If awards were dished out for original different storylines then Damnation, the latest original title from Codemasters would win bucket loads. 

Set in an alternative history the game is set sometime after the American Civil War which has devastated America and left both sides exhausted and defeated. From out of this chaos a new threat has emerged called the PSI (Prescott Standard Industries). This is a military force determined to rule the country and restore their brand of order by destroying everything and anybody that stands in their way. However, a group of plucky rebels have decided to fight back, including  Hamilton Rourke, a former regimental captain who is determined to not let the PSI succeed and to save his beloved country from utter damnation. 

The gameplayer plays the role of Hamilton Rouke who together with Charles Winslow the leader of the band of rebels and Yakecan an American Indian begins the fight against the PSI. And the fight includes some of the largest levels you are ever likely to come across in a video game.

Armed with just a select few weapons you walk amongst the devastation, the words of the PSI constantly booming in your ears, thanks to the loudspeakers that seem to be everywhere, killing as many of the PSI troops as you can. Occasionally Winslow of Yakecan will fall and request your help, which basically means finding them and administering a drug that you carry. (Strangely they don’t do the same for you though) 

The controls that the developers have assigned to the game are quite unusual but actually they work quite well with its clever combination of buttons for aiming, close ups etc. The climbing/swinging featured within the game is actually some of the best yet seen in a video game and the animation of the characters are actually a joy to watch. 

The levels themselves are of the free-roaming variety, basically you can go anywhere and make your own way from the start of the level to the end at any point. However, although this is an excellent idea and the developers should be applauded for doing this (I would rather have this then constant levels with invisible walls etc) it does provide its own set of problems. Essentially the levels are all rather drab with its grey destroyed architecture and whilst this sets the mood of the game and works well in terms of storyline, if you do not stay with your comrades or at least in sight of them then it is very easy to get lost especially if you forget what the aim of the level actually is.

Graphics wise as stated already the animation is actually quite fluid and the environments although bland do appear to fit the game perfectly. Unfortunately there appears to be quite a few bugs in the game which really should have been got rid of before the games release. These include instances where characters seem to float in mid air including instances where you kill one of the opposition when they are in mid flight and they just hang there as is suspended by invisible string attached to the sky.
 

Sound wise, the vocal acting is a mixed bunch. Hamilton is fine but Winslow sounds like he is just going through the motions and the voice of the loudspeakers becomes irritating and grating after a while. The music throughout the game suits the title perfectly and the sound effects are well thought out and implemented. 

Overall I know it seems like I have criticised this game quite a lot and I hope I haven’t put you off it because despite everything I have said here I actually like this game a lot. There are a lot of positives to the game including the original storyline and the animation of the characters. The levels, although too large do pull you into the game and you pat yourself on the back when you actually manage to achieve something. It also has a bitter sense of humour running through the game which is a delight and unusual to say the least. 

It is just a shame that the overall feel of the game is that it is unfinished.

Developer:

Blue Omega Entertainment

Publisher:

Codemasters

Genre:

Action

Release Date:

05/09