I finally downloaded this game (since I got sick sick of waiting for them to mail it out), and it's pretty interesting. For one thing, you have to go through a lot of Basic Training before they'll even let you play a real map--and the training comes complete with a drill sergeant, though he doesn't yell at you as much as you would expect.
The thing I like about the game is that it's stupidly hard to actually hit anything--not only does kickback and walking and even breathing move your weapon around (thus ruining your aim), but there are loads of built in modifiers that reduce your accuracy (whether you're standing or crouched or prone, whether you have the sight up, how fast you're moving, etc). It seems dumb to like a game because the guns are innacurate, but that's just a balancing factor that contributes to the game's real point--you have to work as a team to get anything done.
You see, almost every shooter out there suffers from the Teen Wolf syndrome: a single powerhouse player can win the game by himself, running and jumping and shooting with amazing accuracy while his teammates stand back and hope they get a chance to do something. In America's Army I have yet to see this happen, and I'm starting to doubt that it could--the game highly favors a team that can coordinate and strategize. Very cool.
I'm almost out of Basic Training and ready to try a real map. I'll tell you what happens.
