Nam

About

"Nam" is a historical shooter game that can be played in single-player or multi-player mode. As Marine Corps sergeant Alan 'The Bear' Westmoreland, players must survive a harrowing Viet Cong raid in the jungle, completing missions to ensure their survival. The game immerses players in the challenging and dangerous environment of the Vietnam War.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 136 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

NAM offers a unique and intense experience that captures the chaos of the Vietnam War, making players feel vulnerable and on edge.
The game features a variety of weapons and a decent amount of ammunition, allowing for engaging combat despite its high difficulty.
For fans of retro FPS games and the Build engine, NAM serves as an interesting addition to the genre, providing nostalgia and a challenging gameplay experience.

The game suffers from frustratingly high difficulty, with cheap deaths from hidden traps, powerful enemies, and random airstrikes that can kill players without warning.
Controls are clunky and unchangeable, making gameplay cumbersome and detracting from the overall experience.
Graphics and sound design are subpar, with many assets feeling recycled from Duke Nukem 3D, leading to a lack of originality and immersion.

graphics
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
67%
14%
The graphics of the game are widely criticized for being heavily pixelated and substandard, even for its time in 1998, with many reviewers expressing a desire for a remastered version with modern HD or 4K visuals. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and fun gameplay, they acknowledge that the visuals are a significant drawback, often described as an indistinguishable gray mess with poor hit registration. Overall, players who can overlook the outdated graphics may still find enjoyment in the game's mechanics and nostalgic value.
- “The graphics were amazing for their time.”
- “If you can get past the rough looking graphics, you're in for a fun game.”
- “Aside from that, the graphics are amazing, and the soundtrack is great!”
- “The graphics in this game are heavily pixelated; even in '98 they were substandard, but that wasn't the point.”
- “The graphics are an indistinguishable gray mess, and you will not get a good framerate on DOSBox.”
- “It might sound harsh to criticize a game from 1998 for its graphics, but compared to games that came out two years before, this game doesn't hold up.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its challenging mechanics and realistic level design, reminiscent of classic first-person shooters like Medal of Honor and Duke Nukem. While it offers fun shooting mechanics and a variety of weapons, players have noted issues with unfair difficulty spikes, particularly from environmental hazards, and some poorly implemented mechanics, such as the bleeding system. Overall, it appeals to fans of retro FPS games but may require adjustments for modern controls and gameplay expectations.
- “Something akin to a proto-Medal of Honor or Call of Duty, with more realistic level design, gameplay mechanics, gunplay, and difficulty.”
- “I highly recommend this game to people who like challenging retro pixelated first-person shooters with great gameplay and level design, certainly when the game is on sale!”
- “Fun shooting mechanics, good variety of weapons, and decently designed levels.”
- “Overall seems like gimmicky graphics to pull you into a game with really awful gameplay.”
- “Gameplay-wise, Nam is quite hard and in some areas is unfair, with airstrikes routinely killing you more so than the Vietcong scrambling out of the woodwork.”
- “It's a cheap Duke Nukem 3D ripoff set in the Vietnam War with lots of reused assets and mechanics, and its problems don't end there.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable and fitting for the game's environments, while others describe it as infuriating or unremarkable. Notably, the soundtrack is praised for its nostalgic quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, although some players feel it lacks originality. Overall, the music contributes to the atmosphere, but opinions on its effectiveness vary widely.
- “Bonus points because, at least for me, I enjoyed the music and it fits the environments and theme, and the set pieces (like radios, talking to soldiers and calling air strikes via these radios are nice touches).”
- “Hearing the music and sound effects again took me back.”
- “The soundtrack is lit 😂 👌”
- “And the music is infuriating.”
- “I'm not even certain if the game has music, and if it is, I'm pretty sure it was ripped off from Duke Nukem 3D.”
- “Again once I learned to play it right, in the eduke32 engine with the music turned off, and the doors in the background for atmosphere, I found myself really enjoying this game.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
The story in "Nam" is largely considered secondary to the gameplay, with many reviewers noting that it lacks depth and realism. While mission objectives are engaging, the overall narrative is seen as laughable and not essential to the enjoyment of the game. The game's charm lies in its old-school FPS mechanics rather than its storytelling, which some find amusingly bad.
- “Throughout the game you will receive mission objectives which are awesome.”
- “The theme is so-bad-it's-good territory with ridiculous sound effects and story elements.”
- “A hidden gem of the old school 90s FPS scene, NAM is one of those games that isn't concerned with story or characters or, hell, even realism.”
- “The story included in the original manual is laughable but is not necessary to enjoy the game entirely.”
- “The theme is so-bad-it's-good territory with ridiculous sound effects and 'story elements'.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of military-themed one-liners and comedic moments, appealing to those looking for lighthearted fun, especially in a social setting. However, some players find the humor lacking, with one reviewer stating it was "so bad it's not even funny," indicating a divide in reception.
- “As I mentioned before, I thought this was Duke meets the military in terms of humor, one-liners, and style.”
- “Fun game with funny moments; if you just want to have a little fun, maybe with some friends watching, this is the game for you!”
- “This game has a unique sense of humor that keeps you laughing throughout.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive depiction of war, enhanced by the use of the eduke32 engine and strategic audio choices. Players report that once they adapt to the gameplay, the overall experience becomes enjoyable, largely due to the effective atmospheric elements.
- “This is a very rare game where you can feel the atmosphere of a real war.”
- “Once I learned to play it right, in the EDuke32 engine with the music turned off, and the doors in the background for atmosphere, I found myself really enjoying this game.”
- “It has a pretty good atmosphere as well.”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
- “Despite the setting, the atmosphere lacks any real tension or urgency, leaving me feeling disconnected.”
- “The game fails to create a believable atmosphere, resulting in a bland and forgettable experience.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report that the game exhibits some bugs when played on modern computers, indicating stability issues that may affect the overall experience.
- “The game is quite buggy on modern computers.”
- “I experienced frequent crashes that made it unplayable.”
- “There are numerous glitches that disrupt the gameplay experience.”