Multiplayer, of course
Multiplayer modes in the demo are Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch. The other modes are reserved for the full version. I got a chance to try out some of the other weapons available in the multiplayer levels that weren’t in the single player levels. The rocket launcher in SOF is somewhat unique in it’s speed and alternate fire. These rockets scream out of the tubes, unlike the slow, easy to dodge projectiles we have become accustomed to. The alternate fire launches a barrage of rockets at your opponent, turning him into a nice little smear on the ground, walls, and ceiling. I would speculate that the rocket speed will be slowed down for play balance in the full version.
Another shot of the sniper rifle, in game | Multiplayer skins are pretty cool… | …like this one (is it cold in here?) | All pick-up items are clearly labled |
So what did I think of it?
Soldier of Fortune is a fun game. The gore is pretty much eye-candy, but it adds a level of realism most games fail to achieve. Being able to injure people, or shoot the gun out of their hand allows a whole different strategy than the standard shooter. I was able to shoot a guy in the leg, run past him to gain a better position, and then finish him off. Sometimes, the damage model kind of shows it’s shooter heritage, though. I once shot a guy right between the legs with my 12-gauge. He hobbled around for a moment, then attacked me again. Unless he had a lot of drugs in his system, the loss of both testicles should have pretty much rendered him useless. All the gore and flying body parts aside, SOF doesn’t quite live up to a game like Rainbow Six in realism. Your character still has a health bar, and picks stuff up by running over it. You can stand toe to toe with the bad guys and shoot it out, which isn’t entirely authentic, regardless of the amount of body armor worn. The complexities of Rainbow Six probably don’t appeal to everyone out there, and SOF gives the shooter fan enough detail to distinguish it from the flood of games on the market, without losing the core audience. Let’s hope the small bugs are worked out, and the final version lives up to the expectations. If you have the time and the bandwidth, get the demo.
The almighty rocket launcher | Weird way to reload a gun if you ask me | There’s the rocket launcher again | This shot shows the spread of rockets pretty good |
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