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Bandits: Phoenix Rising!: Bandits: Phoenix Rising! Preview
Company: Tri Synergy

Bandits: Phoenix Rising!, soon to be released in the US, is eye candy to the tenth degree. Every last bit of detail in this game does not go untouched. A strong graphical and aural presentation mixed with a witty and humorous storyline thus far, Bandits appears in top shape. Landscapes reminiscent of Mad Max place gamers in unusual surroundings as they direct weapon-clad combat cars through vast wastelands filled with enemies and obstacles. The goal here? Shoot everything, and get to the check-points in one piece to end your mission.

Featuring an interesting storyline, Bandits doesn't come off as just another wasteless shoot 'em up action game. An astounding amount of attention is given to the characters in the game, which progress the storyline through simple one-liners and hollering while driving through the barren wastelands. Fennec and Rewdalf, leaders of the Wolfpack gang, command your vehicle on their materialistic quest to obtain the gold behind the walls of Jericho City. As they drive through cities and landscapes, their paths cross inhabitants, scavengers and bandits, who add color to the story and progress the plot. A lot of humorous communication comes between Fennec and Rewdalf, who are complete opposites at times.

Missions vary in their complexity. Some missions require attacking trading posts or dueling enemy vehicles, while others have you assisting in escorting a truck convoy through enemy territory. Ultimately, while every mission usually has you destroying everything in sight, they are diverse enough to keep things moving.

The most remarkable aspect of Bandits: Phoenix Rising! are the graphics. Even though the landscapes are described as barren and desolate, there is not one ounce of Bandits that appears dry or unrealistic. Settings span from deep, dry canyons to massive snow piles upon rocky cliffs. The terrain also reacts to the surrounding warfare, leaving craters after explosions, and taking as much of a beating as the vehicles. Speaking of which, the vehicles in Bandits are the true eye openers. They don't look anything like real cars, combining the designs of modern dune buggies with artillery tanks. Driving these cars in the post-apocalyptic world of Bandits is quite imaginative and makes for an extremely eye opening experience. Bandits: Phoenix Rising! looks like it is set up for a solid addition to the action genre. Some techniques used in Bandits may be new to the genre, but Bandits pulls them off seamlessly and should make for an exciting title when it is released.


-==Boy, GameVortex Communications
AKA Kyle Prestenback
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