The game’s setup is one of linear plot missions, often issued by the Mayor of Newhaven, a sultry femme fatale with ‘Two Face’ scarring down her face, and a raft of side-quests that see you clearing out alien caves, searching for valuable kit or dealing with troublesome bandits. You’ll be accompanied by an odd lady called Lilith who’s become a smidge infected by alien powers beyond our ken, a hunter called Mordecai who’s turned a local beast into a loyal pet, and a man with a computer in his brain called Roland - much like Daryl from oft-forgotten ’80s flick D.A.R.Y.L. only with guns (and that’s the last comparison).

In many ways this is a slight variant on the STALKER model - albeit without quite as much AI cleverness or that strange tendency to swamp you with fear in the manner of Douglas Adams’ Total Perspective Vortex (OK, that really was the last comparison).

With four player co-op, an intriguing mix of scripting and random encounters, chasing bugs across vast alien plains, a bazillion different weapons (seriously: a bazillion - ridiculous but true), it’s a riveting opportunity to take the FPS to a new and interesting place. But why call a newfound planet that you’re digging holes in ‘Pandora’? Do these future-colonials know nothing of Greek mythology?

Jan 24, 2008