Tribes: Vengeance single-player demo 2 for Windows

Tribes: Vengeance might not have the graphics of Doom 3, the physics engine of Half-Life 2, or even the advanced artificial intelligence of Far Cry, but its frenetic action and jet-packing make for excellent fun, and this second single-player demo provides plenty of free content and variety for players to get an excellent feel for the game. You play Mercury, a robot assassin who must infiltrate the Phoenix's computer system, identify the subclan leader Daniel, and take him out.

If you've played any of the games mentioned above, the graphics of Tribes: Vengeance might feel like a blast from the near past. However, the controls are tight, and shooting is fair and accurate. The energy-boost system, combined with flying through the air and easy grenade access, leads to explosive firefights. The mission doesn't last forever, but you get more than enough enemies to blast and a large environment to explore. Although we didn't experience any major crashes during play, load times seem interminable; starting and quitting the demo require patience as well. If you're looking for pure action, give the first single-player demo a whirl. For an excellent look at how the single-player missions unfold, try this demo.