Conflict: Desert Storm II (Conflict: Desert Storm II: Back to Baghdad in North America) is a tactical shooter video game developed by Pivotal Games. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube and is the second installment in the Conflict series
Players take control of a four-man squad of special forces soldiers from the United States Army Delta Force or the British SAS. The squad consists of Bradley, Foley, Jones, and Connors, each with their own special abilities and weapons. Players can switch between the four squad members at any time during the game, allowing them to utilize each character’s unique abilities and weapons to complete objectives. They can control only one member at a time but can also give remote commands to other squad members. There are varying missions with objectives ranging from rescuing hostages, destroying enemy targets, and gathering intelligence. The missions are set in a variety of environments, from desert towns and oil refineries to military bases and enemy camps. Each mission can be completed in different ways, depending on the player’s tactics and approach. Players can use a variety of weapons, including assault rifles, sniper rifles, grenades, and rocket launchers, as well as vehicles such as tanks, helicopters, and jeeps. The player can use different tactics, such as focusing on a head on approach or by using stealth against a variety of forces from the Iraqi military. Experience garnered by each member of the team over time results in promotions and medals awarded for distinguished conduct during missions. Several licensed weapons and vehicles such as the M16 Assault Rifle or Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle are also usable in-game.
Conflict: Desert Storm ll is a bit of a departure from the typical tactical shooter since it is entirely in third person instead of first person. While it takes some play time to get used to, it does get easier the more you play. You even have an advantage of being able to look around corners and over cover at least in a limited manner. The AI is typical of older shooter games in that they are unrealistically accurate at ranges that the player is almost unable to see them. Couple that with a large crosshair designed for close up aiming, and there will certainly be frustrating points in the game where you get shot and you can’t see who is shooting you.
Overall though Conflict is fun game to play. The ability to level up squad members gives this game much more playability than it would have otherwise. I played quite a few hours of this game, crawling around in the dirt trying not to get shot and had a lot of fun doing it.
