|
by Interplay
|
A good friend of mine
recently picked up this game, played it for a few minutes, and then returned it the next
day. "Lifes too short," he said to me, " to play bad video
games." I was pretty surprised. Virtually everything that I had heard about the game
when it was released on the PC last year was positive. I had personally been looking
forward to the PS2 port for some time. Having now played the game, Ive learned that
my friend is a little shallower than I had first thought. He judged the game completely on
its visual merits. It didnt wow him graphically, so he didnt give it time to
impress him with the story or gameplay. Giants: Citizen Kabuto is good, cheeky fun.
Theres really no better way to describe it. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment I
spent playing it. Unfortunately, some of the visuals are not up to speed which may keep
some people from enjoying this title. Fans of off-center British
humor are sure to enjoy the cut-scenes between levels. The basic premise of the game
involves overthrowing despotic aliens by playing as three different species. As with most
video games on market the narrative serves the action, but by including a race of helpless
yet self-centered aliens the game is able to get some real laughs out of the cut-scenes.
As I played, I found myself reminded of the gameplay and tone of MDK 2 and thats a
good thing. In an age where too many video games are taking themselves much too seriously,
its awfully nice to see a game with smart-alecky aliens who are completely
incompetent and could care less.
The
first third of the game you play as a Mec named Baz. The Mecs are a species that enjoy a
good time and wont let anything get in the way of their partying. Next up is the
magical Delphi, daughter of the ruling despot. Finally you get to play as Kabuto the
giant.
Breaking Giants up into three playable characters really helps
keep the game from getting stale. By the time I got to the end of the Mecs level, I
really needed a change. When you change characters it really does feel like an entirely
different game. Many of the basic missions feel the same, but the gameplay is decidedly
different. There are plenty of weapons and tools to choose from. Not only do you get guns
and really big guns, but the Mecs also have Jet Packs and camouflage. Playing as Delphi
gives you a bevy of spells, swords, and arrows. Kabuto doesnt have any weapons other
than his massive size and insatiable appetite, but trust me, thats enough.
Its a pretty straightforward third person shooter. You have your standard
search and rescue and search and destroy missions, but the game also incorporates some RTS
elements that really add to the overall gameplay. It was a nice break in all of the
shooting to be able to focus on building a stronghold and keeping my workers well fed and
defended.
The levels feel pretty sparse and the number of foes can be a
little is not exactly legion. The one thing that the game does have going for it is the
size of the levels. The islands that you fight on are absolutely massive. More than once I
found myself getting a little lost. Dont expect to finish this game in one setting.
I kept thinking that the end was just around the corner, but the play went on and on and
on. Even with the massive storage potential of the DVD format, it seems like so many games
can be finished in a few short hours. Most game developers know that the quicker some kid
can finish a game, the sooner theyll be able to buy another.
For as much as I enjoyed the game, I do have to admit that it could have looked
a lot better. Character movements lacked any real fluidity and landscapes felt almost
barren. In a few instances when the action got really intense the visuals were so choppy
that I thought I was playing the game on a sub-par PC. If you are a shallow gamer and can
admit it, you would probably do well to avoid the game. But if youre willing to look
past the dated graphics, you will find a game that is both entertaining and involving.
Ive said it before, and Ill say it again, Giants: Citizen Kabuto is good
cheeky fun.
Jason Frank (04/04/2002) |
|
Snapshot
Ups: Great sense of humor; nice variation in gameplay.
Downs: Graphics are a bit dated.
Platform: PlayStation 2
|
|
|
|
|