Return Fire 2

The original Return Fire was an inspired (and highly decorated) reinvention of Capture the Flag. Its long-awaited sequel, Return Fire 2, offers a much tougher tour of duty and positive signs of true progress. In a phrase, the game's grown up.

The Dogs of War

Once again, players command multiple war machines, including tanks, helicopters, missile launchers, and jeeps, as well as the recently added PT boats and Harrier jets. Your opponent's flag is hidden somewhere on the island-based terrain; your goal is to find the flag and return it to your base in one piece. RF2 is kind of like heavily armed chess; you have only a set number of vehicles for each mission and must use them wisely to win. Return 2 contains all the original gameplay elements, including refueling depots, jeeps that can traverse water, and multi-layer support for four players on a split screen or sixteen players via a LAN or over the Internet--plus, there's a new airplane dogfight mode.

Front Lines with a View

War never looked so good: RF2's 3D accelerated graphics are clean, smooth, and detailed. The game's all-classical soundtrack is nearly identical to the original's, right down to the Angel/EMI-licensed recordings, which can't be beat for inspiration and mood.

The controls, however, prove to be confusing with a keyboard and incomplete with a gamepad; you'll need a joystick with a throttle control to enjoy this Fire. Also, it would've been nice if RF2 had supported wheel mice for aiming the tank's guns. As it is, getting there is not half the fun. In addition, the cryptic, wordless menus make setting options a chore, even though they were clearly designed to reduce clutter.

War Is Heck

The impressively enhanced Return Fire 2 is ultimately more sophisticated and more mature than its predecessor. The addictive gameplay hasn't been hurt by the 3D overhaul, and if you put in the effort to learn its intricacies, RF2 can be a wild wartime romp--especially against other humans (the computer A.I. will also challenge you). Return Fire 2's not the instant, simple joy that RF fans praised, but maybe that's a good thing. Sometimes, changes are for the better.

The sequel to the console hit Is finally coming to the PlayStation in late summer/early fall this year. The main difference between this one and the first is that Return Fire 2 is in true 3-D. So does the flip over to an "in-the-action" view work?

It's too early to tell, but what we do know is that this sequel puts you in the driver's seat of one of several different vehicles, in an array of locales. The vehicles include: A tank, a jump jet, an attack chopper and a good, old-fashioned Army jeep. Terrains range from a barren, icy tundra to the hot sands of a desert, and most others in between. Also expect a Head-to-head Mode where you can blow up your pals.

The only title sponsored by the US. military returns for a second shot this year. Although not much is known about this upcoming release, it is obvious that Return Fire 2 will be a hit if it includes all the original elements plus some surprises. We suspect more vehicles are going to be added as well as a lot more levels to explore and conquer. There will be more info on this one as it becomes available.

Get ready for another salvo of military mayhem with this sequel to Return Fire. Return Fire II contains all the explosive carnage of the original, but this version also features photorealistic 3D settings, new weapons, and changing weather conditions. You can fight against the computer, a friend, or in a two-player cooperative mode.