The subject of war is a frequent occurence in the none-too-shy world of video games. Not afraid to impact upon players willy-nilly with massacres and bloody stories of real life historical events, the industry has brought us some of the most intensive, realistic and immersive games. And next in the pipeline is a shocking warfare adventure from Eidos named Shellshock Nam '67.

Clearly based on the events that transpired during the Vietnam War, this third-person shooter plunges its players i ... more >>

The subject of war is a frequent occurence in the none-too-shy world of video games. Not afraid to impact upon players willy-nilly with massacres and bloody stories of real life historical events, the industry has brought us some of the most intensive, realistic and immersive games. And next in the pipeline is a shocking warfare adventure from Eidos named Shellshock Nam '67.

Clearly based on the events that transpired during the Vietnam War, this third-person shooter plunges its players into heart of a horrific conflict against the notorious Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army as a freshly trained troop on his first tour of duty.

Developed by the renowned Guerrilla Games, Nam '67 sees players engaging in mission-based combat that takes on two main forms - shooting and stealth. The shoot-em-up aspect of gameplay is very much centred around the player's ability to seek out and eliminate enemy troops, bases and hideouts. It all appears to be fairly standard in the beginning, but cunning enemy AI soon makes players aware of the challenges they are faced with. Here, enemies don't just simply fall to the ground dead; they can take bullets in the arms, legs and torso and still survive. And although grounded, your enemies will still try to take you down right up to their dying breath.

Stealth, on the other hand, speaks for itself. Inspired in parts by Metal Gear Solid, players must frequently withdraw weapons in favour of a more sneaky approach. Diverse environments that include villages, tunnels and dense jungles provide an optimal setting for such strategic gameplay, and happen to look stunning too.

Nam '67 is unquestionably a brutal game based upon brutal events. While it accurately depicts the Vietnam War's darkest moments, it's also a beautifully crafted adventure and a highly respectable video game. << less