...smurfing kicks ass. I know there's another thread about it and Resistance, comparing the two, but this game deserves its own thread.
I picked up my copy this evening and played it for about 4 hours, most of that time being spent co-op with a friend. It's absolutely a blast and tense virtually 100% of the time; my back's actually sore because I've been leaning on the edge of my seat for the past few hours. :p
The gameplay does revolve around hopping from one bit of cover to the next, but it never feels like you're just hiding. It works really well and is just as fun as most first person shooters in which you'd run out, guns blazing, without bothering to hide at all. One of the great design elements of the game is the ability to switch between difficulties; you can change from "Casual" to "Hardcore" at any checkpoint. You can also switch from single player to co op in the same way.
The graphics are, of course, fantastic, and there are some subtle touches that really add to the mood, such as the way the camera shakes when you crouch low and run. It feels like a guy with a handycam is running behind you, and the camera bobs up and down just enough to look awesome but not too much to be annoying. The world looks the best off all. The urban areas are simply beautiful, and the art direction is fantastic. Best of all, though, is the ultra-satisfying chainsaw melee attack. When you chop one of the enemies in half, blood shoots out all over the place, half-covering the camera lens and spraying all over the ground. It's just awesome, and seeing it on a big TV screen does it far more justice than anything you'll see in a video on the net.
Anyway, for those of you who don't have the game simply because it's being published by Microsoft, are you planning to pick it up, or have you already? I can't wait to get on Live and try out the multiplayer. Best big guy with guns game ever. :p
