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Left Behind: Eternal Forces

Score: 80%
ESRB: Teen
Publisher: Left Behind Games
Developer: Left Behind Games
Media: CD/2
Players: 1 (2 - 8 online)
Genre: Real-Time Strategy/ Action/ Family

Graphics & Sound:

Being a game that likely won’t hit the mainstream gaming community the same way that many others will, Left Behind Games’ Left Behind: Eternal Forces may be looked at as a very low-budget title in the graphics department. Player models and environments are quite basic compared to that of today’s expectations, but as a first release, the developers are at least on the right track. It’s funny, however, because the intro movie actually looks pretty good. It’s only once you get into the gaming environment that you realize that Eternal Forces lacks graphical quality.

And while the graphics could certainly use an overhaul, the audio is pretty consistent and comes through with grace. Whether you are listening to the instructions during the tutorials or general in-game checkpoint information, or you are hearing all of the commotion during the in-game antics, Left Behind’s sound fx and voiceovers are quite well done. Where they lack the bigger budget quality is sometimes in the presentation, unfortunately.


Gameplay:

In a battle for supremacy on earth, it is good vs. evil in its final showdown. Left Behind is based on the novels written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. Just as within the book series, Left Behind: Eternal Forces begins after the second coming of Christ. All of the Christian believers on earth have disappeared without a trace, and have left this planet to be with God in Heaven. However, not everyone is taken, and those remaining are the Left Behind. Among those still on earth, there are those who follow Satan, and those who were not true believers, but who now believe and want to right their wrongs with God in order to enter into Heaven when they pass on to the afterlife.

Since the books are based on the prophecies told in the Bible, the game thus loosely follows suit. As a believer, it is your job to recruit and build your army of Christians to counter the evils that possess the world. Left Behind: Eternal Forces is a mixed bag of genres, in a way. In one respect, and at its base and view, it is mostly an RTS. But when you take a deeper look, you may see other subtleties that point elsewhere. The base of the game has you not only building the Christian population, but also needing to build banks, training camps, and even food marts to help feed your followers.

As you progress, you’ll be given instructions as to what to do next. You’ll also be able to see your objectives at any time, to try to plan ahead, although the game tends to be a bit linear, even with the secondary objectives present. But just like in the real world, the key to the game is in keeping your flock’s spirits high. There are three levels of spirit, which are basically good, neutral, and evil. If your main characters’ spirits drop too low, the game is over. And if the spirit of any of your team members falls, they become neutral and are open to the evil that is around them, so you’ll have to act quickly and recruit them once again.


Difficulty:

Left Behind: Eternal Forces has sort of a mixed bag in the difficulty department. While the game itself isn’t necessarily that hard, paying close attention to the spirits of your flock of Christians can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, you can save your game at any point, so saving often can avoid some frustration, especially when first starting the game and learning the ups and downs.

Game Mechanics:

Controlling your characters in Left Behind: Eternal Forces isn’t difficult once you get into the game, but the learning curve is certainly a bit steeper than some non-gamers will possibly be able to enjoy. There is a tutorial to walk you through the ins and outs of Left Behind, and it does help with the information needed to control the goings on in the game, but there is something to be said about just getting into the heart of the game to make things more clear. It’s almost like the tutorial tries to teach too much in too short of a time.

I do have to say that Eternal Forces wasn’t without its problems. Numerous occasions presented themselves where I had graphical issues that lead to having to terminate the program. To be fair, my system is at the border for the requirements, but I had to be mighty careful about clicking too fast in certain areas.

However, Left Behind: Eternal Forces is definitely one of the better Biblical faith-based games to ever hit the market, but some gamers may get a bit bored with it in a short amount of time. Still, if you know someone who games that could benefit from hearing about the apocalypse, Eternal Forces may be a way to bring Jesus into someone’s life.


-Woody, GameVortex Communications
AKA Shane Wodele

Minimum System Requirements:



Windows XP SP1 Pentium IV 2.0GHz processor or faster; 512MB RAM; Minimum 4GB hard disk space; 8x CD/DVD-ROM drive or faster; 32MB DirectX9.0c compatible GeForce 4 MX440 or ATI Radeon 8500 video card or higher; DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card; TCP/IP for LAN or 56Kbps modem (2 player games) or Cable/DSL modem (3-8 player games) and an Internet service provider account required for Internet multiplayer; Microsoft compatible keyboard and mouse
 

Test System:



Windows XP SP2 AMD Athlon 2700+; 1.5GB RAM; 16x CD/DVD Combo Drive; DirectX 9.0c; ATI Radeon 9700 Pro All-In-Wonder

Sony PlayStation Portable Snoopy vs. the Red Baron Sony PlayStation 2 Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles

 
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