By Todd Allen

It took quite a while to figure out just where Mobile Forces fits into the FPS universe. When compared to games like Unreal Tournament 2003 and Halo, Mobile Forces is hopelessly \'outgunned.\' I really don\'t think that this game is meant to play in that ballpark, though. You see not all of us come home and fire up a 2.8 gig P4 with GeForce 4 Ti technology. For many it\'s just not in the budget. So what are these folks going play? Only in that instance will my conscience allow me to recommend Mobile Forces.

This title has many of the building blocks for a decent FPS, but for some reason none of them are pulled off gracefully. I\'m not a fan of shooters lacking a story either. Mobile Forces is the multiplayer option sliced out of a complete game. Yes, there are missions within each level, but they fall way short of those found in, say, a Medal of Honor title. Of course there are other games that lack a great storyline, like the Unreal Tournament series, but you have to understand that Unreal makes up for it through intense graphical prowess and good weapon/character depth. Mobile Forces has none of these.

Graphically, Mobile Forces hovers in mediocrity. Characters are basically divided into two groups: the guys wearing blue uniforms and the guys wearing black ones. The weapons are represented faithfully, but then again how hard is it to render a pistol? The graphics are not terrible, though. Some games\' graphics prove to be a hindrance, but Mobile Forces does deliver without slowdown. The vehicles are presented nicely as well, each with its own distinctive appearance.

Audibly, Mobile Forces gets the job done. The firearms produce loud and realistic sounds. You\'ll hear bots taunting each other as well as expressions of their frustration. There is no musical score worth mentioning, though.

Mobile Forces does handle control well on foot and behind the wheel. A lot of the fun in this title is found when running over opponents in a Hummer. The vehicles handle well and don\'t require much orientation, thus keeping the action to a maximum. Each weapon has a dual function, which is easily a right-click away. The interface is painfully simple, offering no chance to get confused. Each gun is assigned a number, \'nuff said. Ammo boxes are spread out over the levels where you\'ll refill. Upon discovery, players need only to push a button then quickly mash the number of the gun they desire, not exactly novel, but not difficult either.

So let\'s talk a bit more about the vehicles of Mobile Forces. The FPS aspect of the game is average at best, but the vehicular aspect of combat will hold gamers a bit longer. Players have the opportunity to jump in a dune buggy, Hummer, freight truck, or APC (Armored Personnel Carrier). All are equipped to carry at least one other passenger, so you\'ll always get at least some cover. While the buggy is fast and agile, it doesn\'t do a great job of protecting its passengers. Both the driver and gunner are exposed to sniper fire. Next in line is the Hummer, or \"Humma\" as the game puts it. The Humma is the all around assault machine of choice. It has decent speed and can carry up to three of your gun-toting buddies. The driver is more protected, but the game points out that a patient sniper can still rain on your parade. Also the Humma is equipped with large tires to get over obstacles, but those tires can be shot out. Next in line is the army freight truck, the motel on wheels. This vehicle can house a driver and four other passengers, making it a hard vehicle to flank. Lastly there is the tank-like APC. This baby is invulnerable to bullets and can take several rocket hits before it folds, perfect for storming a base, but not for the racetrack.

We\'ve already addressed the mediocre nature of this game, but there are some problems that go beyond. The biggest of these is the weird balance of weapon power. You can be shot multiple times at close range with a shotgun and escape, but after a couple bursts of fire from the assault rifle you\'re toast. I had to shoot an opponent four times in the head with a sniper rifle to bring him down. This will frustrate gamers quite a bit. Imagine plugging a guy four times in the head only to die when he turns around and shoots you a couple times with his rifle. Sniping is nerfed in this game. Players will never be taken unawares. If you\'re wondering where the sniper is hiding, just follow the bright red targeting laser coming from that tower. Precision shooting is not rewarded.

This game took quite a time for me to label. It doesn\'t really \"stink\" per say, but it doesn\'t belong with the big boys of the FPS genre. So where exactly does Mobile Forces fit in? If you are a fan of the genre, but you lack the hardware to push a game like Unreal 2003 or Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, then Mobile Forces is for you. It doesn\'t have any flashy special effects or deep, grueling gameplay, but it does carry several fundamentals of the FPS genre. It is a game tailored for multiplayer scenarios, so it\'s perfect for the net. Please upgrade soon, though, because Mobile Forces is just a small taste of what the industry has to offer.