The Tribes series has always attracted a core of loyal gamers, but it has never been the runaway success it deserved. The original game was ahead of its time, delivering an innovative multiplayer game which relied heavily on team coordination and strategy. The sequel expanded on this, with deeper strategic options and slick design but, again, it still failed to gain traction outside its diminishing fan base. So now, thanks to Canberra-based Irrational Games, we have the third incarnation which tries to attract a mainstream audience, while staying true to the original series.

For those unfamiliar with the series, it's a strategic team based affair, played on large sprawling maps with standard game modes like capture the flag, deathmatch and any variant in between. The most notable change for Vengeance is the revamped strategic model, or to put it another way, the lack of a strategic model. Where the original games featured complex sensor networks and a team commander, Vengeance keeps the strategy lean and fast-paced. The faster gameplay also works well on the smaller maps, which are still mostly outdoor environments with rolling hills. Veterans will also note that the elegantly simple jet pack and 'skiing' mechanics are largely unchanged, and the physics model is excellent.

The other big change is the single player campaign. Tribes was renowned for its strictly multiplayer angle, but having the chance to experience the Starsiege world in a tight, single player story, is a welcome addition. On the flipside, the campaign feels too much like a training ground for the multiplayer game rather than a game in its own right, so if you're after the definitive single player Tribes experience, you'll be disappointed.

But this is primarily a multiplayer game, and its success will be based on its popularity on the servers. It's got a tough time ahead of it, with the Battlefield series and Counter-strike still going strong, and the imminent release of Half-Life 2 based games. Sadly, although the slick, fast gameplay may make this one of the best multiplayer games out there, we doubt whether it'll have the clout to make a dent online.