Solider of Fortune Review

Solider of Fortune

Developer: Raven Software

Publisher: Activision

Genre: FPS

Release: 2/29/2000

Platforms: Windows, Linux, Dreamcast, PS2

Modes: Single-player, Multi-Player

Availability: Uncommon. Not in any online stores.

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Info:

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        The version I played was the Community Edition on the PC, which is made compatible with modern systems and resolutions, additional graphical effects, and new server browser support.

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Story:

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        The story of Solider of Fortune is about 4 nukes being stolen from a Russian facility and organized gang violence that took over a subway. You play as John Mullins, a mercenary working for an organization called the shop, is sent to deal with these situations with his partner Aaron Hawk. The plot is minimalist and is told during briefings for each mission. It’s not deep, but it carries the plot along well enough.

Casual Game Reviews

Luxor:

Developer/Publisher: MumboJumbo

Genre: Arcade, Shooting

Release: April 5, 2005

Modes: Single-player

Platforms: Windows, Android, PSP, iOS, Xbox 360, Wii, Mac OS

Availability: Online stores

It looks simple, but it's hard

         Luxor is about shooting orbs and destroying the ones that are traveling down the track. To destroy the orbs, you must ether, match up three colored orbs by shooting them with a matching color, make the orbs collide by destroying orbs between them, or using a power up to destroy them. It sounds easy but it isn’t as the orbs will keep coming until the bar on the bottom is filled up. Firing indiscriminately is the fastest way to lose. You need to be strategic with your shots and focus on racking up combos.

         The platform that you control with your mouse can switch between two orbs. The game in the early stages will almost always give you the color orb you will need, but in the latter stages, after level 5, it doesn’t do as well. I have had stages where the orbs are near the pyramid and I needed a certain color, but it kept giving me the wrong colors I didn’t need at the moment. It’s not a big flaw that you can’t work around it. For the fast majority of the time, losing is entirely your fault and success is based on your skill.

         The game has around 20 stages that will start to repeat once you get to level 5. There are 12 levels with 5 or more stages between. If you lose all your lives, you will start at the beginning of the level. I have had fun with this and I recommend it to anyone that wants a fun yet challenging arcade game.