Rebellion’s latest offering, Rogue Warrior, features Navy SEAL Richard “Demo Dick” Marcinko as he singlehandedly attempts to prevent the USSR from gaining the upper hand over the United States in the Cold War. While this tactical FPS doesn’t bring anything new to the table and could have used a bit more polish, it still offers some tense, engrossing scenarios.

Things kick off in North Korea, where Marcinko (marvelously brought to life by the voice talents of actor Mickey Rourke) and his team have been deployed to do some digging on ballistic missile launchers. This simple “snoop and poop,” as Marcinko describes it, quickly goes south when his comrades are killed in action immediately after landing. He’s ordered to abort, but his anger fuels him to continue the mission alone. It is discovered that the Russians are in fact behind this program and Marcinko treks to the USSR to destroy the missiles at all costs.

The story is inelegantly told via voiceovers and text that accompany the loading screens before each of the game’s eight levels. Players who have little interest in elaborate narratives shouldn’t have any issues with this; however those who were hoping for involved storytelling won’t find any here.

As Rogue Warrior centers on a Cold War theme, you’ll frequent many areas that you’d expect to see in a James Bond movie or videogame, including bunkers, dams, hedge mazes, launch facilities and the like. While the locales are interesting, originality is lacking and the game falters slightly in level construction. Each linear mission presents the same core objectives of finding something, blowing it up, and “getting the hell outta dodge.” Luckily, the combat is satisfying enough to keep your interest; though don’t expect to experience massive firefights and adrenaline pumping set-pieces. Rogue Warrior is about using a calculated, methodical, and often stealthy approach. Health is limited, though the well-integrated third person sticky cover system and useful blind firing tactic assist in this regard. (more…)