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Review: Bet On Soldier

by Nick Haywood on 29 September 2005, 17:50

Tags: Bet On Soldier (PC), Digital Jesters, FPS

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qadp6

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Put your money where your mouth is...



You play the part of Nolan Daneworth, a soldier with the WRF who is elevated to the status of an elite soldier and thrust into the world of Bet On Soldier. You differ from the normal grunts in that you are now a mercenary, fighting for profit and racking up the cash with the kills you make. And it’s at this point that I should make it very clear that Bet On Soldier is about cash, moolah, wonga, wad, folding cabbage… whatever you want to call it, money is what it’s all about.

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Unlike pretty much every other FPS out there, a dead enemy won’t leave behind a nice spinny ammo pack to pick up, nor will he handily drop a weapon or a med-kit. Once you’ve despatched a baddie, that’s it, it’s time to move on… he won’t leave anything for you to scavenge. What you do get for capping him is cash in your account, and the more creative you are in wasting bad guys, the more money you earn. But before you go off thinking you can splash out on a new Jacuzzi when you get back, think again. Nothing in Bet On Soldier comes for free. Weapons, ammo, armour… these all cost money to maintain and replenish, so you have to think carefully about what to spend and when.

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Health is another area where Bet On Soldier differs from most FPSs out there. You start each mission nice and healthy with rosy cheeks and a spring in your step... but that’s all the health you’ve got, there’s no way to top it up until the mission is over. Fortunately, your armour will absorb all damage (except flames and poison gas) so as long as you keep that repaired, your health shouldn’t suffer… And this adds a nice tactical twist to the game. Do you charge that next group of soldiers knowing they’re defending a repair point and you’ll earn the cash you need for a full refit if you waste them? Or do you backtrack to the last repair point, spend your remaining credits on a bit of armour and then go and face them? And of, course, you need to worry about having enough cash for that weapon upgrade you’d like to get at the end of the mission…hmm.

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