Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers [PS2]

The original Full Spectrum Warrior was a rarity in video games in that it brought something totally new to the table. It was a squad-based military title, but about combat strategy and giving commands rather than pulling the trigger yourself. Call it a real-time strategy title for the console gamer. THQ and developer Pandemic are deep into development on the sequel, Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers. We visited with creative director Will Stahl, as he took us through the follow-up and showed us a plethora of new things Ten Hammers has to offer.

The main difference in this sequel is its level or organic content when compared to the original Full Spectrum Warrior. Stahl says, "The first game was more of a turn-based game at heart; Ten Hammers is more of an action game because the enemies are so much more aggressive now."

That's because enemy actions are no longer scripted; they can go where they like and do what they want. You'll run into enemies that can't be merely flanked or grenaded, and those that will actually flank you. It really increases the pace of Ten Hammers, and keeps you on your toes throughout. You can't even count on enemy placement and numbers when you play a level, because they change every time you load up.

Of course, you need some new tricks of your own to combat these tougher adversaries. This starts with the types of command you have over your troops. Stahl says, "Fans of the first game liked it when you had more units than the standard two units to control. They liked when we introduced special units like snipers; so we have a lot more things like that in the game. We give you more things to control, and a lot more ways to control them."

For example, you can now split up one unit. This way, you can cover both sides of a corner or entryway, instead of having two of your soldiers sitting around twiddling their thumbs. One mission we saw gave you command over an informant brandishing an AK-47. These types of characters aren't as skilled as your disciplined troops and are more likely to die, but can still turn the tides of battle under a good commander.