FireStarter

A few years down the road, we��ll be jacking directly into computers. Yay! That��s the setup in FireStarter. As you��re playing some hot new PC game of the future, a virus strikes and traps you in the game world.

The game is cooking up some serious action with several unique, specialized characters��including a futuristic espionage agent, a cop, a cyber gunslinger, a cyborg, a mutant, and a marine��that you can arm with 20 different weapons.

Beyond the 16 single-player levels you fight through, there��s a good deal of replayability with a couple multiplayer modes. More important, the game looks surprisingly sweet considering its $20 price tag. Here��s hoping FireStarter lights up better than Will Rock did. Within the next month, keep your eyes peeled on the bargain rack for this promising Russian import. Be a little forgiving if the instruction manual and dialogue translations are subpar��the game shouldn��t be.

The Word: Lukewarm

Publisher: Hip Interactive

Developer: GSC Game World

Genre: Shooter

Release Date: Q1 2004

Copyright © 2003 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in Computer Gaming World.