If you’re not familiar with the Conflict series of games, allow me to give you a quick run-through of it’s main theme. A few years back the series had taken us to Iraq during the first Persian Gulf conflict then it had taken us back for more in a sequel that was just a tad better than its predecessor. Last year the Conflict series went back in time, taking us through the controversial Vietnam war. Enter Conflict: Global Terror, a modern-day action game that spans across the globe on a mission to stop global terrorism.

With a current war on terror being waged in real life, Global Terror is driven by combat situations and scenarios throughout different areas of the world that are not only plausible but also make for some interesting missions. It is here that you assume the role of Sergeant Bradley, squad leader of three specialists. You’re the right man for the mission too, as it becomes clear in the game’s first mission that has you and your teammates captured behind enemy lines. Not only is escape your primary objective but you also attempt to complete the mission you were sent to accomplish before you were captured.

As a third-person shooter Global Terror isn’t any different from other games in the tactical/action genre. You command three other operatives, each with their own specialty you can take advantage of when the opportunity or situation arises. There’s Jones, who is a demolitions expert and can handle RPGs and other explosive devices. Then there’s Foley the sniper, who is later replaced with a female sniper named Sherman and finally there’s Connors who whips out the heavy guns and can bring down tanks like nobody else can. The great part about this is that you can switch between each character on the fly and assume control of them. This is better than issuing a command to a specific specialist.

Unlike the previous Conflict games this one takes you to different locales around the world and uses modern weapons (like the M4A1 assault rifle) and equipment (thermal and night vision goggles). You’ll go through missions in a nameless South American bush and even the snowy tundra in the mountainous regions of Kashmir. You’ll even find missions that take place on the streets of South Korea. The missions are quite lengthy with multiple objectives to complete (such as finding important intel or clearing paths and taking out tanks). You’ll even get to drive vehicles early in the game.

Much of the game will have you fighting out in the open but there are several moments in the game where you’ll be using close-quarter combat techniques. Little else has changed in the series gameplay-wise with the exception of a few improvements. Healing downed comrades is now a bit easier now that all you have to do is point the reticule on said comrade or assign a teammate to do it with the push of a button. What hasn’t changed is the AI both for the enemy and your teammates. The enemy does go for cover on occasion but then again they’re more prone to running out into the line of fire. Your squad also makes similar boneheaded mistakes but they also more trigger-happy than the enemy, oftentimes they’ll forget cover and fire wildly at the enemy. This makes for much frustration as you have to go back and administer care to your downed teammate … often.

At least the game brings back its multiplayer features. There might be nothing you can do about the enemy AI but at least you can do something about your teammates by replacing them with your friends. Through split-screen or through a System Link setting you can play a co-op game with friends. There’s even online multiplayer, but it’s not filled to the brim with game modes.

Graphically the game is not the best we’ve seen on the Xbox. In fact, there’s very little to like visually. The characters, while detailed in many areas, still have odd facial features that improve during cutscenes. They also move awkwardly and often times limbs can sometimes disappear into objects. This is too bad really since there are decent-looking locales and some that even sport nice details. Sadly the visual effects aren’t impressive at all, especially when it comes to explosions. 

The game’s sound is less impressive with muffled gunfire and explosions that hardly sound, well, explosive. These things are remedied with a good sound system hooked up so I highly suggest you play the game with the volume cranked up. Your team will often chime in through their headset communicators and their bits of dialogue are actually good. The game soundtrack is not bad at all but oftentimes it doesn’t pick up during intense battles. You can add your own soundtrack, which might not be a bad idea.

Conflict: Global Terror has a few shining moments of tactical action fun but its flaws make for a frustrating time that takes away from the overall experience. The main mode is long and there are even good mission scenarios but with awful AI, average visuals and sound, the game could have been a lot better. It’s not a bad game but its also not the best Conflict game either.

Gameplay: 6.0
Switching between specialists is still quick and enjoyable as any other Conflict game and there are vehicles to drive but the series still possesses the same type of flaws that consistently show up in all Conflict games - bad AI and a few bugs here and there.

Graphics: 6.5
Not the best Xbox graphics, mind you, but they’re not too ugly either. There are some locations, especially those that take place in the cities, that look nicely detailed. Your team looks good as well, although faces, limbs and movement don’t look at all natural. The visual effects are horrible.

Sound: 6.0
I suggest you play this game with a good sound system because the sound effects, particularly gunfire, sound rather muffled. There’s some squad mate chatter but it sounds like it comes from a headset and that’s too bad because what they say is actually good. The game’s score is appropriately militaristic but becomes softly melodic at the wrong times.

Difficulty: Medium
Some situations will have you and your squad working overtime and there are multiple mission objectives to complete. The real challenge, though, comes in the form of your teammates that find cover behind explosive barrels or forget cover altogether to fire wildly at the enemy in the heat of battle. The enemy AI can sometimes be sharp but then again they can also be dumb enough to try to rush you.

Concept: 7.0
It looks and plays like a Conflict game with the only difference that the game doesn’t concentrate on specific locale like the Desert Storm or Vietnam game. There are some good areas and situations in this game and the modern weaponry is a nice touch. There’s online multiplayer as well.

Multiplayer: 7.0
Fortunately playing this with three other friends certainly does remedy the teammate AI problem and you can do it on the same Xbox or through System Link play. You can also play a co-op game online and the game runs wonderfully. Just don’t expect much else in the multiplayer department.

Overall: 6.2
With only just a few enjoyable moments here and there, Conflict: Global Terror falls short in many aspects that could have made this a real worthwhile experience. Sadly, poor enemy and ally AI make for a frustrating action game that could have been better than this.