Determinance: Sword-on-Sword Combat Company: Mode 7 Games Determinance is a close-combat dueling game that will pit you against one, two or three opponents in a free-form sword combat scenario. The arenas consist of large, open areas where you and your opponents fly around, hunting each other down. When you come in contact with each other, you will fly together and swipe your swords around, either blocking your opponents' attacks or trying to hit them yourself. The most interesting aspect of Determinance is the way you use your sword. For the most part, you will be swiping your mouse back and forth, tracing large arcs in front of your opponent. Your sword leaves a tail behind it that can still harm your enemy. But if you use your sword too often, the tail will go away temporarily while your sword recharges. Being defensive in Determinance requires you to use your middle mouse button to re-angle your blade so that it is as perpendicular to your opponent's attack as possible, and then swinging your blade at the right moment. Since battles will typically become one-on-one (even if there are several enemies on the field), you will typically fly to each other, swipe your swords, back off and charge again, forcing you to make constant decisions about whether you should attack or defend, and if you defend, how should you position your blade. Though Determinance seems to have a one-player campaign mode where you go through a series of enemies, this has more of a tutorial feel to it and the real work comes when you go to play others online. There, you won't be faced with A.I. doing the same basic tactics over and over again. Instead, you will be dueling against real people from around the world -- and that is always more interesting. -J.R. Nip, GameVortex Communications AKA Chris Meyer Related Links: Determinance Official Website