Multiplayer games are different from single player games, right? They involve extra menu options, character selection, and a separate set of game mechanics and levels, right? Wrong! It looks like Brute Forcebreaks the multiplayer rules. This game takes a unique approach to some of the traditional aspects of multiplayer, and it looks like a good move.
The co-operative multiplayer mode in Brute Force is seamlessly integrated into the game. At any time during asingle player mission, another player can join in, and take over for one of your AI squadmates. If they're all dead, then one will respawn for the new player. The additional player just plugs in a controller and hits a button. The screen divides itself to accommodate the new player's view, and they're off and running with no interruption to gameplay. If players decide to leave the game, they unplug their controllers and the AI takes over again. I thinkthe wayco-operative multiplayer is set up will add a lot to thesingle player mode. I can play through the entire game by myself, with a little (or a lot)of help from my friends. Pretty slick, eh?
Up to four players can play at once, each controlling a squad member. If a player's character gets killed, it respawns at the beginning of the mission after a short delay, and will have to catch up with the rest of the squad. In my Beta build, the friendly fire option was turned on. I could injure my squadmates but my shots didn't do as much damage as normal. It took me quite a bit of effort to knock off one of my squadmates using a pistol. I know you're not supposed to shoot allies, but I had to see what happens!
The thing that I found so interesting was the seamless transition. Not a single popup window or menu option to distract me. There weren't any players to select, or disruption, just instant multiplayer goodness.
