Raven Squad: Hidden Dagger

by Southpeak

Product Features

• Featuring the best of both worlds, Raven Squad has core FPS and RTS gameplay combined, for a new type of experience
• A multiplayer co-operative campaign that allows players to take control of a squad and play through the entire game with a friend online
• Multiple solutions to every conflict - every battle can play out differently and be resolved in many different ways
• Set in the Amazon in the year 2011, players will experience lush jungle visuals, haunting ambient sounds, changes in the weather, and an enemy in their home element
• 8 characters with their own unique backgrounds, personalities, behaviors, weapons and skills Players can order their squads into vehicles and take the wheel in first-person mode

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0016NRS96
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches ; 4 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: August 25, 2009
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,623 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Platform: Xbox 360

Raven Squad is a tactical action game set in the Amazonian jungles that blends a first person shooter (FPS) experience with the command and overview advantages of a tactical real-time strategy (RTS) with dominantly story driven objectives. The player can solve each tactical situation using his own combination of the two genres either by himself or cooperatively with a friend.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother -- it's not worth it, October 2, 2009

By 

Kody Boye "Horror Author" (Idaho) - See all my reviews

= Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Raven Squad (Video Game)

When the only reason you want to pick up, rent, try or buy a game is the fact that it has a new `revolutionary feature' of its genre, it's a surefire sign that the game is most likely going to suck.

Raven Squad: Operation Hidden Dagger takes place several decades in the future, after a global financial incident has crippled many of the world's foreign, third-world countries. Because of this, guerilla factions are warring between one another, claiming territories of their own through terrorism and violence. This is what the game centers around--an event that, supposedly, should lead the player into an exciting first-person shooter.

To put it simply, I wasn't paying much attention to the story. The voice acting, the lack of a clearer, more defined visualization of what was happening (i.e, the loading screen,) and the cut scenes do nothing to enhance the story. The graphics, while not bad, look like something that could have come out of a final run of Xbox, Gamecube of Playstation 2 games. You should expect more when loading up a 360 games graphics-wise when they're so far ahead with their technology.

The combat, in a nutshell, varies between the levels and how you have to complete the mission. The first `tutorial' level takes place primarily in first-person mode, but soon switches over to the tactical, RTS-styled gameplay halfway through the level. First-person mode leaves nothing to be desired due to the fact that the game has so many flaws. Your team's A.I is so stupid that, at times, they won't even shoot enemies that are coming by them, nor will they attempt to take cover unless you yourself are near it. They follow you around like dogs and expect you to take care of them most of the time. The same problem happens in RTS mode, where, in normal, well-structured games, the units are able to defend themselves. Sadly, though, this doesn't work. Repeatedly clicking of enemies or cover is necessary to complete the missions without dying over and over.

The voice acting and animation is... subpar, to say the least. Mouth movements don't look like mouth movements, the voice acting is too load or sounds too much like voice acting in parts, and animation is clumsy. Enemies run/act the same, your team shifts around and acts the same way, and idle animations are repeated over and over again. Graphics, like I mentioned before, are bad. Even the weapons--which should be a quality part of a FPS--appear to be no more than wooden models or something you would find in a children's toystore.

PROS -

- The RTS, while not exciting, is better than the FPS mode.

Cons -

- Bad graphics and animations leave the player wanting more.

- A.I. Your teammates are about as smart as the average housedog and will do nothing but follow you around, only shooting when you shoot at something (or, in RTS, until you click on the enemy.) Enemy A.I is about as intelligent as you are, so it's basically a lose/win situation.

- Story. The story leaves nothing to be desired. The bad voice acting, cutscenes and lack of more engaging visuals on loading screens makes for a boring story experience.

- Combat. What should be the central and most entertaining post of this game falls short in the fact that killing enemies is extremely difficult. A shot to the head usually kills someone, right? Well, not in this game--at least, not always. Multiple shots are required to kill one enemy.

- Environment. Like the graphics, the environment could be better done, and could feature more interaction. Houses are not destructible, even when hit with a rocket launcher or a bomb; trees, plants and rocks do not react to your presence, and lighting does not reflect off your weapons or characters (at least, as far as I could see.)

I would've given this game more of a chance were it not for the unbearable amount of things wrong or underdone with it. The fact that I made it through three-and-a-half levels was amazing enough. A FPS game should be engaging in combat, which it isn't, and an RTS should feature more strategy than simply moving units from point A to point B and killing characters. Special commands are extremely difficult to use, combat is frustrating, and the A.I is unbearable.

I give this game a two out of five, if only because I managed to make it through the first three levels. Don't rent it, don't buy it, and definitely don't consider giving it to a friend--they probably won't be your friend anymore.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better then I expected., July 11, 2010

By 

Jeffery L. Shearer "xbox360junkie78" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Raven Squad (Video Game)

I am a hardcore gamer. When I seen this for the good price I bought it. I usually like buying games cheap that have gotten bad reviews dont ask me why. Its not as bad as everyone says it is. I have been having alot of fun with it. It is co-op however Ive never found anyone online with it. Gameplay is different than Im use to. just take it for what it is. If you can get it for a good price buy it.4/5 stars.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is just pure garbage, June 2, 2010

By 

Daniel Goodwin (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Raven Squad (Video Game)

I rented this game because i saw a trailer months before its release and it seemed really cool. i was looking forward to something new in the FPS genre. this game tries to have a hybrid of FPS and RTS games. now let me just say their attempt fails miserably. the concept of the game was nice but i wish the developers spent more time on it.
Pros:
- nice graphics
- decent environment (jungle)
Cons:
- terrible controls
- enemy AI is the worst I have ever seen. they just stand there a lot looking at you
- the voice acting is so bad, its funny
- you can play the whole game in either FPS or RTS mode because its ridiculously easy, even on the hard setting
- the game play is very predictable and boring. its just go to the next opening in the jungle, shoot some bad guys, keep walking.
I'm so glad i rented this game. it has to be the worst game i have ever played. this review seems harsh but you can try the game out for yourself and you'll see my point. i have no idea how this game won best of E3, they probably just put the logo on the cover to get attention or didn't let people play it at E3. there are better games that are sort of a FPS/RTS games like Rise & Fall, or Mount & Blade. i would love to play a sequel if Evolved made a real attempt because the concept was my interest point in the game

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