Bet on Soldier is a French-developed first-person shooter that could surprise people next year. The action is very fast paced, and it looks great for a run-and-gun game. The game is set in a dystopian future dominated by mercenary soldiers. In order to keep bored mercenaries entertained, the "Bet on Soldier" competition was invented. The idea is that mercenaries battle each other for profit, and when two expert mercenaries meet, wagers are placed as to who will win. Before every mission, you're supposed to select one to three ranked soldiers who will appear in the mission and bet on their deaths to earn money.

　　We played a mission in which our mercenary team had to battle into the industrial part of a city and secure explosives and then blow up four trucks. Our team fought its way to the warehouse where the explosives were stored and then came face-to-face with our first main opponent. Major opponents are shown onscreen with a dramatic pause and TV-style graphics that announce the matchup. During this 10-second pause, the game highlights your opponent's only weakness, which you need to take note of. When the action starts up again, you have only one minute to kill him. If you fail to do so, you'll lose the bet.

　　The weapons in the game are all fictional, and they include a pistol, a futuristic assault rifle, and a chaingun. You have to purchase your weapons and equipment in the game, and there are terminals scattered about where you can purchase ammo and other gear.

　　Bet on Soldier features some gorgeous visuals, and the game takes advantage of some of the latest DirectX 9 graphical features. The action is fast and smooth, as well. The environment is also full of explosive objects, such as barrels (of course) and cars. This comes in very handy when you face an opponent armed with a bullet-resistant shield. Bet on Soldier should appeal to fans of Counter-Strike who like fast-paced, round-based play and buying up weapons. We can expect the game to ship around the middle of next year.