story

 

The game is set in the late 2040's, where no UN or NATO exist and governments are thus forced to contract their military operations to private military contractors. You play as Sergeant Shane Carpenter, a new recruit in the Mantel Global Industries army, who are fighting guerrillas in South America. Mantel Global Industries was founded by David Bloomfield, who also appears as a recruiter in the trailer.

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Using Bungie's blastacular Halo 3 as an example, Haze scriptwriter Rob Yescombe believes that "while Halo is brilliant, you're a teenager - the next-gen is about becoming more mature," explaining that "in Haze you become an adult."

Speaking to Edge magazine, Yescombe stresses that it should become the responsibility of developers to move towards more mature subject matter, using world events as inspiration. "It's about what's happening in the world today - it's ludicrous, and how can you make something that doesn't reflect that? Well, you could bury your head in the sand and make Halo 3, but the fact of the matter is there are more important things at stake."

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You might be thinking "Where the hell does Haze fit into all this?" Well, thanks to Yescombe and Free Radical's ever-so-slightly-political bent, Haze's narrative has been crafted as a satire of modern-day warfare, while also working as a guns-blazing blastfest. So don't worry about it being the gaming equivalent of a pacifist's soapbox rant. "Maybe they'll get the satire and maybe they won't," Yescombe points out, adding "our job is to entertain."

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The game is divided into two types of play. When you start the game you are a Mantel soldier, which means you have elite training, the best weapons and a limitless supply of Nectar. While the drug does filter everything you see, it also provides you with some pretty significant gameplay advantages.

When you juice up on the drug, administered through a pack built into the back of your armor, you're given four very specific boosts abilities.

Nectar Perception: All of the rebels in the vicinity are highlighted in a strong orange glow.
Nectar Foresight: A sort of six sense that causes a ripple effect around grenades that have been thrown near you. It also warns you of pending melee attacks.
Nectar Focus: This sniping aid allows you to focus in on a target and, after a second, draw you automatically into a headshot.
Melee Blast: A very powerful melee attack.
Power-up: In general you can take and deal out more damage and you move and turn faster.

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What this means in game, especially in multiplayer games, is that literally everyone looks like a rebel when you OD and your controls will try to auto aim to anyone near your reticle. If you do end up aiming directly at someone your gun will start to fire automatically.

"You suddenly finding yourself working to not aim at people," he said.

People in a Nectar Haze also will sometimes automatically pull a grenade and start to cook it, letting the pin drop out but not throwing it. Eventually it blows up in your hand, taking you and anyone near you out.

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Weapons Steal: You can melee and swipe away a Mantel players gun and then use it on them.
Play Dead: When you down to about 25 percent health you can push a button to drop to the ground and play dead. Because of the Nectar you will literally disappear from the view of all Mantel soldiers. A mini-game allows you to pop back up and dish out some damage. Succeed and you hop to your feet, fail and you stand slowly.
Scavenge: This ability allows you to convert the ammo of any dropped weapon you find to work with the weapon you are currently holding.
Nectar Grenade: You can pry loose the Nectar pack from a fallen Mantel soldier and attach it to a grenade. When you use that grenade it creates a cloud of Nectar that lasts 10 to 15 seconds. Any Mantel soldiers who pass through it or are caught in it will go into overdose mode immediately.
Nectar Knife: Creating Nectar grenades automatically covers the knife in Nectar. If you cut a Mantel soldier with it they overdose.