Choices with consequences and twists in the story that other games fail to do. Actually play the game and not get butthurt over a scene that could be prevented by your choices.

I gave it a whirl when it was on sale for $5. While the gameplay was mediocre like you said, it was worth the ride. Some set pieces were really cool. But like anyone who loved it will tell you, it's all in how it makes you feel. When YOUR decision -blam!-s everything up, you feel it. When faced with two options, I picked the one that made clearing out enemies a TON easier. And I ended up accidentally killing innocent people because of my laziness and worrying about myself instead of others. And because of it, I felt bad. But I liked it. It's one of the few games that make you feel things besides just fun. A different choice in the game had me sit the controller down and debate which option to take for at least ten minutes. I'd say that's worth the money to buy it, especially how cheap it is now. Trust me, the story and every part about it is worth it. It keeps you guessing, gets you emotional, and I feel like I really learned something from the game. Play it. No it's not the best GAME ever, but it's a hell of an EXPERIENCE, which is what you should expect out of it. And it's just a well-polished game.

Pseudo-intellectuals.

It actually got good reviews, mostly in the 7 - 8 range. And it's essentially a giant deconstruction of the modern warfare shooter by showing what would really happen to a soldier if he committed the crimes you would see in such a game (PTSD beyond repair). Plus,the gameplay isn't bad, just average, which also serves to disconnect the game from the grim reality of war. It shows you just how hellish war really is by making everything feel so off that it makes you uncomfortable rather than empowered like other shooters do. If you think about it from that perspective, it's an excellent example of just what games can really achieve beyond simple entertainment.

[quote]Please, enlighten me.[/quote] No. You play the game yourself.

Being familiar with both Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now, there were few surprises in the story. I do like it that they made your character lose his mind and put you in his version of reality. It was a bit startling to see what was actually going on later. I hadn't seen anything quite like that before in a game, at least not as well done. It also had several endings, which was rare in FPS games at the time. Overall, it wasn't anything special or unique in literature or movies, but it was something new for video games and introduced a new generation to a classic tale of madness and the horrors of war. I don't think it's worthy of any cult fandom, but it's definitely worth playing if you find it in a bargain bin somewhere. Especially if you're unfamiliar with the overarching plot.

Original characters, original story, fantastic story, superb gameplay, legitimately difficult, rather beautiful environments, very detailed.. Why shouldn't it be so highly praised? Is war supposed to be good?

Boy you got to actually play it to know why it's good. Everyone, from the people you shoot has a story behind them. Everything you do has an cost behind it. The game essentially lays out some candy then yanks you on chain when you try to get it and says "wow, I thought you were going on a diet?!". Also the game has an insane amount of detail, over time your gear starts to wear down and so do the crews moral. Also the loading screens, they go from telling you info that you usually ignore, to straight out this