Fuse (Video Game)
Amanda Dyar
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Published by EA Games
Developed by Insomniac
Rated M for Mature
Available for Xbox 360 (reviewed) and PS3
The third-person shooter Fuse features four distinctive characters who will shoot it out over six campaigns. Players slowly learn about the game’s operatives over the divided sections of the campaigns and more about their unique weapons. Izzy’s Shattergun can crystallize enemies, Dalton can protect the group with his Magshield, Jacob’s Arcshot fires off incendiary bolts and Naya causes enemies to implode with her Warp Rifle. Fuse features an array of badass weaponry which adds a great deal of entertainment to the game’ combat.
The story takes place in the not so distant future were a classified government agency has been trying to uncover the powers of an alien energy sourced entitled Fuse. A rouge regime called Raven also wants to get their hands on the element and has attempted to steal it. In an order to stop them, the CIA calls in an independent team called Overstrike 9, to stop Raven from gaining control of Fuse. Now you can take on the role of four agents which include Izzy Sinclair, Dalton Brooks, Jacob Kimble and Naya Deveraux.
The backstory of all of the characters are revealed over the course of the game. You learn about each member of Overstrike 9 and what they used to do before they chose to protect Fuse alongside some of their darker moments. The fact the game goes into these finer details adds more intrigue to the game’s unoriginal plot of just stopping some bad guys from gaining control of a super powerful weapon that no one should have had in the first place.
As the team starts to investigate the theft, they uncover xenotech super weapons powered by Fuse, and start out on an adventure to reclaim all of the Fuse elements before they are used to take over the world. The game features tight controls and satisfying gameplay as you gun down enemies left and right through intricately designed environments. Players will travel across varied environments such as mountains, jungles, and space stations that keep the game interesting and fresh. Fuse attempts to stand out from other first and third person shooters on the market by having weapons specifically tied to certain members of the squad. While you have access to your usual weapons such as shotguns and sniper rifles–the real fun comes from customizing your character’s special weapon.
Fuse is more fun with friends and co-op offers the chance to reap the rewards and perks of team combos. Strong teamwork is a crucial element of the game and you can still accomplish this in single player through utilizing the “leap” ability. This ability allows you to take control of any of the four members of Overstrike at anytime within the mission. Players can unlock special skills for each character by playing them which benefits the team as a whole.
The game was initially more humor based, but the change in the disposition and aesthetics really hurt the final product. Although the visuals are adequate, they lack those differentiating aspects that make them their own. Another thing that we noticed is that the game’s AI are terrible–not only are they slow but they repeatedly run into your line of fire. Fuse could of been an above-average shooter but these few elements dramatically hindered its full potential. The game’s AI will have you enlisting friends to join you throughout the campaigns just to avoid these headaches.
Fuse is an overall enjoyable game and the horde mode “Echelon” really adds to that. The game really had me caring about my team and laughing my ass off at their entertaining banter. The eccentric arsenal of weapons, engaging gameplay and great co-op modes makes Fuse a solid game. If you enjoy a good sci-fi shooter then this game is for you, but if you can’t look past the game’s flaws, then you may be better up renting Fuse first.
Fuse can now be purchased for Xbox 360 and PS3 for $59.99. Fuse is rated M by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence & Strong Language. To learn more, visit the official Fuse website.
Game Features
3 1/2 out of 5
Categorized:Horror Gaming Reviews
