Yes, Blue Stinger has problems. Yes, some parts are far too difficult. However, this game isn't deserving of all the flack and low ratings piled upon it. Look beyond the problems and you'll see a promising future for console gaming. If a game with several problems can be this good, imagine how good the next wave of games will be after these problems are fixed.
Comparisons to Resident Evil are unavoidable. The action is somewhat similar, 3D environments, array of firearms and the vast majority of enemies, monsterous once-human zombies, are very similar. Not to mention the eerie movie-like feel that both games produce, but Blue Stinger takes everything that was great about Resident Evil and elevates it to the next level.
Let's start by getting the problems out of the way. First of all, the control isn't completely intuitive. I can't help but think that a small training course, ala Tomb Raider could have helped to solve this problem. Without giving away too much, it seems that most people, myself included, don't readily realize that certain objects can be moved by pushing. This little problem has caused an innordinate amount of unnecessary frustration for several gamers.
Another problem, though more of a whining complaint than anything else is that there is no way to skip through the movie cut scenes. For short movies, this isn't that big a deal but some of the movies, especially the opening sequences, are extremely indepth and can take several minutes to play through. Granted, to get the full movie-like experience, you need to watch the cut scenes but after completing the game, it'd be nice to be able to skip movies when you already know what's going to happen. Also, the dialogue leaves a bit to be desired, though that tends to be standard for video games. They have an excellent story, it wouldn't have been difficult to incorporate a slightly higher literary level to the script.
Finally, certain parts are almost impossible to figure out. Now I'm all for mental challenges, but when you look up a required access code in a strategy guide and STILL can't figure out what the secret to getting it was until an hour later, then it's safe to say they were a little more cryptic about the clues than necessary.
Now, on to the good things, which there certainly are. First off, the story is excellent and you find yourself actually caring about what's going to happen next. There are several miniature side quests that don't effect the overall outcome of the game but are nice diversions from the main storyline. Most of the bosses aren't especially difficult, but you certainly can't just stand still and press the fire button repeatedly and expect to win. And the settings are interestingly unique. From a supermarket to a powerplant, you certainly won't get bored with the scenery.
The weapons array is also vast. From bare fists to shotguns, napalm guns and missle launchers, there's certainly no shortage of firepower. You can even get a laser sword which is nothing less than a lightsaber.
Overall, I was satisfied with the game. I clocked in at 12 hours and 14 minutes upon beating the boss and the ending was more than fitting. Sure, the game has some rough edges, but it's one of the first Dreamcast games to be released, so perfection can't be expected. However, if future games were to use Blue Stinger as a model from which to launch their own more refined masterpieces, the future of gaming is certainly bright.
Stranded by a bizarre meteor impact and surrounded by monstrous mutations, rescue agent Eliot Ballade must unravel the mysteries of Dinosaur Island or...More at eBay
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