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I was so excited about this game I bought it without testing

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 17 / 19
Date: August 18, 2002
Author: Amazon User

O.K. When someone gives a game only 1 star - they can sometimes have an agenda. My only agenda is to inform gamers how dissapointed I was at this game and let the gamer make-up his or her own mind. I was very excited when I brought POW home and placed the disc in my XBOX. The intro scene was well done and signalled that CODEMASTERS were capable programmers. Then I played the game. The graphics are seriously below par for an XBOX title. The poor quality of graphics made it impossible for me to forget that I was staring at my 35" SONY instead of having the impression I was back in 1942 in a German POW camp. If I thought the graphics bad - imagine how I felt when I played the game. The gameplay is absolutely awful. MOVEMENT - think Halo for the LEFT THUMBSTICK (which is cool.) However, for whatever reason, the RIGHT THUMBSTICK only allows you to look left or right - not up or down. HOWEVER...the values are reversed - to LOOK LEFT requires that you PUSH RIGHT - and vice versa. I know what your thinking because I thought the same thing - there has to be a menu that allows you to change the polarity of the RIGHT THUMBSTICK - NOPE! With Halo I was effeciently killing bad guys in no time. With POW I was taking my frustration out on the innocent XBOX controller within 10 minutes. Oh, and it only gets worse. To climb over 1 wall/fence requires you to stand facing the fence. Then, press the LEFT THUMBSTICK forward and press the A button to jump and grasp the ledge (if a wall) or grab hold of the fence. Next, press the LEFT THUMSTICK forward once more to climb to the top of the wall or as many times as needed to climb over the fence. Next, the camera angle automatically swivles 180 degrees - to the other side of the wall/fence. Now, you must press the LEFT THUMSTICK down once to grasp the ledge and again to drop to the other side. You cannot imagine how clumbsy this feels. In the early levels - when guards are not overly aggressive/smart - you can ignore this clumbsy requirement - but later you'll be quite frustrated. If you press and hold the LEFT TRIGGER you are in FIRST PERSON VIEW ONLY MODE - meaning you can look side-to-side and up-and-down using the RIGHT THUMBSTICK - think Halo's RIGHT THUMBSTICK but without the ability to move when the LEFT TRIGGER is depressed. Now, you've finally scaled a wall and you stealthily enter a building looking for currency and useful items. Well, when inside buildings your point-of-view becomes fixed (from inexplicably some of the worst vantage places - without any room-level zooming capability) - and your RIGHT THUMBSTICK becomes useless - until you enter the previously mentioned FIRST PERSON VIEW ONLY MODE by pressing the LEFT TRIGGER. Useful items/loot twinkle and all you have to do is walk next to the item for it to be placed in your inventory. However, your instincts will be urging you to perform a thorough search of the room - open a few drawers - well they must not have had drawers in WWII because all you can do is walk around a static room. So you do just that - but due diligence requires that you walk a few inches enter the FIRST PERSON VIEW ONLY MODE look around for goodies and then walk another few inches enter the FIRST PERSON VIEW ONLY MODE...etc. You quickly discover that the only loot in the room is what twinkled upon entering - this must mean that Germans don't hide things - interesting? The inventory management subsystem was poorly conceived. Anything you cannot fit in your pockets is carried for all to see in your hands. There are hiding places you can find scattered thoughout the camps and you have a personal footlocker in your barracks. It took me forever just to figure out how to examine/use inventory items. Game Saving - you must be in your barracks and next to your bed in order to save your game. The game designers felt that one of the driving forces behind a prisoner of war game had to be the daily routine that a prisoner was forced to adhere by. So they devised a lame gimmick - a timepiece - that helps you plan mischeif around static morning and evening roll calls. So you are allowed to go exploring as long as you do not get caught in a guards vision-cone while in an illegal area as long as you get back to morning/evening roll call. From the moment I began playing this game I was extremely dissapointed. After playing for a day - I knew I was going to get rid of the game quickly before word got out. The graphics are boring. The character controls are the worst in XBOX history - why do I have to press right to look left - (that infuriates me)? The idea of being a prisoner of war trying to escape is golden (and I hope someone pulls it off), but this implementation is shameful. CODEMASTERS quality assurance team should be fired.

you would think it would be good.... oh well...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: August 20, 2002
Author: Amazon User

now this isn't the worst game i've played on the xbox, but that doesn't say much. I was extremely excited about the game for a long time. But it just doesn't live up to expectations. So its a game about escaping a prison camp? sounds intriguing, in depth, etc. But it isn't. You don't decide how you'll escape, or what you'll do period. you jsut follow instructions and go along with the next thing you are supposed to do. I was expecting to be abe to actually choose how to escape, what i would do, etc, but you dont. Maybe I've become spoiled from the idea of freeform play, but I hate being led by the nose in games anymore. I wanna make my own decisions. Aside from that, graphics, sounds, controls, etc are just not up to par either. It looks like an (outdated?) ps2 game. it actually has a pretty low fps and i continually notice it "stutter" when i turn. controls, while not awful, don't do nearly as much as you would expect. they also don't respond as well as you would hope.
This game is definately a renter. Thats why i did, and I got bored within a few hours.

Very dissapointed after the long wait

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: August 22, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I had high hopes for this game but I am sad to say Prisoners of War did not live up to it's expectations. No freedom to do as you wish. You must follow the preset plot. The graphics are good but this game is not worth buying. Try renting it .

A lot of problems, but I still enjoyed it.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: August 30, 2002
Author: Amazon User

With better production values, this could have been a truly great game. There is a lot of interesting stuff here. Unfortunately the problems with Prisoner of War are quite numerous: the graphics look like a poor Dreamcast game, the camera is troublesome, the voice acting can be terrible at times, and the enemy AI is a bit slow. However, despite all these problems, I still had a ton of fun. I must be going mad.

In Prisoner of War you play the role of an American pilot who is shot down over Germany and imprisoned in a Nazi POW camp. What starts as a simple escape attempt turns into sabotage mission when it is discovered that the Nazis are using the POW camps as a cover for a secret rocket research program.

The game-play is kind of a cross between Shenmue and Metal Gear Solid. In each camp you're sent to, (five in all, although a couple of the camps are the same; just remixed a bit.) you'll receive orders from the senior officers of the escape committee. They'll usually have you fetch an item necessary to the escape plans, but occasionally you'll have to do other jobs such as photographing a spy, or sending a radio transmission to London. You'll find that it's usually necessary to question your fellow inmates in order to learn where and when you should go sneaking about.

Like Shenmue, time passes and each NPC has a specific path they follow throughout the day. You'll have to decide the best time to go out sneaking. This is really the best aspect of POW. The missions you're given, may all be linear, but how you go about completing them is up to you. . For instance, a door might have guards posted outside it during the day, but if you wait till night you may find the door unguarded. Also, there's usually many different ways you can get to the location; you'll have to decide what route to take as well as the time.

When sneaking around though, you'll have to keep an eye on the time, as you have to be present at morning and evening role call or they'll search the camp for you. This can be kind of annoying because time passes at a minute of real-time for every hour of game-time. This means that if you leave right after the evening role call, you'll have only about 8 or 9 minutes of real-time before you have to be back for morning role call. I hate time limits and I especially can't stand being rushed when I'm sneaking. Fortunately (or unfortunately) the AI is incredibly stupid and it's not too hard to hide from the search parties.

Any time you hide under something it's virtually impossible for the Nazis to spot you. Here's an example:

Captain Stone: *sneaking through a room full of Nazis*

Nazi Guard: *spots Stone* "Halt prisoner or you will be shot!"

Captain Stone: *crawls under a table*

Nazi Guard: "Where did he go?"

Nazi Guard: "Ah, I give up." *walks away*

Yes, that's what they actually say. (Or as near as I can remember.) This is just one of many instances where the AI just made me laugh.

Much of the time the camera is probably a greater enemy than the Nazis. Usually, it can be completely rotated when you're in an outdoor environment, but when indoors you have no control over it. Also, walking through doors can be quite difficult: the camera will often switch 180 degrees and zoom in on you. Pressing in the same direction will suddenly make your character walk back out the door and things can become quite confusing.

There's really nothing good you can say about the graphics. They certainly don't even begin to take advantage of the Xbox's power. It's funny though, even with these ugly graphics, the frame-rate still stutters quite a bit. Also, the characters look and move like zombies. Watching the credits I was surprised to see that they listed people for motion capture acting, as the animation is extremely jerky and not at all life-like. And the faces all have these weird vacant stares that just made me laugh the first time I played.

The voice acting is another weak point in the game. All the Nazis speak with the most ridiculous German accents. Combine this with the poor animation and weird facial expressions, and you have some pretty funny cut-scenes.

Despite all the problems I still liked POW. However, if production values are the most important thing to you, or if you're an action gamer and must have violence, (Sorry, you never get to kill any Nazis in this game.) then look elsewhere. But if enjoy sneaking games, and originality and innovation are more important to you than production values, then give this game a try. How many other games let you live the life of a prisoner in a Nazi POW camp?

Sound: 7/10 Bad voice-acting. Music does a good job of changing to fit the occasion though.

Graphics: 5/10 Ugly. Looks like a Dreamcast game.

Controls: 6/10 Camera causes a lot of problems.

Game-play: 9/10 I love sneaking games, and despite all the problems it was still quite fun.

Originality: 8/10 Sure it borrows from Metal Gear Solid and Shenmue, but I still found it to be quite original.

Value: 7/10 There's a good 15 or 20 hours worth of game-play and you receive a grade for how efficiently you escape from each camp, so there is some replay value. If you get a good grade you can unlock some stuff. (nothing very interesting though)

Final Score: 8/10 It has a lot of problems, but it was still a very fun experience for me. I must be going mad.

Elements of other games hashed together in a bad way...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: August 21, 2002
Author: Amazon User

The stealthy aspect of this game is reminscent of Metal Gear Solid 2, with the little radar screen showing the guards fields of view, sneaking around so they can't see you, back against the wall, using diversionary tactics like hitting the wall to distract them. The graphics are mediocre at best, and don't even come close to games like MGS2 (which is inexcusable, considering the amount of graphical power the XBOX has). The gameplay is boring and uninspired, never really giving you any feelings of suspense or excitement (this may be due in a large part to the lackluster graphics that don't do anything to set a tone for the game). The dialogue is horrible, the authors tried too hard to make the American soldiers act like action movie heroes, and it just detracts further from the game's ability to create atmosphere.

I rented this game and returned it the same day after 4 hours of gameplay, during which time I kept telling myself "It will get better...it has to get better..." It doesn't.

Good if you like to use your Brain, rather than a trigger.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: August 28, 2002
Author: Amazon User

POW is a different kind of game! This is not fast paced, there is no killing, and the point is to be stealth, fast, efficient, and to escape. Now I did just straight up buy this game, most of the time I rent games first, but I had read so much about this game and downloaded as many clips as I could find, and I had a $25 gift certificate to blow. I knew what this game was all about before it came out, (all the above reviews bashing this game must not have done the research they should have), The X-Box Magazine spelled this game out for any one that can read. POW is a slower paced, STRATAGY game, this is not Halo, it is not Metal Gear, and it is not for most gamers. I spent 30+ days in the first camp according to the game clock, I did get frustrated, and (annoyed) off at times, but once I got my plan straight, and executed it efficiently it was great. I broke out just as I was missing morning roll call and the alarms were going off, I was thrilled! Then the story got me busted again, and I was in another camp.
The controls are the worst part thought, it is not like Halo, or Max Payne, more like GunValkery, not my favorite set up, but you learn the controls after a while, (just like any other game with odd controls). The sound is really cool, there are a lot of little environment sounds, and back ground stuff that sounds great on Dolby. The graphics are not the best, but certainly better then anything on the PS, PS2. Remember when the PS1 came out, those games (weren't good) too, then look a newer game for the PS1, it is much better, the graphics on the X-Box games right now are not tapping the total capabilities of the system, but give the game makers some time, they will learn to tap the X-Boxes power.
In Closing POW is a good game for the right gamer, if you like nothing but nonstop action, killing, and, gun play don't buy this game you will be board and disappointed. But if you like strategy, and using your brains rather than a trigger, and don't mind taking some time to find the best strategy you will love this game.
It is a different kind of game. Do your research before you buy!

Prisoner of War

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: November 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

It's a good game for people you like strategic gameplay. If you a shooter don't buy it. alot of people i know complain about not being able to shoot. Your in a POW camp since when do you get guns.

Graphics 8/10
They get a little choppy and sometimes the guy is moving his lips when he's not even talking. The lighing is good.

Sound 6/10
Music is boring and monotonous, but I wasn't expecting Matallica or eminem. The voices can be quite funny.

AI 7/10
The guards can be overalert sometimes. getting yeld at for standing in there path. The fellow prisoners are donw pretty well. They walk around and talk or play or play games

Overall it's a good game,but if your not sure you want to spend your hard earned money. then I suggest You rent it.

What the...?

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: August 20, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Okay, I have to admit, I went into this game with high expectations, leaving me a long way to fall with disappointment, BUT YOU WILL AGREE, this game is BAD. The concept is cool, you are an American POW in WWII, and you try to escape from your POW camp...cool. The idea is pulled of poorly however.

You start out in a small camp, which actually acts as your game training ground. You are given tasks from fellow prisoners, all of which lead up to your eventual escape. "Grab the key, steal the crowbar, steal this," ect. The first camp lasts awhile and after escaping you are re-captured and put into a new=harder camp. This will go on and on.

The controls are poor, your guy keeps running when you don't want him to, you end up getting shot anf have to start the mission over again. Gameplay is boring, go here, do this, come back, go out again. I am a fan of Metal Gear, with all of the sneaking and stuff, but there is no action in this game! Get spotted, and you are shot down, and NO...you cannot break any necks here. The voice acting is horrible, with your captors with horrible and cheesy German accents.

Be smart, stay away from this, maybe Dead to Rights will be good. If you need an espionage game, go with Metal Gear.

Truly abysmal gaming

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: August 26, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This is not an Xbox caliber game.
- Graphics: Incredibly weak. While better than something for PS2, they are not Xbox quality. It's actually painful to watch cutscenes. I knew I was in trouble the minute the opening movie began showing them being shot down. It was awful.

- Voice acting: Everyone sounds incredibly stereotypical, as if they said to a computer "please give us a German accent" ,"now a scottish one". Incredibly generic. The german camp commander is the worst.

- Gameplay. Simplistic to say the least. It's definitely an easy game to pick up and play.

- Plot. Yawn. Too long waiting for things to happen. Bored after the first hour.

I would not even recommend this as a rental to someone. It was that bad. It was an interesting idea, but incredilby weak execution of the idea.

And in the middle of the road...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: September 19, 2002
Author: Amazon User

... I saw "Prisoner Of War", I mildly entertaining game not quite worth the three bucks it cost to rent it.

You see, I don't demand fast-paced action and violence in all my games. Heck, I still enjoy the occasional game of "Wordtris" for the SNES. But I do appreciate a little more effort than the makers of "POW" put forth. Here's a great example of a great concept executed with astounding mediocrity. It isn't promising that the first cutscene off a game looks like it was put together by a bunch of twelve year olds. Actually, all the cutscenes look that way. The Kommandant of the first camp looks like Bobby Hill from "King of the Hill". And my god, the voice acting. One of the other prisoners talks, and looks, just like Dale from "King of the Hill".

The graphics are so weak. XBox's main bragging point has always been its graphics. And there are some truly amazing looking games out there. But they should just sweep "POW" under the rug. Or taken a year or two to work on it. This is still the XBoxs first year so I'm willing to cut 'em some slack, but still there's no excuse for products this weak. I swear I could hear my XBox console sighing with boredom. I was too, so it was a duet.

The controls are okay. The camera is fine in open spaces but if you're hiding in a corner, the best way to look around is to hold the left trigger button. But since you can't move when using that POV, sometimes you're sneaking around blind. And going through doorways is also difficult at first.

So, please, do not spend fifty dollars on this. Just wait for Metal Gear Substance is you're into sneaking games or Medal of Honor in you're into WWII games. Because they can't be any worse than this. If "POW" leaves feeling anything, it's a strong urge to watch "King of the Hill".

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