Full Spectrum Warrior review

Full Spectrum Warrior is like no other video war game on the market. Originally developed as a training tool for the US Army, the game arrived on consoles bearing hallmarks of strategy and action. As players patrol an urban corner of the Middle East questions will crop up- is this chess? Is it propaganda, and if so for what? And is war always this dull?

But one man's boredom is another's tension. You'll take control of two four-man squads, playing the role of a non-participant CO. The goal is to give orders through a supremely well-crafted interface, advancing both squads so that one supports the other. (Co-op lets one player take each squad, but with less to do, the mode is less compelling.) By telling the men where to look, aim and shoot warfare is reduced to a strange form of strategy where you don't know how many pieces are on the board.

The structure is a very cool, innovative take on war and wargames. Unlike so many action games, it feels new. Thanks to a spot-on recreation of the stereotypical media perception of the Middle East, FSW is entertaining as the troops go about their business. The squad's artificial intelligence is strong enough that you don't need to be poised for action at every single second, and some of the best moments come when the squad gets the job done on its own.