Initial descriptions of games can be a little bit deceiving.
All I knew about this game when I first got it was that you were able to raise and lower
terrain to help you out, and I thought maybe it would be kind of like Rollercoaster Tycoon
or something.
Well, no, it’s nothing like Rollercoaster Tycoon, but it is one of the coolest shooters
to come out in the last few years.
Sure, it isn’t a drastic move for the genre, but some innovative features definitely make
this a game you should give a try.
It’s Fracture for the Xbox 360.
Fracture’s story is set in a future America where the West and East have split into two
separate countries.
More specifically, the West is now known as Pacifica as it split from the United States.
The general for Pacifica is considered extremely dangerous and it’s your job to capture him
at all costs!
Of course, things are never easy, as you meet massive resistance in the form of genetically
modified soldiers, but you have a little trick up your sleeve called the entrencher, an item
that can raise and lower dirt to help you clear obstacles and block out enemies.
It’s an interesting idea, and it works well most of the time.
I say “most of the time” because there is a limit to the amount you can raise something,
and it can pull you out of the experience when you can’t keep going up for no reason.
However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as if this is happening, it usually means
you aren’t supposed to go wherever you are trying to go.
Fracture’s core gameplay is third-person shooting, and while it isn’t really anything
special, there’s nothing really wrong with it, either.
Hit detection is fine, weapons work well, and enemy AI is actually really good.
In fact, the game’s difficulty actually feels genuine because of this; you won’t
die from bugs and glitches, but the enemies actually providing a fair challenge.
Using the entrencher to help provide cover and sink enemies is also a lot of fun, especially
when a large group of enemies all go down at the same time.
The only real issue I have with Fracture’s gameplay is the grenade mechanics.
You have access to a few different grenades to not only defeat enemies, but change the
terrain.
While these work okay, actually getting them to go where you want is a bit of a pain.
You also don’t get very many, so having to waste a few grenades before you hit your
target is pretty annoying.
Regardless, you don’t have to use them all that often, and you will start to get the
hang of it over time, but they do seem to act like bricks of lead at first.
Visually, Fracture does look like a budget title.
Environments don’t actually look that bad, but they do seem to be pretty similar to each
other, with bland walls and terrain.
The main character also has a long scratch on his face like that dude from The Wire.
It really doesn’t seem necessary.
Fracture doesn’t execute all of its concepts as well as it could, but it is one of the
more interesting shooters released this generation.
I wouldn’t say that it’s necessary to give it a try, but fans of the genre looking
for something a little different will definitely have some fun.
Just remember, it definitely isn’t Rollercoaster Tycoon.