Alekhine's Gun

Alekhine's Gun for PC, PS4 and XONE is an espionage action game with elements of stealth, and a Russian response to the popularity of series such as Hitman or Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell. It was created by Haggard Games, known for the cycle Death to Spies – initially, the game was designed as the third installment in this series. Eventually, however, not only did the title change but also the story and the concept of gameplay were altered.

Story

The title of the game is derived from a chess formation named after one of the best players in the history of this sport, a Russian named Alexander Alekhin. This reference perfectly fits the theme of the game, which revolves around a truly chess-like competition of intelligence agencies that took place during the Cold War. The player takes on the role of a Russian agent and skilled assassin called Alekhin, who works with the American CIA, participating in a series of covert operations in various parts of the world. When faced with the growing threat of nuclear conflict, our protagonist discovers a secret conspiracy, and the fate of not only the US but the whole world rests in his hands.

Gameplay

Alekhin’s Gun for PC, PS4 and XONE offers 11 extensive missions with an open structure, taking place in Europe, the United States and Cuba. The game is played from a third-person perspective, and the tasks we deal with consist in, among other things, infiltrating secret bases, stealing important documents, and eliminating problematic people. The mechanics are highly reminiscent of the abovementioned Hitman series, offering several possible paths to execute a mission, depending on the preferences of the player. Similarly to the series about Agent 47, throughout the game we make use of a variety of disguises, garrote, poisons, knives and firearms; we can also fake a fatal accident. Upon completing each mission, the player’s actions are evaluated according to their effectiveness and methods. The results are transferred to special online rankings, motivating the players to complete the same mission repeatedly in several different ways.

Technology

The graphics in Alekhine's Gun for PC, PS4 and XONE were created based on a proprietary engine, which looks pretty decent in action. However, in terms of texture quality and the number of effects and character animations, the title isn’t on par with other high-budget productions.

Last updated on 01 September 2015