Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Fracture introduces a fresh twist to the third-person shooter genre with its signature Terrain Deformation system. As Jet Brody, you wield an arsenal of 27 unique weapons that don’t just shoot—they reshape the battlefield. Launch a seismic charge to raise earth ramps, creating cover or vantage points, or detonate a subterranean mine to open a path beneath enemy fortifications. This dynamic environment interaction keeps encounters unpredictable, forcing you to think strategically about each shot’s potential to alter the fight.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

Beyond the core deformation mechanic, the pacing in Fracture is generally brisk and varied. Mission objectives range from stealth infiltration in cratered urban zones to all-out assaults across shifting desert dunes. Each level’s terrain reacts organically to your actions; trenches collapse, cliffs form overnight, and choke points emerge without warning. This constant transformation ensures that familiar playstyles must adapt on the fly, preventing the combat from ever feeling stale.

Weapon variety further enriches the experience. While conventional rifles and pistols still make an appearance, it’s the specialty arms—like the seismic cannon and subterranean mortar—that steal the show. Learning each tool’s capabilities and limitations becomes half the fun, as you experiment with creating new angles of attack and defensive bulwarks. Coupled with precision cover mechanics and tight aiming controls, Fracture’s gameplay loop delivers a satisfying balance of experimentation and high-octane action.

For those seeking competitive thrills, the multiplayer mode supports up to 12 players in online skirmishes. Custom-designed maps showcase the Terrain Deformation mechanics to their fullest, with dynamic objectives that shift as the landscape morphs. Team deathmatch and capture-the-flag modes gain fresh tactical layers when enemies can suddenly dig tunnels beneath your feet or raise barriers to block your path. The result is a multiplayer suite that stands apart from standard shooter fare.

Graphics

Visually, Fracture pushes the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 hardware to its limits, rendering highly detailed environments that respond in real time to your actions. The rocky outcrops of the Pacifican frontlines crack and crumble under seismic blasts, kicking up dust and debris that hang in the air before settling. Sunlight filters through the upturned earth, casting realistic shadows on your HUD, while particle effects from explosions and weapon fire strike a fine balance between spectacle and clarity.

Character models, particularly those of Jet Brody and the genetically enhanced Pacifican soldiers, exhibit impressive detail. Armor plates gleam with scuffs, circuitry pulses beneath translucent cybernetic implants, and facial animations during dialogue sequences capture subtle expressions. While occasional texture pop-ins can occur at long draw distances, these moments are brief and seldom detract from the overall immersion.

The game’s art direction leans into a gritty, post-apocalyptic aesthetic, contrasting the clean blue tones of Atlantic Alliance tech with the bio-organic weaponry and mutated infantry of the Pacifican Army. This visual dichotomy reinforces the ideological divide at the heart of the narrative. Meanwhile, lighting effects—like the crimson glow of a seismic fissure or the flickering neon signs of ruined cityscapes—add atmospheric depth to each battleground.

Multiplayer maps also benefit from the same attention to graphic detail, with each custom arena showcasing dramatic elevation changes, collapsing bridges, and fissures that glow ominously. The color palettes remain distinct across various theaters of war, ensuring that players can quickly orient themselves even as the environment morphs beneath their feet.

Story

Set in the year 2161, Fracture weaves a narrative of ideological schism and technological escalation. The once-united States have fractured into the Atlantic Alliance and the Pacifican Army, each faction driven by opposing visions for humanity’s future. You step into the boots of Jet Brody, a cybernetic demolition expert whose loyalty to the Alliance is only matched by his expertise in reshaping the planet’s surface.

The campaign unfolds through a series of mission briefings, in-game dialogues, and cutscenes that reveal both the political stakes and the personal motivations of key characters. While the overarching conflict between the two superpowers feels familiar, the game excels at humanizing it through Brody’s interactions with squadmates and commanding officers. These moments lend gravity to the spectacle, reminding you that every crater you create has a profound impact on civilian enclaves and military strongholds alike.

One of the most compelling aspects of Fracture’s narrative is how it ties directly into the gameplay mechanics. The central theme of “reshaping the world” mirrors Brody’s own journey from hired gun to reluctant revolutionary. As you witness the environmental ruin and moral compromises wrought by both sides, the story prompts reflection on the costs of technological warfare and the price of victory.

Although some plot twists follow familiar shooter conventions—double agents, last-minute betrayals, and catastrophic doomsday devices—the integration of story with terrain-altering gameplay elevates Fracture above its peers. You don’t just watch the world change; you’re the catalyst, and that sense of agency drives the narrative momentum from one mission to the next.

Overall Experience

Fracture delivers a memorable shooter experience anchored by its innovative Terrain Deformation system. Few games let you wield the environment as a weapon, and mastering that power provides innumerable “a-ha” moments. Whether you’re sculpting defensive walls on the fly or unearthing enemy encampments, the freedom to reconfigure the map keeps each encounter fresh and engaging.

The campaign offers a satisfying blend of linear missions and sandbox-style objectives, and its pacing rarely falters. Moments of high-octane combat alternate with tense recon assignments, giving you time to appreciate both the story’s weight and the graphical fidelity of the war-torn landscapes. The multiplayer further extends replayability, challenging you to outthink human opponents who can match—or outmaneuver—you in reshaping the battlefield.

While the story occasionally relies on familiar tropes, its seamless integration with gameplay mechanics makes it more than mere backdrop. Jet Brody’s personal arc, coupled with the stark visual contrast between faction technologies, ensures that Fracture’s world feels lived-in and consequential. The game’s technical achievements—particularly in real-time terrain manipulation—set it apart from contemporaries and showcase the creative potential of next-gen hardware.

For fans of shooters seeking something beyond the usual corridor battles, Fracture offers a compelling blend of strategic depth and explosive, globe-shaking action. Its unique mechanics, combined with solid graphical presentation and a thematically resonant story, make it a standout title for anyone eager to wield the earth itself as their deadliest weapon.

Retro Replay Score

6.4/10