to in Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers.