5/16/2003

The story is excellent and although i have yet to watch Reloaded, i find it engrossing driving me to continue playing to learn more about the characters and their role in the greater scheme of things.

Graphics are.... mediocre at best.. Character models are outstanding but they seem to have come at the cost of environmental detail. Textures seem bland and repetitive and at times flicker or disappear all together. This could be because i'm running at 1080i on my television but regardless.. graphics other than the main character models are disappointing

The music thus far (i have not completed the game as yet) seems to be fitting tho at times the "action" music can get a bit repetitive. Nothing really LEAPED at me about the music mind u and maybe thats just me... the game just seems more weighted towards the visual.

This is where the game falls apart. Erratic camerawork, jerky controls and the absolute lack of polish on the controls ruins what could be a phenomenal game. I am of the mindset where you do something right or don't do it at all. The controls in this game should not have been sacrificed the way they were. I understand about rushed deadlines but if you're gonna sacrifice anything don't sacrifice fluid responsive controls. The FOCUS however is well implemented really helps with the overall FEEL of the game. the switching of gameplay types is interesting if not a little "gimmicky". The driving is half decent although it just feels lacklustre. Perhaps i'm being hasty since i haven't completed the game but it seems to me that they just tried to do too much and sacrificed the potential for a really great game. Take away the extra gameplay elements (driving etc.) and the Focus and you basically have a splinter cell/syphon filter/metal gear wanna be that doesn't hold its own against any of those titles.