Genre: First-Person Shooter
Developer: 5 Miles Out
Publisher: Electronic Arts

Immercenary is probably the 3DO game with the most proprietary-to-that-platform engine, and it's consequently incredible; the artwork is only so-so, but from a technical standpoint it's continually streaming the entire city from disc, overlaying super high resolution, full-motion video over the polygonal backdrops, and doing lots of low-level, real-time pixel drawing and distortion.

The pleasantly campy sci-fi, live-acted, wonderfully choreographed full-motion video scenes-- complete with sophisticated costume, set, and makeup work-- is well acted in a 1960s sci-fi sort of way, and that acting carries over to the in-engine voice work used in the "DOAsys" hub area. The soundtrack won't go down as a classic work, but it and the game's sound effects do enough to lend a one-of-a-kind atmosphere and sense of character to the proceedings.

The remarkably large city is well designed, and each of its districts are interesting to explore. The auto-run based control scheme was a good design decision considering the vast outdoor area the player is constantly exploring. The various items that can be collected-- especially the spectacular Nukeya-- are interesting to watch and fun to use. There are even some light RPG mechanics in the form of stat leveling.

This is one of those rare games that undoubtedly makes a large and permanent impression on anyone who plays it, such is its incredibly distinctive sense of style and extraordinarily unique technical implementation. It would be foolish to say that Immercenary is one of the best games ever made. What is certain is that it's one of the coolest.