Kuma\War has entered this fray with an offering of realistic action based on current events. Subscribers receive several new missions each month, taken right from recent headlines, complete with satelite photos and movies to fill in the details. The game software is available for download at no cost, but a subscription (currently $9.99 per month) is required to access new content and continue playing after the trial period.
It's an interesting concept made possible by high-speed Internet, which is required for Kuma\War. This is because all the game's content must be downloaded and the files are large enough to make it impractical on a slow connection. When Kuma\War starts up, it provides you with options that allow you to update the game or download new missions very easily. There are currently 20 missions available, but, as you would expect, that number is growing rapidly.
The latest mission, for example, is a tribute to Pat Tillman and the US Army Rangers. "You are with the US Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment operating near Spera, Afghanistan when Taliban and al Qaeda fighters attack your convoy. You must repel the attack and then move into the mountains to take the fight to the enemy."
Graphics
Although Kuma\War has some reasonably good character and weapon models, it can't compare to what the latest shooters have to offer visually. Vehicles are blocky, lighting is quite primitive, and particle effects are nothing out of the ordinary. A few years ago it might have looked alright but by today's standards it is pretty bland.
They do deserve credit for creating geographically accurate maps with outdoor areas that are well done. Mountain backdrops are particularly convincing, should you find a break in the action long enough to enjoy the scenery.
The physics in the Kuma\War are extremely limited. The M1A1 tank can have its path blocked by a compact car that would be crushed or pushed out of the way in a heartbeat by a real tank, and it seems to get caught on minor obstacles like sidewalk curbs. Apart from bullet decals and the odd two-stage damage effect, the environments are very static. While some lights will break, you won't be shooting them out to hide in the dark a la Doom 3, or watching enemy operatives being blown through the air from the force of an explosion a la Battlefield. If it's any consolation, some of the death animations are sure to give you a laugh.
It could be that the developers are trying to keep all the required downloads from getting too large. Even after downloading numerous missions and movies, Kuma\War consumes considerably less drive space than more graphically impressive games like Battlefield Vietnam, Unreal Tournament 2004, or Doom 3.
Gameplay
For the most part, Kuma\War follows first-person shooter conventions. If you play other shooters with a keyboard and mouse, the controls shouldn't give you much trouble. One difference is that you have the option to view your character from the third-person, although the controls and HUD remain the same. Unlike most games of this kind, your hands and weapon aren't visible in first-person view. The absence of a jump function is rather irritating - by default the spacebar reloads your weapon. There are also no lean functions, which would be very useful in the urban maps.
Usable vehicles are available in only a few missions so far. Rather than the intuitive controls most shooters use for vehicles, they've come up with their own clumsy control scheme for the M1A1 tank, which is unfortunate. You'll also notice that the tank must be operated from the third-person with your view locked to the turret.
