The role of the FPS in this industry has changed dramatically since it’s first conception back in the late 70s. In that time computer games were still evolving a true sense of genre-structure. The initial idea, I believe, was to bring the user into the game environment and allow them to experience the game almost as the on screen avatar would. The belief being that such a view would heighten the player’s sense of awareness and relation to the virtual world. It’s a much more constricted way of playing, as you can only see exactly what’s in front of you. If this is true, it’s all that Conspiracy: Weapons of Mass Destruction has going for it.
A Brief FPS History
In the intervening 50 years, many titles since have been made based on this model of gaming. Growing in complexity and immersion they no longer limit your movement to only a square at a time. Interactions have grown to almost unfathomable depths, too. Yet, one game still of note in the initial stages of this genre was released during the early 80s. An interaction-based first-person adventure title entitled ShadowGate.
The title received a luke-warm reception on the ZX Spectrum. It was consequently released on the NES to raise the developers’ profile. Another very popular first-person title that first saw life in the arcades and increased it’s audience and popularity by later being released on all manner of home platforms was – hailed by all to be the first true FPS game – Wolfenstein 3D. This game really conceptualised the genre and paved the way for the likes of DOOM and Quake; two more huge FPS games from the ID Software stable. With these titles having become renown in the hardcore market for their quality, their sales peaks incited others within the industry to produce many, many replicas based on the new formula for first-person titles. Thus, the FPS genre was born.
Conspiracy: Weapons of Mass Destruction Presents Immersion for Immersion’s Sake
It’s important to understand this history when discussing 2005’s Conspiracy: Weapons of Mass Destruction. This is because it seems almost as if the developers had paid attention to everything that happened up until the early 90s, then ignored all that came since. It creates and inviting world. A vision surrounding the player that makes you want to push further through. However, they seem to have forgotten to make it fun to do so.
It’s the quality of user immersion that really makes Conspiracy: Weapons of Mass Destruction the game that it is. From the moment you touch the ground it’s non-stop action. You never get a chance to take a back seat, so it can all get a little hectic. You star as Cole Justice, an ex-Special Agent mercenary conscripted to go into a know arms-dealers base. As you investigate, you find out a lot more than anyone intended.
It’s a laughable premise by today’s standards. However, if the storyline doesn’t drag you into the game, the constant updates over your in-game communications-system may just do so. It’s a tried-and-tested method of relaying the finer plot details today, but back in 2005 it had rarely been used to such pedigree.
What does results in is a world which you know is more Fast & Furious than The 24 Hour War. You’ll feel every command hit home; every bullet shot risking your life. However, feeling isn’t the same as enjoying.
A Mass Conspiracy Against Good Games
As might be expected, there are a multitude of weapons to pick up as you progress through the game. As was becoming de rigueur at the time, you can only carry two weapons at any one time. Clearly a tactic borrowed from Halo: Combat Evolved to add a much need level of strategy to the proceedings. Sadly, such comparison does not bode well for Conspiracy: Weapons of Mass Destruction.
The AK is generally the dominant weapon, grenades are optional and a little silenced pistol is defaulted unto you for when you run out of bullets. Or for the parts where a small amount of stealth is required. While you’re given the option of a Sniper Rifle and Shotgun, or even a Rocket Launcher, few other weapons are fit for purpose. They feel lightweight and unwieldy. Rarely doing the damage their grand positioning in the world suggests they should. Thus, the gunplay revolves mostly around running towards the enemy and letting rip, hoping you won’t die or run out of bullets before they do.
Focus Won’t Save this Game from Mass Destruction
While most of the game is formulaic FPS faire – and poorly delivered at that – it does offer one unique mechanic. A ‘focus’ function adds the ability to use pinpoint precision. It also utilises a nice visual effect of the human-eye focusing on the distance. However, in play it’s pretty pointless. You’ll often find the unsatisfying gunplay curtails any need for anything but run-and-gun.
Conspiracy: Weapons of Mass Destruction is a game that is almost impossible to recommend to anyone. While the outlandish plot is well delievered and drags you into its cartoon-ish war, the game offers a truly generic FPS experience. There’s little thinking to avoid the crimson shade of death, and the game’s insistence on incomprehensible distractions is often a tiring exercise. The game offers a poor standard of graphics for even 20 years ago, and the voice acting makes WWE look like Casablanca. Delivering an immersive world is a commendable achievement – regardless of the plot’s context – but backing it up with inviting gameplay isn’t an optional extra.
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