I WANT TO BREAK FREE
Written: Sep 22 '01 (Updated Sep 22 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Radio was new.
Cons: Radio.
Someone still loves you.
The Bottom Line: I score with numbers, I don't score with stars.
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| windfish's Full Review: Hybrid Heaven for Nintendo 64 |
In theory, Hybrid Heaven looks like the answer to the Nintendo 64's problems. And the excellent science fiction setting and innovative gameplay certainly convey the image of a fantastic video game that could blow away talk of a weakness in the Nintendo 64's third-person action game genre.
However, beneath the stylish covering lies a game that is plagued by faults. Faults that prevent the game from being a classic or even a must-have for Nintendo 64 owners, instead keeping it at the level occupied by the likes of Operation Winback.
Hybrid Heaven isn't a terrible game though and the RPG-like combat system works well alongside the puzzle solving gameplay making it a game that will entertain you. Yet the repetitive nature of the levels and the minor gameplay problems combine to result in a game that will only really appeal to fans of the genre.
Beam me up Scotty
Hybrid Heaven is set deep under New York, with a plot involving hybrids, aliens and a whole lot of other science fiction elements that make it very confusing indeed. The plot is held together well though, and the use of movie scenes help to ease you into the twist and turns that are rife throughout the story.
And there are a lot of twists and turns throughout the game. As initially you're plunged into a situation that is similar to that of the movie, Total Recall – you play a character that has lost his memory and must work out his identity and why he is being chased by a vicious group of alien hybrids.
There are no trips to Mars though, nor is there a woman to aid your one-man mission of world saving. However, there is an odd looking race of good aliens that inform you on the situation and tell you who you actually are. These aliens crop up regularly – accompanied by some strangely X-File-like music – to assist you in stopping the evil hybrids.
After your first chat with the aliens you'll learn of the hybrid's plans for world domination – a goal they hope to achieve by replacing the president with a clone, and having him wage war on Russia. The aliens then slip in a remark about them being no match for hybrids, and ask you to save the world and their spaceship for them.
The truth is down there
The maze of tunnels and chambers that run for miles beneath the surface of New York provide the setting for each one of Hybrid Heaven's vast levels. And although the action never ventures out into the open air (a move I was hoping for every step of the way...), the underground complex provides a stunning amount of variation in both its design and its colour and lighting. With certain areas, in particular, looking like the sort of thing you'd expect from a high-budget science-fiction movie.
Unfortunately, no amount of visual or architectural charm can mask the game's problems when it comes to the structure of the levels. As Hybrid Heaven is quite a linear adventure with the only surprises being the plot twists that are unravelled before your eyes. That's not to say Konami haven't tried to make it more than an interactive story though, and certain sections require you to do a lot of thinking and planning if you wish to survive and successfully proceed through the game. Yet, these sections ultimately boil down to you retracing your steps in search of an elusive switch that you must destroy in order to power down a force field.
But amidst the linear levels lie creative enemies that are always ready to engage you in combat. And once they lock their hideous eyes on you and the word 'fight' appears across the screen, Hybrid Heaven's superb combat mode is in full swing.
It's a combat mode unlike anything that has appeared before though, and is a direct result of mixing RPG elements with 3D fighting influences. As fighting is done by pressing a button when close enough to an enemy, this button press will bring up a menu that you can then select your move from – the move will be of a striking nature though (something like a punch or a kick). To cripple your opponent with a wrestling move you must press R to grapple your enemy, then A to bring up the moves menu.
Likewise, when you're about to be attacked a menu will come up with a feast of options. These options enable you to try to evade the attack, with some defensive moves proving to be more reliable than others. Initially it seems complicated, but as you get into it, the quality of the battle mode becomes more evident and more variation appears – because you learn more moves from enemies when they attack you.
Luckily combat is rife throughout Hybrid Heaven, with many different types of enemy littering the underground complex – each one more challenging than the last.
However, the fight is too one sided to be won by the combat mode alone, no matter how strong it may be. And the bad points that plague the game's adventure mode will force you to drown yourself in the battle mode. As it's not just the linearity of the levels that's the problem, it's the poor camera that impairs your view and hinders your progress too. Konami don't seem to have got the analogue control right either, and at times your legs seem to turn to jelly and you wobble about all over the place.
A thunderous and atmospheric game
Despite the gameplay being rather poor, Hybrid Heaven is excellent graphically and Konami have made every effort to produce an inspiring underground complex. And it isn't until you reach the bridge section that you appreciate that fully – the bridge section is a walk over a huge generator that is bathed in a shade of dark red, it demonstrates the size of the complex and the diversity in detail. As it is a stark contrast to some of the tamer sights – such as the grey corridors that occupy the first stage.
It's not just the detail that will amaze you though. Konami's use of lighting is spectacular and you'll become aware of this in the later stages especially – as one level features a misty environment that is pitch black with the only light source being the coloured spotlights that bounce around the arena. It's tremendously atmospheric and fits in perfectly with the theme of the game.
Similarly, the soundtrack for the game is superb and matches the feel of the huge arenas greatly. Take the bridge scene I mentioned above for example, as the atmosphere is great with just the detail and lighting but when you add a booming drumbeat it is excellent. And that is the effect throughout the game, with the rhythmic pounding providing strengthening the feel and the realistic appeal of the environments.
All in all, Hybrid Heaven is a game that could have been a lot better, but as it is, it barely reaches an above average score. It's a shame too, because the great graphics, stunning sound, and innovative battle mode deserve to feature in a memorable game. However Hybrid Heaven is held back by faults that overcome the good points and turn what should have been an excellent game into a poor attempt at producing a classic.
Gameplay: 6
Story: 10
Graphics: 9
Sound: 9
Replayability: 6
Hybrid Heaven - 6/10
It ain't much I've ask you, I heard him say.
Gotta find me a future, move out of my way
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
windfish
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Location: Sin City
Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 6 members
About Me:
WindFish A sleeping legend...
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