I can't remember previously playing a game that alternated between bliss and misery from one level to the next. The wildly inconsistent missions in Viectcong make it the most schizophrenic game I've ever encountered. By playing Vietcong, you'll experience both the breathtakingly brilliant pacing and suspense of inspired game design, and the most infuriating sequences of sloppy programming.

Czech developer Illusion Softworks (Mafia) is one of my favorite groups, if for no other reason than their genuine affection for their subject matter. Their interest in the Vietnam conflict bleeds through into every facet of Vietcong: from the full array of Cold War allied and Soviet arms, to the amazingly detailed dossiers available in your bunk. These gems are a treat between the exhausting missions, where you can kick back in your subterranian den and pore through authentic-looking documents covering VC and NVA tactics, a history of pre-war Vietnamese conflicts, and even compare psychological propaganda from the ally and the enemy. Fine attention is paid to little things like camp layouts, uniform variations between the VC, NVA, and native Vietnamese, and a wide variety of "intel" gathered from the enemy. It's an engrossing experience.

At their best, Vietcong's missions have our hero plodding slowly through gorgeous dense jungle foliage, taking advice from the local pointman Le Duy Nhut concerning traps and tactics. Discerning anomalies like an odd patch of earth or a strange wire running across a footpath mean the difference between life and death. It's a game best savored slowly, but when a firefight breaks out it's an exhilarating rush. Your comrades are good shots and reasonably wise under fire, and if you play at the game's natural pace you'll generally defeat the enemy. Move too quickly or ask too much of your squad and it's certain failure.

Vietcong has a fairly ingenious save system worth mentioning. By complying with an onscreen indicator to check in with HQ via your radio, the game autosaves during missions. It's a brilliant way of integrating game saves into the natural storyline and never feels artificial. Between autosaves you're allowed 5 quicksaves; just enough to hobble through the tricky parts but not so much that tension evaporates with abuse.

At its worst, however, Vietcong is a cruel nightmare of game-breaking bugs and pathing problems. There are a number of crippling effects of the game's clumsy movement engine. Getting stuck in the environment, keys sometimes not responding, the occasional inability to climb a small rock or tree root, all of these hamper the most basic elements of gameplay. And your squad frequently succumbs to jungle fever by falling off mountains, humping large objects, screaming out during a "stealth" period, and other bizarre behavior. Your pointman, Mr Nhut, will frequently stop responding to commands, or will transform into Rain Man pacing back and forth to no end. These oddities can range from midly amusing to game-breaking, requiring great patience from the player.

With a few more months of testing and smoothing, Vietcong could have been one of the best shooters of this decade. The subject matter was relatively fresh, and Illusion Softworks/Pteradon clearly had a passionate vision for the game. But the persistent problems make it a trial-and-failure process only suitable for the most patient PC gamer. Those willing to endure will enjoy the peaks of Vietcong's rollercoaster ride.
I can't remember previously playing a game that alternated between bliss and misery from one level to the next. The wildly inconsistent missions in Viectcong make it the most schizophrenic game I've ever encountered. By playing Vietcong, you'll experience both the breathtakingly brilliant pacing and suspense of inspired game design, and the most infuriating sequences of sloppy programming. Czech developer Illusion Softworks (Mafia) is one of my favorite groups, if for no other reason than their genuine affection for their subject matter. Their interest in the Vietnam conflict bleeds through into every facet of Vietcong: from the full array of Cold War allied and Soviet arms, to the amazingly detailed dossiers available in your bunk. These gems are a treat between the exhausting missions, where you can kick back in your subterranian den and pore through authentic-looking documents covering VC and NVA tactics, a history of pre-war Vietnamese conflicts, and even compare psychological propaganda from the ally and the enemy. Fine attention is paid to little things like camp layouts, uniform variations between the VC, NVA, and native Vietnamese, and a wide variety of "intel" gathered from the enemy. It's an engrossing experience. At their best, Vietcong's missions have our hero plodding slowly through gorgeous dense jungle foliage, taking advice from the local pointman Le Duy Nhut concerning traps and tactics. Discerning anomalies like an odd patch of earth or a strange wire running across a footpath mean the difference between life and death. It's a game best savored slowly, but when a firefight breaks out it's an exhilarating rush. Your comrades are good shots and reasonably wise under fire, and if you play at the game's natural pace you'll generally defeat the enemy. Move too quickly or ask too much of your squad and it's certain failure. Vietcong has a fairly ingenious save system worth mentioning. By complying with an onscreen indicator to check in with HQ via your radio, the game autosaves during missions. It's a brilliant way of integrating game saves into the natural storyline and never feels artificial. Between autosaves you're allowed 5 quicksaves; just enough to hobble through the tricky parts but not so much that tension evaporates with abuse. At its worst, however, Vietcong is a cruel nightmare of game-breaking bugs and pathing problems. There are a number of crippling effects of the game's clumsy movement engine. Getting stuck in the environment, keys sometimes not responding, the occasional inability to climb a small rock or tree root, all of these hamper the most basic elements of gameplay. And your squad frequently succumbs to jungle fever by falling off mountains, humping large objects, screaming out during a "stealth" period, and other bizarre behavior. Your pointman, Mr Nhut, will frequently stop responding to commands, or will transform into Rain Man pacing back and forth to no end. These oddities can range from midly amusing to game-breaking, requiring great patience from the player. With a few more months of testing and smoothing, Vietcong could have been one of the best shooters of this decade. The subject matter was relatively fresh, and Illusion Softworks/Pteradon clearly had a passionate vision for the game. But the persistent problems make it a trial-and-failure process only suitable for the most patient PC gamer. Those willing to endure will enjoy the peaks of Vietcong's rollercoaster ride.