This game is by the same people who made Grand Theft Auto 3. That statement alone should be enough to make it a best seller. Ifyou still had any qualms about it then you only need to look at the stickers on the game case saying, "not to be sold to anyone under 18". Mmmmm...the sweet promise of violence.
In short, this game is about carnage and destruction. An evil corporation has taken over America and it is up to you to bring them down! Rah! Let the rioting begin!
You play as a member of Freedom, a group of resistance fighters trying to take down the corporation. Initially there are only two characters to choose from but you can eventually have your pick of 5 different people to wage war on your oppressors.
The most amazing feature of this game is the sheer amount of activity that is going on. It is not uncommon to have over 100-200 people running around on the screen at any one time. Most of them are screaming, some of them are looting and some are just having fights with each other. Even with all this commotion going on the frame rate doesn't slow down at all.
At first you have to do your missions unarmed but you can soon pick up a multitude of weapons, ranging from baseball bats to mini-guns. If an unfortunate bystander should get blown up by a misplaced grenade then feel free to pick up his severed arm and bash the police with it. You can pick up chairs, benches, bins and pretty much anything else that isn't bolted down to the floor in order to help you in your fight.
There is another game mode called 'Chaos' which sees you pitted against the clock to do as much damage as you can in a certain amount of time. You get time bonuses from the bodies of dead corporation security guards or local gang members and you get points for destroying everything you can get your mitts on!
If you are of the squeamish nature or a pacifist then I wouldn't recommend this game at all. If, however, you feel like you want to get back at 'the man' or you are a psychotic with a thirst for destruction then this game is ideal!
There are a few problems with the game design but they shouldn't really affect game play in the long run. For instance, movement is controlled via the little knobbly joystick thing as opposed to the D-pad. For me this proved a pain because I am not used to PS2 controllersat all. After a while this problem dissipates and you hardly notice the difference. Another problem is the camera. It has the annoying tendency to get stuck in places and you have to fiddle with the R/L buttons in order to sort it out. Again, this is only a problem when you are new to the game and you eventually get the hang of it, although it can be a pain in the arse at the beginning when you run around the corner into an angry mob of security guards who are itching to test their night sticks out on your head. Aiming and using the guns can be hard and it's not recommended at close range. If you have to get up close and personal then it is probably best to use an axe or sword. Mwahahaa!
The graphics themselves look quite cartoony and add to the feel of the game. It doesn't seem so violent when you are smacking the crud out of a cartoon character…
All in all this is a good game. It can be a little confusing if you are new to the PS2 and the storyline is a bit wooden but if you are looking for a good violent game with a lot of humour then this is for you. I would certainly recommend this game for after-pub entertainment!
James Coghlan
