Heavy Fire Afghanistan had the makings of a semi-interesting on the rails FPS for the Wii. I really tried to like this game and had I not tried the co-op version I might have been able to give it a better review. Just 2 players was a nightmare, I cannot imagine the clusterfuck 4 players would be. The more I got into this game the bigger my list of complaints grew.
In HFA you play as a marine who’s based in modern day Afghanistan, fighting for his life in progressing chapters. Each chapter starts out with a cinematic telling you more about the marine you are playing as. From his life as a child, his dream of becoming a marine to the training and missions he’s gone on. It’s all very… well not what I expected to be honest. This is not your typical full on high energy marine from other games. This marine is somber, slow in telling his story. If Mastiff was trying to help connect the player to the story line then they failed horribly because I know I got so bored listening to the almost monotone drone of the marine that I skipped past those parts.
The first chapter you begin with flying in via a helicopter to be dropped down with the convoy you will be patrolling with. Immediately things go horribly wrong as the insurgents attack you at your local checkpoint. They are on the roofs of ever building, shooting from the windows, alley ways and trying to sneak up behind you to slit your throat. There is friendly fire as I found out and my first complaint was founded here too. Why is it that I am the ONLY marine in this entire unit that can actually shoot anything? I’ve got a whole squadron of marines travelling with me and I’m the only one who can take any of the insurgents out? Bah!
As you progress you will find yourself in different situations, saving captives (as long as you don’t shoot them! Hehe I had an itchy trigger finger, whoops!) and exploring the caves these insurgents huddle in. It was about this time that I invited a friend to play in co-op and the real ickiness of Heavy Fire Afghanistan became apparent. It’s not a split screen but it’s for up to 4 players? Any time any of the players duck to avoid fire, it ducks EVERYONE. It was one big cluster fuck as we fought for control, wasted ammo shooting the same targets and generally grumbled at the lack of precision of the weapons. Being on rails made it complicated and made the controls feel clunky or like I was playing one of those silly shooting gallery games at the local fair.
All in all, I’d rent it to play alone. I wouldn’t touch the co-op unless you just want to get pissed off at a video game. The graphics are pretty, the game ran smoothly so no complaints there but I still would not pay full price for this game just to have it collect dust on my shelves. Sorry Mastiff, better luck next time.
