War video games
Ever since the days when the Atari 2600 shipped with a game called Combat, video games and war have shared a close association. What began with “missiles” that were little more than glowing pixels has today evolved into a full-fledged industry – one that takes war games into three dimensions and beyond. Today you can fly stunning aircraft, stage amphibious assaults and negotiate complex strategies, all from the comfort of your own living room.
It is perhaps not surprising that army video games are enjoying a resurgence of popularity nowadays. A nationalistic fervor has blossomed in response to recent world events, and today growing numbers of gamers find satisfaction and even honor in reenacting bravery such as this. Some of the finest titles in the war gaming genre even take pains to provide historical accuracy, ensuring a proper homage.
The biggest hit to emerge in recent months is without question Epic Games’ Gears of War. This unprecedented FPS from one of the industry’s best-respected design depots offers complex game play, gorgeous weaponry and some of the most sophisticated graphics ever to reach the console market. Today’s Unreal Engine 3 technology is even earmarked for future use in racing games, sports games and more – proof positive this innovative coding team is onto something.
Of course the Xbox 360 offers other war titles as well – this is, after all, the console for young men. Another top title regularly mentioned in the same breath as Gears is Call of Duty 3. Like its predecessors, COD3 offers immersive game play set in the era of WWII. Accuracy and detail distinguish this series from others, with the latest release offering far more multiplayer capacity and engrossing narrative arcs. The unprecedented firepower of the 360 allows you to plunge inside several armies on different fronts as you fight the Axis around the world.
Not to be outdone, the Playstation 3 offers a powerful war gaming franchise of its own: the Metal Gear Solid series. More stealth-based than combat-based, MGS gives players ample opportunity to problem-solve and dodge the enemy as its popular protagonist, Solid Snake. Codec radio transmissions and plenty of advanced weaponry aid the cause, as does a graphics package that includes gorgeous scenery and atmospheric lighting. If you like the war genre but do not relish the feeling of killing everything you see, MGS may offer the perfect compromise.
Coming very soon, the new title Heatseeker marks the entrance of Nintendo’s wildly popular Wii in to the war game genre. Heatseeker requires sophisticated aerial maneuvers from players as they pilot over 30 different warplanes. Weapons, missions, weather and more all inform the story, as do spirited dogfights at 2,000 feet. The game designers set their sights on the skies here, making intuitive use of the Wiimote and designing environments as diverse as the Caribbean and Antarctica.
It’s safe to say the market for war video games is in good hands nowadays, so look around the Web for top sales and rental outfits if you want to get your hands on a thrill-packed adventure.