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Breakdown |
by Coola
4/21/2004 |
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Breakdown, the awkward feeling First Person Shooter from Namco, plugs you right into the story from the beginning. You play as Derrick Cole, an ex-military soldier who was chosen to be in a top-secret experiment. You begin the game waking up from an eerie dream, finding yourself dazed and confused in a laboratory, much like the time you drank too much and had a hangover. As with most games, you learn the controls of the game via a walk-through training process. Breakdown obviously took a page out of Halo for the way the controls are set up. You stare at lights to adjust to the x and y-axis while some guy up behind a pane of glass is blabbering his mouth off.
When you move around, it takes a while to get use to, for this is not your average first person shooter. In fact, you could say this is a First Person Action game due to the fact that you find yourself fighting with your fists as often as you are with a gun. No multiplayer to speak of here, obviously there is no Xbox Live support. But don’t cry little one, in a game such as Breakdown there isn’t a need to add on to it because it finishes up nicely. Who would want an extra thirty minutes tacked onto the end of Titanic?
Usually I would go into the plot of a video game, but all I will say is that the plot is deep and very, very confusing. The developers thought this one through and it will have you guessing throughout the game as to what’s going on. I kid you not; this game had me freaked out at some points. Very Resident Evil like. Hey, if you think I’m a wuss then you turn out all your lights during a thunderstorm while your home alone and play the darkest parts of the game. And if your pants aren’t wet then I’m just a twit.
  
Gameplay – 7
I have to admit that when I played this game for long periods of time, it got me dizzy because you don’t always control the view. Keep a barf bag handy; it’s motion sickness to the extreme. For example, when you’re getting a drink from a vending machine, it sort of “takes control” and things happen too fast for my poor head to keep up. This prevented me from enjoying some of what Breakdown had to offer. Once you get over the motion sickness the game is really entertaining. You can’t help to feel that you’re in a blockbuster movie starring you.
Breakdown arms you with a small variety of weaponry ranging from a 9 millimeter handgun to a – you got it – a rocket launcher! There are other items besides handguns, which include beverages, or rations you may pick up and eat to gain your health back. There are no “levels” to speak of here; this is a straightforward, save at each checkpoint game. The control has this “wobbly” effect, which I got used to after a while, but then things just went downhill. The one thing that bothered me was that darn control. They seem to give you a choice if you want to use the auto-aim feature or not, but when I started playing without it I found out quickly that auto-aim was a necessity to my survival. It’s the awkward angle at which Derrick holds his gun that holds you back from actually aiming. Combine that with no cross hairs and auto-aim is looking mighty fine. The downside of the auto-aim is that you couldn’t shoot at an entire group, but rather target one enemy, pump him full of lead and then target another. This was very frustrating when there’s an entire freaking squad waiting for you.
Another frustrating part was its fighting system. As you progress through the game you will begin to slowly gain strange energy based powers. You’ll eventually cross paths with the T’Lan Warriors and your weapons will be useless. This sets up the hand-to-hand combat of the game. Even though you can fist fight from the start, the juicy fights kick in when you cross the muscle heads. At times this concept works really well and at other times it just plain sucks. If you slip up and miss your target, you’ll unleash a deadly combo right into thin air only for your opponent to slap the crap out of you from behind. When you’re getting double teamed by two muscle heads, this isn’t the best time to be in a first person perspective.
 
Graphics - 7
Yes, some may disagree with me on this one, but I am a natural born graphics whore. This game looks really good. Complete with all your graphic fetishes like bump mapping and unique lighting for its levels. Nothing really ground breaking here unless you’re into the whole “lightning” arm effect. I must admit though, the arm only looks cool when the lightning effect comes into place. Other than the blessing of Zeus, the arm looks like a plastic arm you’d find on your abandoned G.I. Joe. I’m disappointed in the explosions of the fragmentation grenades, but I guess I’m still awed by Halo’s graphical milestones. The level designs are rich with detailed textures and a few surprises here and there.
One of my favorite little graphic tricks was the whole blurring effect. This blurring effect happens at certain points of the game; you’ll know it when it happens because you go into this drunken state of mind. The character models look good as well; Namco didn’t half-ass it like other games do which really gives off the feeling like you there and not playing some video game. The lighting in the game isn’t all that, the shadows have that blocky effect and reek of jaggies. By this time you would have hoped we abolished those damn things, at least from an Xbox owner perspective. The cut-scenes in the game use the in-game graphics and not some over the top graphics. I like this approach because every time I see cut-scenes that have better graphics than the actual game, it makes me wonder if the developers could have raised the bar and focused on the game instead of producing amazing and life-like movie scenes.
Sound - 8
The voice-overs in the game are an improvement in this genre, which has seen scores of characters going over the top and screaming, which really lowers the realism of the game. What I found funny was when you punch with Derrick it makes this “whoosh” noise which I could never understand. He doesn’t punch fast enough to create that sound. I actually had to stand in the mirror myself to prove my point. Needless to say when I punch it doesn’t make a “whoosh” sound like Derrick. Guess Namco has been eating their Wheaties. Maybe I’m just being too hard on them? …Nah But I will give them props for that creepy music they play, the kind you’d find at a funeral home when shopping for your own coffin. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about.
The music in Breakdown comes in at the right times, from the creepy scenes to the shock therapy ones it hits right on the money. I will admit that at one point in the game I did jump up from my chair and nearly suffered from a heart attack. Only because I was playing Barbie’s Horse Adventures before I started playing Breakdown, okay? Namco followed the standard train and plugged the much-loved In-Game Dolby 5.1 Surround sound for those brave enough. Sorry, no custom soundtracks here.
Overall - 7
Namco is doing what other companies have attempted; innovation of the first person genre. I believe that Namco has made the most significant step in trying to change the way we play in the First Person Perspective by introducing new features. But really, how far can you push a genre that’s has been around the bush and back? Grabbing something to drink from a vending machine or eating a hamburger doesn’t justify that claim enough. It’s the fighting system that justifies it, arguably the best fighting system for any first person shooter to date. Other first person games allow you to maybe hit someone or even punch, but this one allows you to punch, kick and block. You can even flip or use your hidden energy to whoop up the big bad bully. Although they didn’t quite get it on the first run, this leaves room for improvement. The replay value goes down significantly once you beat the game; because once you do that’s it, zip zilch nada. This is the case for any other single player games so don’t hold that against this one. If you’re really bored and looking to spice up your gaming library you’re safe to buy it. But if you’re a bit cautious of your wallet – at best this is a Priority Rental.
Related News, Images & Links
News
» Breakdown Screens and Info on Wednesday, June 4 2003
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Coola
X365 Member
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bah that review sucked
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[Coola@Xbox365.com]
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DeeLux
X365 Member
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^ I agree....
But thanks for trying anyway :)
So did you only get as far as the part where you have to fight 2 T´lan warriors? I noticed your review stopped there.... (I got stuck there last night)
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Coola
X365 Member
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no LOL, i finished the game thank you very much. that a rule in reviewing games y´know :p
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Posts: 710
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[Coola@Xbox365.com]
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Maverick
X365 Member
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sounds pretty good, for $20 bucks I´ll grab a copy. nice review bird-man.
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Talk to me Goose!
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Coola
X365 Member
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anytime bro... anytime ;)
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Posts: 710
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[Coola@Xbox365.com]
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Weapon X
X365 Member
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FYI: Target has this game on sale for $19.99 till may 10th!
I might just have to run out and get a copy for that price, and see what all the fuss is about!
ONLY ON XBOX! ;)
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Lazyboy5964
Heckler
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coolas just trying to get points with jason so he can be staff.....thats right...i know!
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Stryfe01
X365 Member
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Is target having it on sale nationwide or is it only that one store in CA ?????
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Weapon X
X365 Member
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Nation wide, I live in St. Louis MO. and it´s "priced reduced" till MAY 10th.
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Coola
X365 Member
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FYI, Jason doesn´t control that... and if you didn´t know.. i´ve been staff since dec. 03 =)
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[Coola@Xbox365.com]
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squall
X365 Member
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hmmmm, i have to agree with your decision on the graphics...maybe just because im so used to ninja gaiden :)
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j west
X365 Member
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this game rocks
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GameTag: GameYear
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Weapon X
X365 Member
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Well I put down the "nickel" this past Saturday afternoon on this game from TARGET. On sale for $19.99 till May 10th....It is a GOOD game!
I like the new feel it gives to f irst person perspective games, controls are a little funny at f irst but after a hour of game play it is second nature!
The game needs to be played at night, or with the shades closed. Very dark in some places and hard to see in daylight hours. If you have your Xbox hooked up to a Suround Sound system, you will really love this game!
Make sure you go into the options screen and slow down the turn speed other wise you will get motion sickness. Keep the Target Lock ON and Auto Center ON and it will help in gun fights and hand to hand battle.
Not sure if it is worth $50.00, have not even come close to finishing the game. But for $19.99 at TARGET, well worth the price of addmission! ;)
ONLY ON XBOX! ;)
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Coola
X365 Member
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...................-__- you trying to beat my review???
Thats a good summary of it though... but still.. your crossing territory just like Muad. I´m watching you.. -__o
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[Coola@Xbox365.com]
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Weapon X
X365 Member
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HA! HA! HA! LOL, That was good, Coola! For what it´s worth, I liked your review. It made me want to see what the game was like.
ONLY ON XBOX!
P.S. Why do we all keep posting on 4/21/2004? Are we stuck in a time warp? lol
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Coola
X365 Member
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in "here" there is no time, for no one can hear you scream... its like space... dark... cold... silence... but the only thing you see... are my eyes staring.. staring cold.. staring cold icey eyes.. waiting... waiting for you to slip up and make that wrong turn into my alley... then.. and only then will you get a defintion... circumsicion... o_O
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[Coola@Xbox365.com]
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Weapon X
X365 Member
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Help! I need some addvice on how to get pass SOLUS, in the f irst real battle against him! Anyone?
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Nabeshin
Heckler
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One I got used to the controls, I could walk into a room of T´Lans and not even take a punch. Its funny slapping those bastards around like a rag-doll.
Weapon X, I´ve only just started on Breakdown, check www.gamespot.com for some game guides.
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Axeman
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Game STUNK.... Major.
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damaged
X365 Member
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this game is worth it just for the story and one of the end battles...
words cant describe how much i love this game.
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Beezee
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THIS GAME IS GIVING ME AN ANURISM I CANT BEAT THE PART WHERE LIKE 5 TLAN WARRIORS ATTACK YOU NEAR NEXUS AND THEN THE FAT PRICKS COME OUT AND THEN THE INVISIBLE BITCHES COME OUT AND THEN THE SHOOTERS AND THEN THEY ALL COME OUT AT ONCE. TO THE GUY WHO GOT STUCK ON 2 TLAN WARRIORS, SHUT THE HELL UP. DID ANYONE ACTUALLY BEAT THIS GAME
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