Operation: Blockade

Operation: Blockade is a 2002 first person shooter video game developed by Screaming Games and published by Infogrames for the PC and arcade systems. Set in a mock World War II environment, the game has online capabilities, and was released to mediocre reviews and criticism.

Gameplay
As a tiny island outpost lying directly in the path of the supply line that the Saruvian Empire is using to invade his country, the player and his allies must defend against waves of enemy air, ground, and naval forces.

The game is a first person shooter &mdash; all action occurs from the perspective of the character as it is navigated throughout the gaming environment. Players equip stronger weapons as the game continues, allowing them to destroy weak enemies quickly or take down larger opponents. The multiplayer component allows players to team up against the enemy forces and deploy tactics based on their personal styles.

Most combat occurs in a fixed bunker; the player shoots down planes and other enemies from this location with a full, 360-degree perspective. As with most arcade-style games, players accumulate points as they destroy enemy forces.

Development
Developed by Screaming Games and its sister company, Professor Fog's Workshop, Operation: Blockade was loosely based on previous war shooters. marketing manager Dennis Davidson has stated that the game appeals to a wider audience than previous developments, as it allows players to begin action sequences immediately. The team also strived for accuracy in military units and weapons, as a way to appeal to dedicated war gamers.

Reception and criticism
Operation: Blockade was met with negative reviews from IGN and GameSpot. IGN issued a score of 4 out of 10, citing the graphics as "ghastly and painful" and the gameplay as forcing the reviewer to "scream in pain", while citing the audio as "not all that bad". GameSpot rated the game a 3.6 out of 10, claiming that "If you were to...play this game, you'd have to be partially insane". GameSpot criticized the game's gameplay as "repetitive, often frustrating" and the challenge as having "little skill involved". However, unlike IGN, GameSpot considered the graphics the high point of the game, stating that the game "looks quite good".