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DUE FOR RELEASE TOMORROW, Vietcong: Purple Haze takes you on a second tour of duty into the heart of the jungles of Vietnam

We rated first game in the series very highly and rightly so. The attention to detail and the quality of the game environments gave the player a real insight into what is was like fighting in Vietnam. This gem of a game, however, did not get the attention it deserved in New Zealand. This could have been as a result of a lack of a decent game server based in New Zealand, as the multiplayer was just as good as the singleplayer experience.

The publishers are about to release Vietcong: First Alpha and in an interesting move Vietcong: Purple Haze which combines the original game with the expansion pack. More power to them we say, as this is a great opportunity for those who missed out on the original game.

The original Vietcong had a lot going for it, with a lot of effort being put into the authenticity and atmosphere of the maps and weapons. The development team went to great lengths including visiting Vietnam [this week's Asia Film Festival includes the first ever on-location film of the Vietnam war - Ed] and using the photos they took to form the basis of the scenery items. Weapons have been made to look and perform as they would in real life so it is no wonder the game has a good following overseas.

The Vietcong: First Alpha expansion pack is a culmination of a lot of feedback from players of the original game and includes seven new singleplayer missions as well as eight new multiplayer maps. With six new weapons, including a bayonet and machete as well as the inclusion of heavier artillery support, this expansion pack looks to be of a quality equal to the original.

We'll have our full review next week. However, early indications are that if you are a fan of FPS then this game should be worth checking out tomorrow.

Show me the screenshots!