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Intro Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever is the sequel to classic Ecks vs. Sever, which is based on the movie featuring Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu, while Ballistic isn't. Confused? Well, the story goes as such: Ecks vs. Sever was completed in time to be a companion piece to the movie, but when the movie got pushed back, BAM! decided to release the game instead of having it sit on the shelf for who knows how long. Now, in time for the theatrical release is the sequel, which sports the same name and movie poster art, but not the same storyline, so if you're looking for the one based on the movie, pick up the original. While the story may be a bit more confusing than the first release, it's nice to see that Crawfish Interactive stepped up to the plate and released another phenomenal title as the follow-up is just as enjoyable, if not more so, than the revolutionary original. Gameplay: 9/10 Before Ecks vs. Sever, the thought of a first-person shooter on the Game Boy Advance seemed preposterous. The SNES only saw a few, if that many, and since the GBA has yet to match the power of its console counterpart, it wasn't a big surprise that gamers had their doubts. Then came a small title from Crawfish Interactive and BAM!, Ecks vs. Sever, which shattered gamers' preconceived notions by being challenging, innovative, and a small technical marvel for the GBA. With the release of DOOM shortly after, the notion of a FPS appearing on the little handheld seemed a rather welcome one, as both releases were excellent. It's tricky getting into Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever at first; it's been so long since the days of pixilated foot soldiers and dogs that the game may seem underwhelming at first, but time shows just how advanced the title really is. Sporting not one, but two scoped weapons - the Hellcat and Rocket launcher - players can actually zoom up and independently control the target; this method is both impressive and ingenious. Those aren't the only weapons that they will get their hands on, as grenades, pistols, knives, automatic rifles, and machine guns will all be available. Both Ecks and Sever - FBI and ex-NSA agents, respectively -- will be introduced to different varieties of weapons at different times, and each support different campaigns that feature intertwining stories and levels. The design is solid throughout both campaigns, which feature challenging and interesting levels. Strafing is a crucial element of gameplay, and the ability to duck comes in handy as secret passages, ammo, weapons, and even cheats are hidden away in both water and on land. That said, it should be noted that my main complaint with Ballistic is the enemy A.I. There seems to be a standard rule that, nine times out of ten, an enemy will get a shot off before they die. Unless their back is facing the player and they are walking away, it's almost guaranteed that no matter how nicely an ambush is set up, they will manage to take a chunk out of your health before they fall to the ground. This makes the game incredibly difficult as the small screen can make spotting them difficult, and falling over dead without knowing how or why is never fun. It's easy to be impressed by what Crawfish
tapped out of the GBA with Ballistic, which really ups the
ante for anyone else looking to release a FPS on the handheld. With
a nice array of weapons, fairly lengthy campaigns, cheats hidden
throughout the level, and not to mention a multiplayer mode, there's
plenty to keep shooter fans busy. This is a fine example of what
the GBA is capable of and what can be achieved at the hands of sound
developers. Graphics: 9/10 Sound: 7/10 Control: 8.5/10 The characters themselves handle well with the abilities to strafe and duck/dive coming in handy on several occasions. Switching weapons is simple enough, as is using them. They do tend to turn a little sluggish though, which can be hell on the thumbs after a bit, but other than that, it's extremely easy to get into and gamers new to the genre will find themselves at home in no time. Overall: 8.5/10 [ top ] |
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