Once again the miniature plastic heroes from the huge Army Men series are set to splatter our screens and monitors with molten goo as the Tan’s and Greens take their combat to new heights in ARMY MEN: OPERATION MELTDOWN. In this one, originally titled Army Men: World War, they are using the WWII beaches, jungle settings, abandoned cities and ravaged countryside to wage their all-out attacks for overall supremacy and, as supreme commander of the Green army, it’s up to you to make sure they succeed. 

The third-person control is the same as in previous titles but for anyone new to plastic combat a comprehensive tutorial is on hand to guide you through the basic training. You’ll learn to aim and fire rifles and bazookas, accurately target mortar fire and take control of heavy artillery before embarking on your quest to eradicate the terrible Tan’s once and for all…. Well, not really coz there’s a few more titles planned for the future…! 

Each of the 16 missions has a specific objective to achieve but, thankfully, an accurate terrain map will help you reach your goal. On the other hand, most missions rely upon the exploits and skill of a lone soldier, which means that some sort of tactical expertise is needed by players to survive the often-overwhelming odds. Armed with only a rifle and infinite shells you must guide your man through this hostile territory using any cover to your best advantage. More powerful weaponry can be collected along the way but these rely on you locating suitable ammunition for them. Once it’s gone…! 

Grenades and flamethrowers cause some graphic animated damage to the opposition and use some very nice pyrotechnic effects that light up the immediate area. Good thing too…! As you would expect in actual combat situations the scenarios are often dark and dreary, reflecting the horrors of war. Damage to your lone hero is repairable but you’ll need to keep an eye open for the first aid boxes amid the molten carnage. Thankfully, especially for the squeamish ones, blood is not an issue but you will come across lots of plastic puddles of dubious origin. 

While this is mainly a game of hunting down and disposing of the enemy some of the graphics and audio effects are very good. The stirring background music also plays a big part and helps you to realise why, throughout history, soldiers have taken their musicians into battle.