Expendable

"The game Contra:LoW should have been."

Mayhem. That's the best way to describe Expendable. From the second you turn the game on you are bombarded with enemies and gunfire, and that's the way it should be.

Gameplay: 9

Expendable is an arcade game at heart. It's simple to pick up and play, and within 10 minutes you'll know everything you need to gun down the multitudes of enemies you'll encounter. Two player simultaneous play is included as well, further adding to the old school arcade feel.

Your soldier can carry 3 different weapons simultaneously, and with a press of the X button, can switch at will. Grenades are also available, and pack quite a punch once you learn the proper amount of throwing power to apply in order to hit your target. New weapons, powerups, and ammo refills can be found strewn about the battlefield as you exercise your duty as a scion of death.

Puzzles are present, though they're mainly just of the ''get card key, go to barrier with said card key'' variety, and this keeps the action high.

For most gamers, I recommend the normal difficulty level, but if you want a challenge or are play in two player mode, expert is the way to go.

Graphics: 8

Rage Software has done an excellent job on Expendable. The areas you fight in look great, and the lighting effects on your shots and explosions are wonderful. The models can be a bit blocky at times, especially during the cinemas. Also, the textures look a bit sub-par during the cinemas, but during normal gameplay Expendable looks beautiful. The framerate rarely drops in a noticeable way, and then only when multiple explosions are on screen in my experience.

Sound/Music: 7

Expendable's sound is perfectly acceptable, and the different weapon types have various effects to differentiate them. Explosions are nice as well, and through a subwoofer, I would expect them to sound quite good.

The BGM is mostly unoffensive techno, and is at a low level during gameplay. So much so that often, when there are many explosions/gunfire going off, it's nearly inaudible.

Story: N/A

You are a soldier bred to kill, and thus are EXPENDABLE. And kill you shall. There's no real story to speak of, save for about two pages in the manual, and there's no need for a story, because you'll be too busy blasting enemies to care.

Replay Value/Fun Factor: 9

Assuming you like old school action games and shooters, Expendable holds much fun encoded on that little GD-ROM. It's got a -pick up and play- game engine that practically anyone can become good at in minutes, and all it requires you to do is kill, or be killed. It's great for those days when you want to let out some frustration. It has three difficulty levels, and Expert is quite hard, though it's recommended for you hardcores out there.

Verdict: 9

Expendable is a throwback to simpler days, when games like Commando, Ikari Warriors, and Contra ruled the roost. It's a fun, mindless jaunt of destruction with some pretty visuals and passable sound along the way.

If you are a fan of the genre, definitely buy it. It should be available new for no more than $20 US these days, and possibly cheaper at many fine establishments. That $20 or so will get you a lot of play time and fun.

If you're not a fan of the shooting genre, rent it first. If you can find it for a good bargain though, pick it up and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/13/01, Updated 05/13/01