Normally, that wouldn't seem like such a bad thing, but in the new FPS Operation: Matriarchy, the women aren't super-model vixens right out of the pages of the latest Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. Instead, they're more like 24th century Borgs, with superior armor, cannons for arms, and an intelligence hooked into a complex biomechanical matriarchy. Unfortunately, I'm not talking Jeri Ryan borgs, either. More curves, please!

Still, this is an interesting new shooter coming soon from Mother Russia. Here's the story line: "A planet-wide epidemic caused by an extraterrestrial virus totally changed all women of the planet of Velian. Their bodies transformed to become parts of collective intelligence, presumably controlled by some non-humanoid creatures. The Velian men proved to be resistant to the virus, but they lost their status of free intelligent beings and only existed as suppliers of biomaterial for further gene experimentation..."

Not content to feed on the remains of their enfeebled boy-toys, the fem-bots have started attacking federation transports and asking for trouble. Your job, trooper, is to attack.

The preview copy sent to ESCMAG included the majority of the levels and weapons due for release "soon". The background music was partly together, and featured a driving, rhythmic techno tune that paved the way for battle. The levels were spectacular in places, using what's being touted as a home-grown engine that shines in close quarters. You'll find several long corridors, deep catacombs and sterile office quarters from which to stalk your quarry. The lighting and shading were excellent, and in several places I as able to glide smoothly and quickly in search of prey. I liked parts of this game much better than Doom 3, as I felt more in control and I could see what I was doing.

Elsewhere, the collision physics weren't set up and I could literally pop through walls and staircases. No bother; I could get back into action by turning around. It was a little unnerving at first, but you take the good with the bad in previewing pre-release code.

Weapons were scattered throughout the levels, with ample ammo packs and medical kits to keep up the good health. There are some interesting variations on body armor promised as well. All in all, this package looks well thought-out, with nice production values and pretty good depth.

Hit points are more realistic than in many games, with a "rag-doll" technology backing life-like hit anatomy. Judging from the muzzle flashes and ricocheting bullets, I think more work could be done in amping up the combat effects, but it may just be early.

My version didn't have any LAN support that I could tell, but that has lots of promise. I hope there are more wide-open areas, however. The appeal of Halo 2 and Counterstrike is in the spacious play zones, whereas Matriarchy had a bit of a cramped feel. I don't know how four shooters are going to interact in some of the tighter spots, so I assume that online death matches are slated for different levels where the players can spread out.

Bottom line, it's not just another shooter. Starting with the premise of battling mechanized women, and the excellent graphics of a new game engine, there is a lot to look forward to. Unfortunately, the women are mostly in advanced stages of mutation, with the boss barely recognizable as feminine. I was hoping for a little more skin, to tell the truth, but then at some point I was willing to settle for plain old flesh. Alas, the transformation was blotting out all familiar signs on most of the enemy. My advice would be to keep some of those, er, features, around.