There are lessons to be learnt in Haze, says FAIZUL AZIM SAIFUL.

UBISOFT’S first person shooter, Haze, is like any other game in its genre but after playing it, the game does provide some lessons in life that can be learnt.

For one, the story tells of a man who has been duped into fighting for a cause skewed by people who are out to defend their own interests, mainly making money (sounds familiar), and most importantly, it tells of the dangers of drug abuse.

This game paints a very graphic picture of how drugs can affect you and how the addiction to the substance can blur your vision (literally) from the realities of life, and take away your senses even though at the beginning it makes you more in tune with your surroundings.

Sounds like I’m preaching here but just play the game, follow the story, and you’ll find out why.
The story begins on a land carrier in a jungle somewhere like Mexico where Shane Carpenter (that’s you), an experienced soldier who joins up with Mantel Global Industries, a bio-medical corporation that puts private funding into military services, is introduced to his squad members before being bundled into a jump-jet.

While in the transport, you will find that Nectar has made your co-captain a very talkative guy while your fellow squad mates are so hyped up that they’re chest-bumping like crazy and constantly chattering in military babble.

This makes you start to think that “chasing” Nectar isn’t such a good idea.

The game takes place over a period of three days as Mantel battles a group of rebels known as The Promise Hand led by Gabriel “Skin Coat” Merino.

But after having crashed and being hunted by your own captain and squad mates (just play the game, you’ll know why), and helped by the rebels to escape, you find that Mantel’s purpose isn’t exactly pure and you team up with The Promise Hand.

In the first hour into the game, you’ll play as a Mantel soldier and this is where you’ll experience the advantages and disadvantages that Nectar provides. With a push of a button, Nectar can be administered through your bloodstream and you turn into a super soldier.

But too much, and you go into overdose where you’ll lose control of your vision and this turns you into a nerve-wracked soldier who would even shoot your own mates.

The game becomes more interesting when you join the rebels as you pick up extra skills while leaving behind the good and bad that Nectar gives you. As a rebel, you can play dead which enables you to disappear temporarily from the view of Mantel operatives, you can also disable enemies, execute evasive rolls and even equip special Nectar grenades that cause the soldiers to overdose.

You can also make Nectar mines which you can put as booby traps along the way. Nectar can also be put on your knife and stabbing Mantel soldiers with it would induce an overdose. When overdose, the soldiers would turn into maniacs and kill their own mates. That’s very enjoyable to watch, especially when you’re out of their firing range.

There are also vehicles in the game which you could drive or ride in and wreak chaos along the way while evading mines and killing soldiers.

Haze might not be as stunning in looks as some other shooters on the PS3 but there are some instances when it does manage to shine, especially when it tries to show the effects of a Nectar overdose and when you are on a machine gun shooting down from a helicopter.

The narratives and voice acting do provide some emotion for the characters and give a somewhat believable look into a mind wrecked by Nectar.

A strong story and unique gameplay makes this game a worthwhile venture and who knows, you might learn something when you’re finished with the game.