Publisher: TimeGate Studios
Developer: TimeGate Studios
System requirements: Windows XP/Vista/Win 7, Intel 3.0 GHz single-core/2.0 GHz dual-core/AMD Athlon XP3200+ or better CPU, nVidia GeForce 7800/ATI Radeon X1900 or better graphics card, 2 GB RAM, 5.5 GB hard-drive space
Genre: Shooter
ESRB rating: Teen
Release date: April 20, 2011 (Xbox 360); May 4, 2011 (PC); Summer 2011 (PS3)

I recently wrote an article on why I thought indie pricing would change the cost of non-AAA games. I brought up Section 8: Prejudice as one of the many reasons I believe quality games at a lower price point will dominate sales. TimeGate has a history of award-winning game content, and I’m not sure if labeling them an indie developer is appropriate, but with Prejudice they’re definitely gunning for the big boys. Also consider that the original Section 8 is still selling for around $12 to $20 (PC/Xbox) brand-new. I’ve had the pleasure of playing a preview build of Prejudice that gave me access to a couple of levels, and from what I’ve experienced, we have a lot to look forward to when the game is released. There are some pretty big titles coming in April, so I’m anxious to see how well Prejudice fares, but at $15 I’m hoping it does well.

The game’s story centers around Alex Corde, who is thrown into the middle of a web of betrayals. As it’s fond of doing, humanity has found itself on the brink of destruction, and once again it’s your job to save it. Prejudice picks up where the first game left off. I’ll admit that the plot is a tired, over-used scenario, but validation of the game’s existence lies in its execution and gameplay.

From the small amount of the single-player mode that was included in the preview build, I experienced an impressive amount of weapon customization and a fairly polished combat system. While I’m mostly interested in single-player campaigns, the full version of S8P also includes four-player co-op in the form of a Swarm mode, and a 32-player Conquest mode. The full single-player campaign will come in at a slightly anorexic five hours, but given the pricing, features and multiplayer modes, I’m satisfied with that. A tutorial took me through the basic mechanics: dropping into battle, grenades, target lock-on, jetpacks and gunfire. On my medium-level gaming PC, the graphics were on par with what I’ve come to expect from $60 games I’ve purchased. I’m using a GTX 260 graphics card, and the developer recommends a GTX 460 or equivalent, so I’d be interested in seeing it on a high-end rig.

When it comes to combat, TimeGate definitely has their act together. The aiming was tight and the weapon’s balance felt dialed in. However, my assault rifle was almost too accurate against medium to long-range enemies, and zooming in felt like I was sniping with a fully automatic rifle. What got my blood pumping the most was the use of jetpacks in combination with lock-on targeting. You’re given the ability to lock onto moving targets for a brief amount of time. Watching the flapping corpse of a jet-propelled enemy fall out of the sky was entertaining. I had even more fun when I was jetpacking over a building while raining bullets down onto an unsuspecting enemy. Combat is kept interesting by a large array of character loadouts, which allow players to customize their weapons and add-ons to find the combination that best suits their fighting style. My favorite combination was the assault rifle, rocket launcher, mortar strike and grenades, although I’m looking forward to checking out a wider array of weapons. The combat does include vehicles, but if you’ve ever driven a Ghost in Halo, the scout bike in S8P feels almost exactly the same, although it’s harder to steer.

Section 8: Prejudice feels like a lot of good games mixed into one. There are elements from Tribes, Halo and Mass Effect, to name a few, but every game borrows mechanics and ideas from successful predecessors. If you’re expecting something revolutionary, you’ll be let down and dismiss the game. But I finished my playthrough thinking, “Wow, all that for only $15?” Which really seems to be TimeGate’s goal: making the best $15 shooter ever. Section 8: Prejudice isn’t going to replace Halo or any other prominent first-person shooter on the market, but I can almost guarantee that you’ll have fun without the regret of paying $60 for a game you don’t love.

I really do hope that enough of you buy Prejudice to send a message to larger publishers and developers who have suckered us into buying abysmal $60 games. I also hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the preview.