Few people think there are too many World War II games these days. In fact, this genre has seen a glut of games lately, many of which suffer from the same problem--dull, lifeless gameplay, and an overly serious tone that sometimes threatens to remove the fun from the game. Relic, the development team behind the upcoming Xbox 360 action game, The Outfit, is looking to turn that trend around with a World War II game that looks to bring the zippy fun back to historic global conflicts. We recently had a chance to see how the game is shaping up--our first look at the game since E3--and so far, The Outfit is looking to do the next generation proud.

　　If you're not familiar with the basics of The Outfit, let's take you through some quick basic training: This squad-based action game revolves around three heroes--Tommy, JD, and Deuce--each of whom you'll control as you progress through the game's 12 war-time missions, which draw inspiration from actual events in World War II. The plot involves action galore, as your trio of heroes is charged with the task of stopping a crazed Nazi general who's been offing civilians on his path to furthering the Third Reich's nefarious aims. If it sounds like a simplistic plot, don't be fooled; producers assured us there will be plenty of twists in the game to keep players involved with the storyline to the very end.

　　While a nice plot is all well and good, our primary aim during this demo was to watch stuff blow up, and quick. Luckily, the mission we saw was fertile ground for some good old fashioned destruction. As we began the level, the hero's squad was fighting through what looked to be a French provincial town crawling with Nazis. A pastoral church, perched on the hill in the background, showed off some of the improved building architecture that has made its way into the game since E3, when we saw relatively primitive structures.

　　Because this is a squad-based shooter, you'll be controlling one of the three aforementioned main characters and indirectly controlling the squadmates that are assigned to that hero. Each of the three heroes has special strengths and weaknesses. The first character, for example, wielded both a machine gun and a flamethrower for up-close action. JD, another controllable character, has a rifle for long-range sniping and a shotgun for when things get personal. The third hero, Deuce, wields a bazooka, which, as you might expect, is perfect when going up against some of the many vehicles found in the game. As we watched the demo play out, we were impressed with the way the CPU-controlled teammates adjusted to their surroundings, always looking for cover when under fire and keeping an eye out for good sight lines to let loose some lead of their own. Each hero is accompanied by specialized squadmates who complement their squad leader both in looks and weaponry. You'll be able to switch between the three heroes at control points, and should you die, you won't have to start the level over from the beginning when you revive.

　　There's more to The Outfit than simple run and gun, however, and there's more in your heroes' arsenal than some lousy hand-to-hand weapons. By accumulating field units (or FUs, as they're known--we're certain there's no double meaning there), you can choose to purchase what essentially amounts to power-ups as you play through a level. These FUs can come in the form of reinforcements for your felled squad members, vehicles such as a variety of tanks, or air strikes. We especially like the air strikes, if only because they so effectively complete our original stated objective: blowing things up.

　　Remember that church we mentioned earlier? We called in an air strike on that building and watched with glee as a mass of bombs struck it and, after a few moments, sent it tumbling to the ground in a flurry of smoke and cinder. Game producers told us this is indicative of the destructible environments found throughout the game. Even better, calling in a precise air strike such as this is easy--simply purchase the FU and then point your icon where you want the flaming death to fall, and boom, you're done. And so is the building, and anyone in it.

　　The Outfit will include more than 20 vehicles--some of which you'll call up through the field unit menu. Others will be strewn throughout the levels you fight through. Even the random vehicles will be drivable, however, and you can feel free to hop in and run down some Nazis if that's what it takes to propel you to victory. Just realize it's a two-way street. Just as you can take any vehicle found in the game, so too can the bad guys commandeer your ride out from under your nose if you're not careful.

　　Each mission in the game will have both primary and secondary missions associated with it--you can check your progress on these objectives by bringing up the minimap found in the game--as well as more than 35 medals that can be earned in the game's single-player mode (in addition to more than 35 medals online). How to earn these medals isn't explicitly stated in the mission objectives, however. They're awarded to you for completing certain events in a particular level. One example mentioned to us is saving a group of traitorous Germans from the Nazi firing line. Should you save them, you'll earn a heroic medal. On the other hand, should you choose not to intervene, you can just continue the game as normal. It will be up to you to figure out how you want to involve yourself in these game events. Medals earned in the game will show up on your Xbox Live profile, and you can even choose to share your heroic secrets with others by teaming up online and attacking The Outfit's missions in co-op mode.

　　The Outfit certainly has come a long way since our initial look at E3. Back in May, the game featured only one hero and a trio of vehicles. The development team has made a lot of progress since then, and considering the game is currently due for release in the first quarter of 2006, there's still plenty of time to go for further polish and development. We're looking forward to seeing what's in store for us next, and we'll bring you a full report as soon as we find out.