Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers doesn’t make too many changes from the original formula, so veterans should feel comfortable. If you’re new to the series, jumping into
Ten Hammers is doable, but will require a bit of practice. Although it may look like an FPS, you never actually pull the trigger during combat nor do you directly control any squad members. Instead, you act as a logistical commander and issue orders to the squad based on the situation.
A few improvements have been made to help make the experience more than a simple retread. The number of squads under your control has been expanded to four, giving you more flexibility with your decisions. This flexibility is furthered with the ability to split your teams up into smaller groups, allowing more options. Splitting your teams into smaller groups is risky though, since you want to send a lot of fire towards an enemy in order to limit their options.
Vehicles have also been added into the mix, as has the option of calling down air strikes if you need one.
Compared to the original, Ten Hammers feels rather bland. The story, which involves a UN peace-keeping force tasked with diffusing a situation in the war-torn country of Zekistan, feels like it is stuck in the background. There isn’t much intrigue or major plot developments to keep you interested, sucking away some of the game’s enjoyment.
Multiplayer, on the other hand, is a much more enjoyable experience. Both Co-op and 8-player competitive modes are available over Live. Co-op games are solid and work well, provided you have a good group to play with. Competitive matches, on the other hand, are good but may not appeal to everyone’s tastes.
