Ghost in the Shell is an tank based shooter (with a LOT of twists) 
based on the world back drop of the critically acclaimed movie and 
Manga (Japanese comic's, ahem, "serial artwork") by Shirow Masamune.  
The game was developed by Exact, the crew that bought us the off beat 
hit "Jumping Flash".  The rumor mill has it that Shirow himself was the 
force behind getting Exact to do the game.  Shirow, to the best of my 
knowledge, has a PlayStation by the way...

But enough, background!  On to the game!

In GitS, you pilot a spider like tank called a "Fuchikoma" (FOO-CHEE-
COE-MAH).  You pilot your Fuchikoma through 12 missions in tracking 
down terrorists that have bombed a cyber-body factory.  The Fuchikoma's 
are intelligent, one person tanks that, like the GitS world portrays 
them, are true spiders.  They can walk around, jump, climb walls, AND 
walk on ceilings.  The speed that one can slide around allows for 
interesting ways of finding cover.  Crawling up the side of a wall, and 
sliding to walk on the ceiling to avoid a "ground fire only" robot gun 
is the norm.

The game itself offers "do-able" challenge - that is, there is enough 
intensity to keep you interested without too much to stump you.  Along 
the way are shield power ups, and extra grenades to keep you going.  
And the obligatory "Boss" at the end of the level.

For an extra challenge, there is a "training grounds" mini-game that 
allows you to sharpen up your targeting skills without any enemies 
shooting back (for the most part...).  However, I think that this sub-
game can be a real challenge on its own due to the fact that you are on 
a time limit to complete each area in the training grounds.  And there 
is not much extra time to spare - no goofing around here!  Doing better 
rewards you with different animated congratulation cinemas.  Even if 
you are hot on the trigger and manage to get "A" ratings all the time, 
it is actually worth it to do *poorly* so you can see the other 
cinemas!

The plot of the game is outlined in fully animated cut scenes.  I must 
take a moment here to say that the cinema hardware of the PlayStation 
continues to amaze!  Nice and sharp.  The style, by the way, is from 
the original character designs by Shirow - no Major "Eternally Blank 
Look/Woman of Ice" Kusanagi movie character designs here.  The animated 
scenes, for GitS movie/Manga fans, almost should sell the game on their 
own - they are VERY good.  Some money was spent here!  Supposedly 10 
full minutes of theater quality animation is in the game.  I will also 
say the humorous side of the Fuchikoma's comes out quite frequently in 
the cut scenes, and is not to be missed.

GitS is definitely from the Exact development team.  There are A LOT of 
interface similarities from the Jumping Flash saga - good things.  
Examples:

* Like Jumping Flash, you have access to inter-level cinemas from the 
options menu is available, up to the mission you have successfully 
completed.  (Gosh I wish FF7 did this!)
* The control is just like our favorite "robo-bunny".
* The memory card saving setup is familiar as well (it would also 
appear that Exact must have a trick up their sleeve, or Sony has 
updated the development libraries - memory card access seems quite fast 
to me).

GitS for PlayStation is a great game with high production values (you 
hear this phrase all the time, but I *really* mean it).  The simple but 
mesmerizing effects of the options menu at the start of the game are 
quite cool.  The use of 3D sound effects are just plain spooky.  The 
sound sensation makes you walk around the room putting your hands 
around a spot of empty space thinking to yourself, "that sound is 
coming from right about here..."

Summary:  GitS Manga fans should jump on it to see a well animated 
Motoko Kusanagi with the original character designs.  Shooter fans 
should try it because the mobility of the Fuchikoma's makes for a very 
different set of sniper tactics not seen elsewhere.  Some naysayers 
will say, "Heck, it's just Jumping Flash 3!".  I beg to differ, but 
fans of "Da' Bunny Game" will be right at home with GitS.

GitS has something for everyone!

- Jeffrey Schrab