On May 20, PlayStation 3 owners will have another exclusive game with the release of Ubisoft's Haze. Ubi recently gave the gaming community something to celebrate two weeks ahead of schedule with a playable demo, featuring a taste of the single-player campaign and the multiplayer modes. We took some time to get familiar with it, and we're happy to say that the game has come a long way.

In Haze, you play a privately financed soldier working for Mantel Global Industries, a private company that finances government weaponry in the year 2048. You're brought in to take on a group of rebels known as "The Promised Hand," who caused a ruckus in a number of places. The game's events unfold over a period of three days, and although we don't have all the details of the story yet, something's bound to happen to make your character turn on his peers.

Haze comes fully loaded – including vehicles. Who needs a Warthog?

Along with traditional handguns, grenades and melee attacks, you're also given a powerful drug called Nectar. Inject this into your bloodstream and your attack methods temporarily increase. Enemies become highly visible globs of orange, making them much easier to see. You also gain speed and less vulnerable to damage, if only for a short while. Best of all, your melee attacks get stronger, letting you knock a Promised Hand recruit into the middle of next Tuesday with one flick of the button. However, like any narcotic substance, Nectar can also work against you if you don't use it sparingly. You'll find your screen distorted, leaving you unable to tell the difference between ally and foe. Your weapon will also auto-fire in a panicked state, meaning that it'll hit anyone, good or evil, that crosses its path. Fortunately, over the course of the game, you can kill enough enemies to keep an ample supply of Nectar on hand, so you'll have less chances to overdose. Our only complaint is the lack of variety in the weaponry – it's mostly assault rifles. Otherwise, the gameplay's great so far.

The demo only features one playable level in the single-player campaign, but it gives you an idea of Haze's pacing. Enemies come at you quickly, with guns blazing and little care for their safety. The jungle level you go through is very detailed, complete with excellent-looking foliage and plenty of trees to hide behind. The game also moves at a solid 30 frames per second, and both enemy and friendly characters look life-like. Some details are still a little off, such as the strange looking eyes. Overall, however, this is a very attractive game. The audio is good as well, consisting of gritty dialogue (including a few curse words) and top-notch sound effects.

The multiplayer should be an excellent addition to the Haze universe. You can take on others in full-blown combat or work alongside four soldiers in co-op, either through split screen or the PlayStation Network. What we saw in this mode was brief, but awesome. Being able to use Nectar to help your team survive is a major plus, as it allows you to go on a killing spree. No word yet on how the members of Promised Hand will play, but more than likely they'll have their own advantages.

Thus far, Haze is a kick ass first person shooter with tons of potential. Be sure to check back for the review next week. Until then, make sure you get your demo fix.

Related Links

Haze Game Guide

Ubisoft