Section 8 Review

The sci-fi shooter has been done a number of times in a number of ways - and arguably there are an abundance of new possibilities within the sci-fi genre that will continue to spawn many more. Section 8 has a variety of new ideas implemented that make it stand out from the crowd, but is it worthy of the attention or is it just another generic space shooter?

Most important to note about this game is that, largely, the game is built around a multiplayer system with the Unreal Engine, rather than the two being separate entities. Much like Unreal Tournament 3, the single player mode is more of a multiplayer game with bots. Many of the features of the multiplayer mode are used in the campaign, and a lot of the missions you will find yourself completing during a frantic online match too.

This said, however, the single player mode has had some time put into it. An average storyline, the missions are partitioned by decent cut scenes and unravel the story of your player character's rise through the ranks to command the Eighth Armoured Infantry. It's not a world class, epic story - it has to be said - but it's sufficient enough to string the missions together. However, the single player mode works perfectly at introducing different elements of the game that you will end up using in the multiplayer mode. Each mission provides something new for you to use or learn - in essence the single player mode is one long tutorial, with new classes or missions being presented in each mission you complete. The campaign provides a decent enough challenge in places, but - as you may be able to tell - it is the multiplayer where you will spend most of your time with this game.

As mentioned, Section 8 does provide new ideas to the sci-fi shooter genre. The game plays much like any other FPS game - point your gun, then fire. However, as part of the Eighth Armoured Infantry you're kitted out in a special suit that gives you a number of abilities (I assume, it's never really explained). For example, should you run for a couple of seconds, your suit will kick into an overdrive mode and you'll be able to sprint at high speeds - excellent for crossing the battlefield in moments. Other abilities include a small charge of a jetpack to enhance your jumps, or a lock on feature that will track your target whilst you shoot - making you a pretty powerful soldier.

Probably the most important aspect of the game, particularly when playing multiplayer, is the use of the dropship which hovers high above the battlefield. The dropship allows you to plummet towards the battlefield, wherever you decide, allowing you to use air breaks to slow your decent. Doing so provides the player with choice. Not using the air breaks will mean the player needs to take a moment longer to recoup after he smashes into the ground. Making use of the air breaks, however, will take longer to land (and thus respawn in battle), but gives you a chance to gently nudge your decent into a more favourable position - useful for evading enemy fire or anti-air flak.

Multiplayer matches are played as one of the two factions - Arm or Section 8 - which are purely cosmetic in their differences. It is your job, as part of the team, to help your side earn one thousands points and therefore the match. The match begins with everyone spawning onto the map, with four control points ready to take over. You can choose to free spawn wherever you like on the map (providing it's outside the AA turrets range) or allow the computer to spawn you on your squad.

Once you've landed, the game will allow you to vie for control of the bases. To do this your team needs to capture one of the four control points, by activating or hacking the base and defending the area until it becomes under your control. Some bases have automated turrets, ranging from anti-air, anti-personal or rocket turrets. If these are destroyed then a timer appears before they are rebuilt and are always under the control of whoever owns the base. By controlling points your team will earn command points towards the one thousand total - the more points you have the quicker you gain points.

After a while of fighting for control of the bases, you will begin to receive mission objectives to complete. There are number of different objectives that may appear, at any time; capturing Intel, escorting VIP targets, setting up outposts or transporting and planting a bomb to name just a few. Once these appear so, too, does a timer which counts down to the end of the mission. It's up to you, both as a player and as a team, to decide whether to proceed to complete the mission, or to hang around defending or attacking one of the bases. Missions are given to a certain team, but the opposing force is required to see that it does not come to fruition. As an example, you may be asked to escort a VIP, with your enemy having to take them down - or vice versa.

Successfully completing the mission will provide your team with bonus command points, but remove some players from focusing on the control points. This is a well structured game mode and works well. The timing of the missions in particular is controlled well, with one or two turning up at first and with the end of the game with upwards of four becoming available.

During battle, completing actions or killing your enemy earns you small amounts of money. As your balance increases you're given options to order items from the dropship. This ranges from supply units which heal you and restock your weapons, to deployable turrets and vehicles. The more money you have, the better the item you can order to be dropped providing there is a clear route from your dropship to the ground (i.e. not indoors). This adds a good deal of strategy to the game, and some of the most fun to be had during the game is when you and other players have formed a near impenetrable section of deployables around a defensive position - fending off the ensuing attackers with ease.

On top of all this, is the ability to customise your class loadouts. You have the option to play as any of the six classes, which vary from the usual classes in these kind of things. Each class comes with two different weapons, and two special abilities - such as repairing (and healing), grenades and more. The six classes a variation of these weapons and abilities, but to add to that is the ability to customise how they work and in which areas they excell. You are given a number of modules to apply to certain aspects of your character that improve the way they work. Just some of these allow you to improve lock on or jetpack time and regeneration, speed enhancement and better shield defence to name just a few. The better players will be the ones that have gone down to this level of customisation to adjust how they prefer to play within each class.

With the rise of online gaming, it's highly likely we'll see more games like Section 8 - those that are heavy on the multiplayer but soft on the single player. This is not necessarily a bad thing, and provided you're aware of the emphasis you're likely to be pleased. Section 8's online mode is thoroughly enjoyable and, whilst it may not be enough keep people from the already popular franchises such as Halo or Call of Duty, there is enough going on here to be worth a look. The variety of gameplay, the customisable classes and the interesting abilities makes for a great online game - and could make an excellent change for those who are addicted to online play.