Shadow Ops: Red Mercury Critic Reviews

One of the best values when considering that it fully supports Live and System Link play, has HD graphics support, and one of the best audio tracks ever laid down in a video game.

There is a lot of value in the game with a rather large single-player mode (about twelve hours) and co-op, four-player split-screen and Xbox Live support. While there are other FPS that do things better, Shadow Ops is a solid entry.

The game isn't perfect, but the amazing combination of gritty realism and cinematic elements makes up for some minor sore spots.

I am also disappointed by the lack of blood. War is bloody and full of gore, and I want to see it all when I am playing.

It feels like being in the middle of an action blockbuster.

The lack of detail and setup options may annoy the hardcore FPS fans, but the arcade approach will appease most players.

The creators seem to have focused more on blending cinematic elements and story arc than on controls and action. Still, it's a solid all-around title that pushes games in a different direction and serves as a vivid reminder that living in America is way better than living in Chechnya.

Shadow Ops hardly ever strays from its basic first-person shooter blueprint and that's what makes this a lackluster shooter, but the action is always of the pulse-pounding kind and that certainly counts for something.

One major plus point is a superb, absorbing 5.1-surround sound experience that demands volume and really brings the game to life.

The biggest problem is that Shadow Ops apparent efforts at achieving a cinematic feel have fallen well flat and the FMV is disappointingly bland.

While it doesn't have the style of "Halo" or the myriad of gameplay choices like "Splinter Cell," Shadow Ops is a decent throwback to simpler shooter times when running and gunning was all that is to be expected.

An average shooter through and through. The gameplay is average and so are the graphics. There isn't anything new or exciting happening in this game, but mostly things we have seen done better in other titles.

With its no nonsense game play I recommend this title for those bored of the Tom Clancy approach to gaming.

A reliable, well-designed and fun shooter title to provide you with some intense gameplay both in single player and multiplayer versions.

Yes, it has some glaring AI problems, some repetitive and overly simplistic gameplay aspects. And yeah, one of the final cut-scenes, where our hero lands on a speeding train, is about as PlayStation One graphics as it gets, I still enjoyed the game.

It could've been a good title if it'd been tweaked more, especially in paying attention to the AI driving the opposition. But without that love, this is just another 'seen it 15 times this year' title.

The lack of a quick save or manual save takes a great deal of enjoyment out of the game.

Arguably the most cinematic shooter on the market, and though the gameplay is flawed in some respects, the lengthy, engrossing single-player campaign is still worth the price of admission. The offline multiplayer component can provide a few small kicks as well, but Xbox Live owners should beware, as online play is dodgy, to say the least.

The game sadly plays as a barely mediocre firefight.

A little frustrating, a little predictable, but like many a Hollywood blockbuster, it's a thrill ride worth taking.