Vietcong: Purple Haze

Vietcong: Purple Haze follows on from the successful 2003 shooter Vietcong, made by the Czech studio Pterodon and renowned for its exceptionally faithful depiction of combat in dense tropical terrain. Instead of a classic expansion pack, in 2004 players got a standalone game that once again sets its story in the Vietnamese jungle and the fighting between American units and Viet Cong guerrillas, this time with its own story loosely following on from the first game. The game keeps its emphasis on tactics, using terrain for cover, and respect for realistic weapon damage and the character's own vulnerability, which set it apart from more arcade-like competitors like Call of Duty, which at the time relied more on fast pacing and flashy scripted sequences.

Purple Haze brings a new, standalone campaign with a story running parallel to the events of the first game, expands the arsenal with more period-appropriate weapons, and adds new types of enemy units and missions, including night raids, base defense, and reconnaissance patrols deep in enemy territory. The setting stays true to the atmosphere of the Vietnam War — dense vegetation, underground tunnel complexes, and villages where the player never knows where fire will come from or when an enemy will emerge from the brush. The AI reacts to noise, cover, and visibility, so it pays to move slowly, use the terrain, and avoid needlessly exposing yourself in open areas, which was still a fairly unusual approach to war action in 2004, when the competition leaned more on flashy, straightforward firefights. Multiplayer also offered several new maps built on the same principle, letting players test the game's tactical style against each other as well.

Why play: Purple Haze suits players who want another dose of tactical Vietnam shooting and prefer a slower, more deliberate pace over Hollywood-style action — that is, fans of the first Vietcong as well as fans of more realistic war games who value the jungle's authentic atmosphere over flashy but shallow firefights.