Fracture
October 2,2008 - By delivering on an undeniably inventive gameplay mechanic wrapped in an intriguing premise, Fracture does well to set itself apart from most other third person shooters on the market, but ultimately feels just a bit too shallow for the impressive setting it created for itself. At the end of the day, Day 1 Studios’ latest original title (they ported F.E.A.R. to consoles) is an exciting thrill ride from start to finish but lacks much depth beyond the few cutscenes between Acts.

It’s the year 2161, and because of generations of environmental neglect the United States has been ravaged by a series of catastrophes such as floods and earthquakes that have literally split the country in two, creating a fracture in evolutionary ideologies. To the west are the Pacifican States, which have teamed with China and other Far East nations. To the east is the Atlantic Alliance, which more traditionally has joined forces with Europe. Each side has taken a different stance on human evolution; the Pacificans believe in genetic enhancement and stem cell research, while the Alliance has adopted cybernetics.

The story is a classic reflection of the American Civil war, which sees General Sheridan defecting to the Pacifican States in an effort to save his diseased daughters’ lives through genetic modification. After throwing the nation into a civil war, you take on the role of Jet Brody, an Atlantic Alliance soldier tasked with taking Sheridan out. Unfortunately, that is where the story’s intrigue quickly wears off. There is very little character development (the lackluster voice performances also do little to help), and the admittedly compelling story is hastily pushed to the backseat once the action starts, despite its impressive potential.

If it weren’t for Fracture’s unusually fresh gameplay, it could have easily been placed in a nondescript box with so many other run-of-the-mill shooters. Thankfully, that isn’t the case, and Fracture’s terrain deformation mechanic adds a new twist to a genre we have become all too familiar with.

Using the Entrencher, you can raise and lower the terrain at will, which helps you get through puzzles and obstacles, as well as aid in firefights by proving cover mounds and combat trenches. Tectonic and subsonic grenades also help in disfiguring the topography, but can be used to harm enemies as well. Alternatively, spike grenades, which cause a rocky column to propel out of the earth, are used exclusively for puzzles.

There are a host of weapons ranging from standard armaments like machine guns, sniper rifles, and rocket launchers, to weaponry that make good use of Fracture’s unique circumstances, such as the ST-4 Torpedo Launcher, which fires a subterranean missile that is detonated by the player. What makes Fracture’s gameplay so commendable is that so many developers of past have tried to offer destructible or malleable environments, only to fall short of promise and expectation. Day 1 Studios managed to take the first step towards real-time alterable environments, without having the A.I. go into spasm, and that alone is an enormous feat worthy of praise.

To be frank, the multiplayer modes are relatively uninspired; featuring classic game types such as deathmatch, capture the flag, king of the hill, and conquest, with more or less unique names for each. It isn’t so much the game types that make multiplayer enjoyable as it is the impressive level designs, much like the single-player campaign’s. Don’t expect a Halo 3, but it’s good on its own merit. Aside from the scarce selection of game types, only the game’s core gameplay mechanic hinders the multiplayer.

The quickly shifting environment may render more inexperienced players overwhelmed by the need to keep track of the already fast-paced action that characterizes the genre, as well as the ever changing battlefield. But that is more so the issue of an increased learning curve, and if those gamers are willing to take the time.

The game looks good, and plays good, despite the occasional frame-rate drop when things got especially frantic. The Havok physics engine is used liberally in Fracture, as well it should be, and does a great job of believably presenting the destruction of the world surrounding you. Although the voice acting is nothing at all to celebrate, the score is impressive enough and is seemingly very LucasArts-like, featuring many orchestral arrangements.

Fracture is a good game, despite its flaws; and although it has a lot of lost potential in its story, its distinctive gameplay mechanics allow us to give it enough credit to say it’s worth checking out. It’s not a very long game, but if you’re looking for a no-frills experience that will be able to offer you bite-sized bits of action, then Fracture should be able satiate your appetite. But if you’re looking for something for a little more breadth beyond strictly the gameplay, you may find Fracture somewhat disappointing.

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