Shellshock: Nam '67

Shellshock: Nam '67
Developer(s)	Guerrilla Games
Publisher(s)	Eidos Interactive
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Release date(s)	EU: September 3, 2004[1][2][3] NA: September 14, 2004[1][2][3] EU: June 6, 2012 (PSN)[1]
Genre(s)	Third-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player

Shellshock: Nam '67 is a third-person shooter video game that is set during the Vietnam War in which the player takes control of a newly drafted U.S. soldier. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Xbox platforms on September 3, 2004 in Europe^[1][2][3] and September 14, 2004 in North America.^[1][2][3] It was developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Eidos Interactive. A sequel was released in 2009 entitled Shellshock 2: Blood Trails.

Plot

The game starts in January 1967 in Saigon, South Vietnam. A CH-47 Chinook containing the protagonist, and other G.I.s, lands at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in southern Saigon. The protagonist, along with his squad mate, Private Kowalski, are chosen by a CO to participate in an air assault on a Viet Cong encampment within Kon Tum province. The protagonist and Kowalski are put under the command of Lieutenant O'Brien along with another G.I. nicknamed Short Timer. As the protagonist and his squad proceed through the area, a friendly fire incident, involving flawed mortar coordinates, forces another G.I. named Tomkins, to join the squad. Along with the help of a special operations squad made up of Ramirez, Tick Tock and Eyeball, they help the protagonist and the others clear out the VC encampment. The encampment is soon after converted to a firebase which serves as a headquarters for the protagonist and his unit.

Soon after, the protagonist's squad is tasked with investigating VC activity in a nearby village. The squad is also charged with finding a journalist who had recently gone missing in the village. After learning about the dangers of booby traps, the squad then proceeds to the village. However, it becomes very clear that the villagers are aiding the VC when the squad is ambushed in the rice paddies just outside the village. After clearing out the VC, the protagonist begins the task of searching for weapon caches within the village. After finding numerous hidden weapons and supplies, the squad begins searching for the missing journalist, and shortly thereafter find him being held hostage by several VC. They jumped to the next task of seizing an old French fort being used as prisoner of war camp, after fighting through the valley entrance, clearing out multiple bunkers after an ineffective napalm strike failed to do, they assault the fort, the protagonist explores the basement and finds the P.O.Ws, after freeing them from their cells, he discovered one tied to chair with obvious signs of torture, he tells the protagonist that the N.V.A has planted explosives in the basement in an attempt to demolish the fort, he escapes with seconds to spare. The squad is then given orders to defend the fort from the N.V.A and Viet Cong. The enemy attacks later that night, Tompkins is sniped at the start of the attack, O'Brien is hacked to death with machetes in full view of the protagonist's squad, the attackers are repelled after Special Forces arrive. The next morning the protagonist is told to report to Ramirez and joins special forces. They take on subversive, rescue, and assault missions. the protagonist's final mission is to defeat General Diem, the game's main antagonist. He succeeded and delivered the General Diem's severed head to the base. Afterwards, the protagonist's chopper is shot down en route to China Lake, the protagonist escapes from NVA captivity and helps fend off a massive attack on base camp by both NVA and VC forces, an air strike is called in, leaving the protagonist and Monty, a friendly South Vietnamse soldier, as the only survivors.

Reception

Shellshock: Nam '67 was met with mixed reviews. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the PlayStation 2 version 59.78% and 58/100,^[4][7] the Xbox version 59.42% and 58/100^[5][8] and the PC version 52.30% and 50/100.^[6][9]

Reviewing the PlayStation 2 version IGN found the game to have 'many faults' and criticised the presentation of war as tasteless.^[10] Eurogamer also noted that the game was "a trivial representation of a bloody conflict for our personal entertainment" but thought that "when it hits the spot it's briefly thrilling" and admired the creators' ambition in at least attempting to make a game which was not bland and sanitised.^[11]

References

External links

• Official website