Easily the greatest surprise at Sierra's Gamers' Day was The Bourne Conspiracy. What appears on the surface to be yet another lame cash-in is actually shaping up to be an intense and varied action game. Two playable levels offered a good look at how it brings the action of the films and drama of the novels together for one surprisingly solid experience.
Pulling from both the novels and films, The Bourne Conspiracy largely follows a new storyline with a few notable moments from the series highlighted in the game. Developer High Moon Studios promises to showcase the distinct dual nature of Jason Bourne as hunter and hunted—a man on the run, yet also on the prowl for clues about his past. Missions vary from stealthy infiltrations to fist fights to high speed chases, offering plenty of gameplay diversity while showcasing Bourne's wide range of skills. It’s all single-player here—no multiplayer of any sort—as the effort is being made to capture the intensity of the films and intrigue of the books.
Bourne's escape from the US Embassy in Switzerland demonstrates exactly how the game takes the action of the movies and turns it interactive. Entitled “Escape the Embassy,” the early level has you fleeing from the facility under threat of detention. As alarms sound throughout the building and central courtyard, Bourne utilizes his skill in close-quarters combat to deal with waves of American guards. Pressing X enables you to issue basic attack, whereas Y enables heavier blows. Mixing up hits of both buttons allows you to chain together attacks, which in turn yields combination attacks for added damage.
Beating down enemies boosts Bourne's adrenaline, indicated by a meter encircling the mini-map. High levels of adrenaline enable you to access two special abilities: take downs and Bourne Instinct. When your adrenaline reaches at minimum one full bar, you can instigate a take down to execute a powerful attack against an opponent. Usually a take down is enough to finish an enemy, although tougher foes may require a bit more damage. Take downs vary depending on the surrounding environment; for instance, you might slam an enemy's head through a window or slam them against a concrete wall based on your position in the environment. The more adrenaline Bourne has flowing through his veins, the more complex the take down.
Bosses can try their hands at executing a take down as well, but you're given the opportunity to counter by following on-screen button prompts. Correctly time presses of the face buttons as the icons appear and you successfully counter the take down. A mid-level confrontation with the Embassy head of security required countering a few take down attempts, one of which failed and had Bourne smashing through a freestanding chalkboard. Not as grating as nails running down a chalkboard, but equally as annoying when you consider that anytime a boss succeeds with a take down you're damaged and then stunned, making you vulnerable to additional attacks.
Along with take downs, adrenaline can be spent to access Bourne Instinct. A tap of the Y button switches the view to highlight objectives, interactive doors, key enemies, and other vital information. You're never required to use Bourne Instinct, although it's helpful for those situations in which you may get stuck. Playing at the lowest level of difficulty, no adrenaline is spent when using Bourne Instinct; however, tackle the game on normal or hard and you're going to be billed for each use.
None of these action elements are necessarily new, yet the cinematic way in which they're presented guarantees The Bourne Conspiracy will be more than just another ordinary action game. Cinematic camera angles and cuts abound, keeping a surprisingly good focus on the action. Unlike so many mediocre action games, careful thought appears to have been taken in choosing camera angles that provide a unique view without compromising playability. Near the end of “Escape the Embassy,” for instance, Bourne shimmies across the courtyard via a power line. The camera shifts to a clever angled view that offers a great perspective on the scene while adding a bit of style.
