Cold Zero: The Last Stand is a mixed-genre computer game program developed by Drago Entertainment and released by JoWooD Productions in 2003 for the Windows platform. In Russia, the localizer and publisher was the company Russobit-M .
| Cold Zero: The Last Stand | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Drago entertainment |
| Publisher |
 Russobit-M |
| Localizer | Russobit-M |
| Date of issue | 2003 year |
| Genre | mixed |
| Technical details | |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Game modes | Single player , multiplayer |
| System requirements | Pentium III 600 MHz, 128 MB RAM, graphics card with 16 MB memory |
| Control | keyboard mouse |
Content
Genre Specifics
As noted in the review provided by the GameGuru resource, in the course of work on the game program, the developers' intentions underwent a number of changes, which also affected its genre affiliation. Initially, the project was conceived as an action-game, then it acquired stealth-aspects, and later it was characterized by tactical and role-playing elements [1] .
Storyline
Protagonist John McCaffrey is a retired special forces soldier. Having left law enforcement agencies, the protagonist decides to engage in private investigation, but a number of subsequent financial and business failures forces him to take part in the activities of the mafia group. Further events are presented in the form of sixteen missions, the place of action of which are various states of the globe (βalmost round the world tripβ, according to the review of the AllGames resource) [2] . The ultimate goal of the protagonist is the discovery and destruction of production facilities for the manufacture of the highly dangerous narcotic drug Cold Zero.
Gameplay
Features and Skills
The character is characterized by four basic skills (power, shooting, stealth and technique), as well as five auxiliary skills, which are associated with the ability to wield various types of weapons and engage in hand-to-hand combat. Performing certain tasks increases the character's experience score; when he reaches the mark of 500 points, the player is rewarded with points of characteristics that can be used to develop certain skills. The maximum value of each skill is 10; the sum of the points of the characteristics necessary to increase it corresponds to the level reached by the character.
The strength of the character affects the weight he carries, as well as endurance and resistance to damage. Shooting skill affects the accuracy of firing. Stealth allows the character to move around the map without attracting the attention of opponents, and also effectively attack from an ambush. The technique corresponds to repair skills, hacking ability, as well as the ability to handle certain complex devices in general [3] .
Armament and Equipment
The arsenal of weapons available to the character is quite diverse and is divided into five types in accordance with the aforementioned auxiliary skills: melee weapons, pistols, submachine guns, shotguns and rifles. The total number of weapons exceeds 100 units [4] . Each weapon is equipped with a specific type of ammunition; in addition, the technical skill allows the character to make improvements to the armament by installing special devices (optical sights, extended stores, etc.). An armament unit is characterized by damage, range, accuracy, mortality, as well as weight, magazine volume and noise level.
In addition to the above, additional ammunition can be placed in the characterβs inventory: first-aid kits of various degrees of effectiveness, camouflage and protective suits, body armor, and grenades.
Walkthrough Tactics
According to the plan of the developers, within the framework of the mission, the player has the right to act in any way pleasing to him, starting from the complete destruction of all opponents and ending with a completely bloodless scenario. Nevertheless, accuracy and non-violence are tacitly encouraged: non-lethal incapacitation of the enemy is rewarded with a significantly larger number of experience points than its elimination [5] . During the execution of tasks, the player can equally successfully resort to tactical planning as well as to ingenuous direct attacks.
Reviews
The game program has been mainly characterized positively. Russian resources rated it as follows:
- Rating AG.ru - 80%;
- Playground.ru score - 9.3;
- GameGuru.ru rating - 60%;
- The rating of the Igromania magazine is 7.5;
- The readers rating of the Best Computer Games magazine is 7.7.
Observers spoke positively about the style and dynamism of the game, tactical and quest aspects, as well as the musical accompaniment. Criticism of the program was aimed mainly at the graphic performance, the degree of ease of viewing with the camera, as well as the artificial intelligence of the opponents.