Headhunter

"MGS with a motorbike? Resi Evil without zombies? Shenmue with guns?"

This games is only released in Europe on the Dreamcast, import or look out for the PS2 version if you live outside of Europe.

Graphics:
Graphically Headhunter is exceptional. Unlike it's fellow survival horrors, it opts to go for a sunnier instead of horror movie style. This makes it look much more like an action film such as Die Hard. The FMV (full motion video) sequences are exceptional even though the characters sometimes look a bit freaky and sound strangely like Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger (well at least to me).
9/10

Gameplay:
The gameplay has often been compared to games such as Resident Evil, Metal Gear Solid and even Shenmue. Even though it feels like all of these at some points, it is very much a game with it's own cliches and ideas. You may sneak about Metal Gear Solid-esque, it never seems as important as it does in MGS. The big bad guys are similar to MGS I guess, but the battle system makes it feel somewhat different. It involves some very Resident Evil style puzzles, but in reality that isn't the first thing you think about when somebody say Resident Evil is it? The Shenmue side was the comparison I found the most fitting, it just felt like Shenmue even if it didn't play that similarly. The motorbike sequences are brilliantly handled apart from the experience points. You are driving along at full speed and suddenly a car pulls out in front of you losing a hundred experience points is extremely annoying, somebody should have told Amuze not to include RPG elements. But this is only a tiny fault and worth over-looking.
9/10

Sound:
The soundtrack is supplied by Richard Jacques. I was disappointed by his work on Metropolis Street Race, I loved his excellent track on Jet Set Radio. But this is his crowning achievement, it is very under-stated and hard to notice but it suits the game perfectly. I take my hat off to you Mr. Jacques.
10/10

Lifespan:
This game took me over a week to win, but it seems to be pulling me back to play through it again, I've heard there is some secret harder modes which are unlocked when you beat all the records on the LEILA missions. I think there may be some other hidden features yet to be unlocked too.
8/10

Overall:
This game is the perfect example of a game that builds hype on the fact it looks similar to other famous games, and then does it's own thing. A good sign of things to come from Amuze (this is their first game), and I will certainly look out for their games in the future.
9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/07/02, Updated 02/07/02