Summary
It's not that bad!
The Good
At first, releasing a DOS-based, Build engine game at a time when games like
Quake II,
Unreal, and
Half-Life already came out seems like a really dumb decision. But developers like TNT Team need the money to buy graphically advanced engines like those used in the aforementioned games, and often release outdated games like
NAM to make that money for developing a more graphically advanced game. Even if they
could afford a more graphically advanced engine, though, isn't the gameplay what matters the most? Should we really bash a game if it's actually fun to play?
No, we shouldn't. But let's put that whole graphics thing aside for the moment.
NAM is a first-person shooter that takes place in the Vietnam War. Since first-person shooters have been known to immerse the player into the game thanks to their realistic first-person viewpoint,
NAM is probably the first game to make the player truly feel like they're actually in the war. Although there are some arcade-ish elements, like running over items to pick them up, everything else is completely realistic. This isn't just a "go through the level, shoot everything that moves, and find the switch to the next level"
Doom clone. Even with some fellow soldiers by your side, you actually have to take cover and avoid things like airstrikes, booby traps, and landmines, as running through the levels
Doom-style will get you killed really easily. Like I said earlier, the graphics are a bit outdated, but they're actually pretty good for a Build engine game, especially in the SVGA modes.
The Bad
Nothing really. Since this game is actually fun to play, I'll ignore the outdated Build technology.
The Bottom Line
Just like you can't judge a book by it's cover, you can't judge a game by its graphics. Although
NAM was released about a year or two too late, it's actually a fun and intense game that feels just like the Vietnam War.
