Alpha Black Zero: Intrepid Protocol may have one of the worst titles since Manos: Hands of Fate, but once the opening narrative begins, the name is instantly overlooked. The graphics aren't perfect, and the sound is occasionally buggy, but they aren't the focus here. Alpha Black Zero truly feels like a movie in which you (somewhat poorly) control the action-oriented scenes.

ABZ is the story of Lieutenant Kyle Hardlaw and his squad as they attempt to prove their innocence in a series of high-level assassinations. The story moves through the squad's recounting of their missions; orders executed as close to point as possible. Each of these missions is a player-controlled segment in which you are given an objective and free will to achieve it using whatever means necessary.

The graphics are fair, and the environments look as if they are truly lived in (or not, as the case may be) and the inhabitants have simply stepped out for coffee. Character models are detailed and look almost like replicas of the real thing. Animation can be buggy, causing characters to float or teleport on occasion, but this is easily overlooked. The cut-scenes are of a different quality entirely. The models look even better, synched lips and blinking eyes included. The animation shines and the sound effects match every boot step and whistle.

The sound in ABZ is seems to have been put in as an afterthought. There is very little music in game, though the little there is fits the tone quite well. Sound effects are good, though guns sometimes sound as though kids with bb guns were hired for sound rendering.

The AI in this game is a curious beast. Near the opening of the game, most enemies either stand and look pretty or run dumbfounded in the opposite direction until they hit a wall. This gradually changes, however, as the AI evolves. Squads must eventually take on enemies that stand and fight, duck and roll, cover each other's reloads and movement, and even strategize to flank and overtake you. While this evolution seems good for a difficulty curve, it is sporadic in increase, so sometimes an identical group from one mission will reappear in the next mission (sometimes in the same area) with different weapons and techniques, despite no time or reinforcements happening between the two missions.

The majority of problems with Alpha Black Zero could easily be fixed with a patch. A small graphical bug fix, a few new sound bytes, and some performance tweaking (I encountered several serious slowdowns on a machine far beyond minimum specs) would go a very, very long way. But more important than a touch-up is something almost required to make the game stand tall among tactical shooters: A pair of binoculars or an overhead map (preferably both). The levels are far too large and maze-like to have no means of navigation other than an arrow that often must be ignored to find objectives.

Alpha Black Zero: Intrepid Protocol is a strategy shooter player's dream, if they can manage the controls and overlook some buggy graphics. The action is most definitely strategic in nature: the ammo must be conserved, the angle of attack is a major factor, and the squad's equipment set-up takes nearly as long as the first mission. Despite its little problems, and a severe need for configuration, there is some great story and gameplay to be had by all calculating minds.