Rogue Ops: Phoenix Unleashed (Hands On) (GameCube) Preview

That was the official company line that filled our ears when we pulled up to enjoy a demonstration of this very promising looking title.

You the player takes control of the very chest-heavy (yes, she has large breasts) Nikki who is, rather unsurprisingly: ex-military, damaged by loss of family and in search of the truth type person. However, it is not the plot in this game that is of great importance, and when we got to see it being played we were much more impressed.

Stealth is the key word, and pulling of snazzy moved is what you will have to master if you are to become good at this game. If you get detected it is good as game over, to you have to creep about breaking necks and knocking people out like it is going out of fashion. Creeping up behind one of the guards you are given the option to do some severe damage, breaking his arm and neck like matchsticks a approving 'oooh' rose from the assembled crowd as the demonstrator added jokily 'Why kill them once when you can do it three times?'

This is very much moving on from the stealth games of today, everything is so much better than you are used it, and perhaps the most ingenious thing is enemy AI, they are very clever. Shoot a body this time, not only do you have to make sure nobody else is about, but you also have to hide the body fast before someone comes to check what is up, but you also have to take into account where you shoot them to avoid blood pooling onto the floor, if another guard notices this, they will alert everyone and you only have one option, death, or run about like an idiot until you die.

As all stealth games should be Rogue Ops has a fair emphasis on technology. You can dig out a retina scanner, V.I.S.E.R, fly cam (this one is genius and very useful for getting a good look ahead of you), thermal optical camouflage, adrenaline boost, communication system and grapple hook (the animation on which is lovely). However you can't just go using things willy-nilly, most are powered by batteries, and as we all know these have a habit of running out, adding to the strategy and 'make me think' aspect of the game.

The game takes place in a fictional world slightly more advanced than ours. One part that we liked very much were her goggles. These allow Nikki to see through walls and see people as well as laser grids and underground power lines. As an added bit of graphical flair when you look at people you see everything in green and heat trails ripple off character outlines.

Weapons wise it is all very impressive. We were shown a vast arsenal of weaponry. Nikki's weapons include pistol, shocker, sniper rifle, crossbow, shuriken, smoke bomb, frag grenade, jamming grenade, remote proximity and mine. And in keeping with the way the game works, you have to really think about what weapons you use in which situation. Using a frag grenade in a heavily guarded area that you have to quietly infiltrate is not a good idea at all.

Graphics wise it is all very accomplished. Some very smart animations accompany neck-breaking moves. Shadows and lighting might not be such a major part as they are in Splinter Cell but this game uses different methods to make you feel all sneaky.