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Twitch: We usually only review console games, but since Midway is forever postponing the release date of In Cold Blood for the Playstation, we decided to tough it out and use our computer to play this game. Spaz: We usually only use our computer for educational projects like research for school reports. Twitch: Yeah, that assignment I noticed you researching on women's crotchless lingerie looked to be quite informative. Spaz: Uh, yeah. Anyhow, whoever wrote the press release for In Cold Blood obviously never played the game as comparisons to James Bond's character and high-tech gizmos are way off base. Twitch: Actually, In Cold Blood is more of a cross between a John le Carre Cold War spy novel and a Tom Clancy action thriller. John Cord, the hero of the game, is a British Secret Servant whose only weapon is a revolver. On his wrist, similar to Dick Tracy's famous watch, he wears a Remora, a portable computer that allows him to link with any computer in the world. This is a far cry from the advanced weaponry and globe-trotting sexual escapades of James Bond. But this under-reliance on weaponry is part of what makes In Cold Blood work. It is a game based on wit and stealth, not brute force. A scenario like this always needs a worthy madman, and our villain this time is Dmitri Nagarov, self-appointed ruler of Volgia, a small country in Russia. In a story that is (cliché alert!) ripped from today's headlines, Nagarov is using ethnic cleansing to increase his stronghold and expand the boundaries of his rule. To divert attention from his scheme, Nagarov has secretly planned to start a world war between China and the United States using a new radar ghosting technology that shows fake armies preparing to attack. Enter John Cord, British Secret Service Agent extraordinaire, who soon discovers the full scope of Nagarov's scheme. Spaz: Like any good spy novel, In Cold Blood is a game of intrigue, double agents, and double crosses. A superb cast of characters makes you care about the outcome, and Cord even manages to find a girlfriend along the way--minus the obligatory bedroom scene. Twitch: Though at first glance In Cold Blood seems large and imposing in scope, it is broken into eight self-contained missions that make the action and sleuthing more manageable. Each mission presents a goal--rescue a fellow agent, destroy a reactor, etc.--that advances the storyline and build upon each other to raise the stakes. The story is well-written and involving, and to be honest we would accept no less from Charles Cecil, the creator of the Broken Sword series. The explosive conclusion will have your heart racing as you must battle time and Nagarov's henchmen to prevent nuclear warfare. While all of this is involving, the suspension of reality is often broken by the necessity to repeat some scenarios over and over. There are too many situations that require you to search an entire area so that you are aware of the location of human and robots guards before you determine your course of action. While this is acceptable on a gaming level, it would be unrealistic in a real-world situation and detracts some from the game. Spaz: And to further confuse our readers, and me, there are too many situations that are too detailed and require too much knowledge. Many doors must be scanned with your Remora before they are opened to check for guards on the other side. Entire levels must be committed to memory so that you can plan an escape route from robots. An auto-mapping feature would have been a great addition to ICB. This is without a doubt a game for patient gamers who do not require instant gratification. For those who, like me, require a little bloodletting to keep the juices flowing, there are situations that will require you to shoot your way to freedom, not to mention a few huge explosions as your trigger incendiary devices. In situations requiring stealth, Cord is master of a physical move similar to Spock's Vulcan Nerve Pinch that renders foes unconscious, if not dead. Twitch: While we both loved the sleuthing and action elements of ICB, this is not a game for adventure gamers who enjoy a leisurely pace--there are numerous timed sequences, and Cord can die often. Using your gun, though, is a breeze since the auto-aim feature is excellent. There is an option to use a gamepad for control, but we opted for the keyboard as it seemed to offer better control. Spaz: Be with us next time as we review Breakfast at Tiffanys, the newest Truman Capote novel to be adapted for gamers ... Twitch: Dude, In Cold Blood isn't based on the Capote novel, and I seriously doubt if any of our readers have even heard of him. Spaz: Heard of who? Twitch: Truman. Spaz: Yeah, I saw that movie with Jim Carrey, it was awesome. I didn't know it was based on the author of In Cold Blood. Twitch: It's not ... you knucklehead. Truman was a ... oh, forget it. Spaz: I'm sooooo confused ... Final Grade: B+ System Requirements:
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