Korea: Forgotten Conflict (PC MA15+)

Reviewed by PETER ELEY

Herald rating: * * * *

If it hadn't been for M*A*S*H, how many of today's teens and 20-somethings would have realised that there was almost a World War III, a conflict between the US and China, fought by proxy on the Korean peninsula from 1950-53?

There are any number of World War II games, where you take on the enemies of freedom-loving people, games about the Vietnam conflict and games based on historical conflicts.

But the Korean War is new ground and in such an overcrowded market, its developers have gone for ultra realism as a point of difference.

And realism in computer games comes at a price: it makes them hard. After all, in real wars your enemies have a nasty habit of shooting back with real bullets and winning now and then.

True war game fans will relish Korea: Forgotten Conflict's gripping gameplay, but casual players may find the difficulty level frustrating.

It is similar in many ways to Commandos in its squad-based gameplay. You lead a team comprising a medic, sniper, demolition expert and South Korean scout, whose ability to penetrate enemy lines is often the key to difficult situations.

There are 12 missions over four campaigns, set in locations from the war. Weapons, uniforms and vehicles have been painstakingly detailed to give the game a real period feel.

There are some minor bugs and artificial intelligence issues but overall it is an intriguing game worth playing for its accuracy and graphics.

Label: Plastic Reality

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