I decided to give this game another chance, as AnyChannel has been
so good about following up my previous comments.

Old Rating: was probably about a '2'
New Rating:  8.75+

The game begins in a really sad way.  Graphically unimpressive.
Enemies leave something to be desired.  Few texturemaps.  Few tasty
morsels to savor, esp. if you don't read the ultra-simple controller
instructions on page 3.

But then I pop in the level code Any Channel's Phil Lam gave out in
this NG.

Wow!!!  Transparency effects!  Vibrant colors.  Speed...mother of god,
SPEEED!

Access 'Rapa Nui' level...then turn on jet pack (double click on
'square' button)...then set them on turbo (press 'select'
button)...then rise into the bleebin' air and go for a HYPERSPEED,
ULTRA SMOOTH sugar-smacking, jet ride!!!

I was wrong...this game is very smooth...the FPS are fine...very fine.

The karate flip maneuver is cool and the yell is great too.

The level design TRULY is a whole new ballgame, being 3d in design.

And get a load of the 3d map...fiddle with it for 5 minutes...press
different buttons...it's a stroke of genius.

And the enemies seem to have grown on me...esp. when I smack 'em
around with the fryin' pan.  The bloody knife doesn't seem so
irritating to me anymore, either.  In fact, I'm glad I _do_ have a
trillion of them to throw.

There are some really sweet elements in this game...it has a garage
development feel to it, no doubt about it.  I really like this...makes
the game very interesting and very FRESH.

The levels are HUGE and dynamic.  Again, the textures aren't always
the best, and the pixellization does get bothersome if you let it.

The weapons are cool.  Now that I'm familiar with all of them, I
assure you, they're excellently conceived.  I esp. enjoyed the rocket
launcher whose perspective you take as you aim it around in the
various levels...wish I could do this in the Rapa Nui level!

I played the levels Phil Lam suggested up to a point, then began at
the beginning.  I see the wisdom in creating the levels so that skills
are well-learned one at a time, mostly.

Which level first excited me a lot (starting from the beginning)?
Sponge.  Sponge was excellent...colorful, dynamic.

It's true, you need to grin and bear it through the first couple of
levels.  But once you tear into the next few, it gets really really
engaging.

The thought of Any Channel doing a follow up to this with better
textures and a new storyline and character is really cool...maybe they
could go for a serious flair next...or get still more wacky.

The sounds are actually IMPORTANT in this game...they give clues where
there wouldn't otherwise be one...they let you know that something's
about to hit you, et cetera.

The enemy AI seems pretty neat good...the karate flip really does come
in handy with the backstabbers and sidesplitters.

And those green blob dudes, it's true, they really do look and sound
cool.  The robots look excellent too.

This game would be unbelieveable if it were given a link-up option and
had more and better textures.  But it's very good as it stands.

Bottom line:  before I got anywhere in this game, I thought it wasn't
worth ten dollars.  Now I think it's a good purchase for someone who
wants a solid game with a lot of surprises and a fantastic level
design.

The PS control pad is PERFECT for this game...simply PERFECT.

Excuse, I've got to get back to playing it now.

DO NOT JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS FIRST FIVE PAGES. (but that's a pretty
tired way of saying "Give it a fair chance, isn't it?")


Rick Brown
brow0130@gold.tc.umn.edu