Play this game in the dark for maximum effect. The musical score is also right on target - very moody, but never overwhelming the experience. Gameplay is a mixture of action and role playing, much like the original. Quite a bit of thought was given to character development, since it is easy to set up but quite detailed - rarely will anyone play a character with the same statistics at the beginning of the adventure. A detailed training mode starts you out right, giving you a nice insight into the controls and inventory manipulation.
Marines are the toughest physically, and begin with the most weapons skills.
Naval personnel are more knowledgeable technically, and the OSA concentrate on their psi skills. When you are prepared to begin the actual game, you first choose one of these service branches to set your primary statistics. These are not played out, simply chosen and give you a more defined trait set. After that, the Von Braun mission takes you into the heart of the game. During the mission, the option of upgrade will present itself, and you will further refine your skills.