Brute Force (Xbox)

By JON MINIFIE

(Herald rating: * * * * *)

Early comparisons to Halo will undoubtedly get everyone's attention but Brute Force is no carbon copy of Bungie'schart-topping shooter. Nevertheless

Halo's influences are evident.

The thumbstick control has a distinct Halo-like feel about it, players can carry two weapons at a time, and the zoom feature on certain weapons is similar. Also the story takes you todistant worlds chock-a-block with deadly aliens sporting ultra-modern weaponry. However,

Brute Force is a third-person shooter with a control system that feels and plays like a first-person title.

Brute Force is alsoteam-based, placing players in command of a small squad of hardcore, space commandos. Micro-managing your squad through each mission means having to make use of each team-member's unique gifts.

There's the highly decorated heavy weapons expert Tex, whose heavy armour slows him down but his gung-ho attitude is perfect during a frontal assault.

There's Hawk with her stealth shield; she can scout ahead undetected and perform silent kills. Brutus is a feral warrior, part man, part lizard, and arguably the most agile member of the group. Like Tex, Brutus prefers heavy weaponry and his numerous abilities include fast healing and heat-sensitive vision that allows him to pick up heat signatures from otherwise hidden targets.

Last, but by no means least, is the ever-reliable android Flint, a lightly armoured sniper who brings lethal accuracy to the team.

Whichever way you look at it, this is a great squad, a good mix of strong, well-rounded characters with genuine expertise in an assortment of areas. Playing solo, you can switch between characters at any time by tapping a direction on your D-pad. You can also issue basic commands like "cover me" or stay put.

The many multiplayer options allow players to join (and leave) a game at any time. Just plug in a controller and hit start, the game instantly switches to a split-screen view and the action continues without a hitch.

Brute Force takes place on six different planets — the huge 3D landscapes include everything from lush jungles and swamps, to bleak arid lands with lava flows.

Featuring flawless visuals and sound, gripping action, 20-odd levels, clever AI enemies and a multitude of multi-player options, the MA15+ rated Brute Force is worthy of instantclassic status. It's the most impressive, innovative and outright exciting Xbox exclusive I've seen since Microsoft'sconsole launched last year.

Price: $129.95