The Hell on Earth series has always been known for its authenticity, and the military simulation game's upcoming sequel, Hell on Earth: Vietnam, is no different.However, this dedication to authenticity also poses a major challenge for developer Expression Games, which is a problem even for those American soldiers who actually participated in the war.
About half of Vietnam is covered by jungle, and before the U.S.-Vietnam War, jungle covered even more than half.The problem with the jungle is that the dense foliage makes it almost impossible to see anything else, like the sky, animals flying by, or someone with a rifle trying to kill you.
Being killed inexplicably has been a normal feature of modern warfare, especially since the First World War.But that doesn't mean the experience will be fun or fair in the game.As technical director Kieran D'Archambaud explained in the latest issue of PC Gamer: "Especially if you're new to gaming, it's hard to understand where you're going to die."
To solve this problem, developer Expression Games tried to make the jungle both your enemy and your friend.The vegetation in "Hell on Earth: Vietnam" is extremely sensitive to touch. Trees and shrubs will sway and rustle as long as they are lightly touched, thus alerting the player that there may be enemies nearby.In other words, the jungle is a "snitch," and if you don't want to be "betrayed," you have to proceed with extreme caution.
At the same time, the sounds of the jungle will be as realistic as the rest of the game.The development team includes an artist who specializes in plant modeling and an audio engineer who specializes in environmental sound effects.Creative director Matt White said in an interview with "PC Gamer": "All sounds are 100% authentic," even "the sounds of insects" and "frogs".
It remains to be seen whether this new setting in Vietnam will add a new layer to the combat in Hell on Earth: Vietnam.
The first game in the "Hell on Earth" series is set in World War II. It is a good introduction to military simulation, but it lacks its own uniqueness.PC Gamer wrote in its review: "If I just want a pure World War II shooting experience, "Hell on Earth" is a worthy choice, but it is also very similar to many games that have already been played."
