Vet Emergency

Vet Emergency hit the GameSpot offices last week and was at one time expected to be in stores before Christmas. But since then we've been able to get our hands on a full copy and have been spending a lot of time in the game and have come away impressed with the game.

And just in case you're still wondering why this game is so hard, here's a quick reminder that the first level of the game is a standard representation of what we could imagine the development team had achieved in the day.

The level in question is a cab where an unknown person is seen wearing a large panoramic helmet (in a futuristic style, we guess) as his father passes and begins wreaking havoc upon your apartment. To prevent you from falling victim to the explosions, you're given the option to avoid damage by shooting barrels or using other means.

Visually the game is nice and polished, thanks to the impressive level design. The game's environments are an impressive combination of urban and rural areas. Of particular note, in the first level we played, is the courtyard of a hotel.

The characters and locations in the game are already as good as the single-player levels we saw at the end of the game, and we were pleased to see that there are enough new faces and actions that even the old enemies have been modeled to accurately depict. In addition, one level we saw, called "San Francisco," was populated with 32 different NPCs. They're all composed of computer-controlled characters who are willing to assist you in your investigation.

The dialogue in the game is very tongue-in-cheek and comments on dialogue we've seen in previous Tomb Raider games. You'll see context-sensitive responses from characters as you're exploring the environments. To solve puzzles, you'll have to knock on walls, jump, and sneak past guards. The game will also include a lock-on feature for the various platforms, which you can use to sneak past enemies, and a similar feature to the lock-on feature that lets you target enemy guards by simply moving your character while in a locked position. In addition, the game's audio will be coming from several sources, including Pandora Tomorrow, the radio-controlled television show that debuted in the first Tomb Raider game. We got a chance to see more of the cutscenes in the game, which are being created in Unreal Engine 3 by Square Enix.

Unreal Engine 3's graphics have been overhauled, and the game will include new particle effects, such as bouncing sparks, blow-darts, and the shimmering water that plays when you're using your shiv. The game will also feature a complex physics model that will let you shatter doors and other objects with highly detailed graphics. The game's physics model will also be reworked for the PSP. The level of detail will be given to different textures, such as grainy water that can be splashed around in midair, high-polygon shaders, and really cool shadows.

The game will contain 16 levels that feature a mix of indoor and outdoor environments, including deserts, tropical beaches, and frozen swamps. As you complete missions in the game, you'll be able to use these environments in new ways. As a result, the missions in the game will have an overall unique feel, since they will focus on different gameplay styles and the way you use them. The game will include several mission types, including a first-person shooter scenario and a stealth mission. In the stealth mission, you'll have access to a number of tools that you can use to complete your missions. The game will have a number of gadgets that you'll be able to use to get in your way, such as tasers, bombs, a remote-controlled helicopter, and a stationary rocket launcher. You'll also be able to use the game's "antihero" gadget to take over a certain part of a level.

The game will feature a number of vehicle sequences, including tanks, helicopters, and even a freeway chase through Siberia. The action in the game will be set during World War II, so you'll see lots of dramatic camera angles. In addition, you'll also get to see a bit of work-in-progress level design for the levels, which will range from simple stealth levels to indoor combat areas. The level we saw took place in a bombed-out London that forced us to fight our way through the rubble of the building. We were also able to check out a level in which you'll have to avoid falling objects by jumping over them. The level culminated in a boss battle against a group of German tanks that began out with a German tank as a battering ram on the back of them. The level played out as a traditional run-and-gun style of gameplay that was engaging and challenging. You'll move in a fixed order by holding the left trigger and aiming with the right.