Expendable

"Boom boom sticks!"

It doesn't happen very often, but every once in a while crops up a game that has such depth of plot and character that you yourself almost ''become'' that character. You begin to think like them and spend every waking hour playing that game and living that characters life. You become the game. Anyway, that's enough about Shenmue, I'm writing a review of Expendable which is it's complete polar opposite. Yes ladies and gentlemen, we have a blasting frenzy...

Set in the distant future (shock!), aliens are taking over (horror!) and you play a nameless soldier whose job it is to save the universe by blowing every single one of them up with a very big gun. Ok the premise is as unoriginal as they come, but don't be deterred - Expendable is a truly wonderful game. You must guide the soldier around huge 3d world, viewed from a top down and slightly behind view point and basically just kill everything that moves. Anyone who has played the likes of Smash TV, Mass Destruction, Loaded or any vertically scrolling shooter will feel right at home. Despite being a 3rd party, first generation Dreamcast title, the graphics are amazing. The stages look great, the enemies look great and the weapon and lighting effects... well, they're nothing short of phenomenal. I don't think I've ever seen such a collection of gorgeous retina scorching effects in all my life. And despite the fact that the screen is constantly full of enemies, lighting effects and gratuitous amounts of gunfire it never slows beneath its fluid 60fps rate.

The selection of weapons is rather brilliant. There's lasers, rockets, grenades, various miscellaneous projectiles and one of the best and most satisfying video game flamethrowers in history. Yummy! The minigun too is equally effective. The sound too is pretty much flawless. The weapon sounds are dead on, the music fits the mood perfectly and the sounds of alien death will have you cackling in dark delight (maybe). There's twenty large levels to blast through plus plenty of secret bonus levels to be found too. Ok, it won't take too long to complete, but you'll want to play again, such is the nature of the pick up and play gameplay. The cherry on the cake is the wonderful 2 player mode which rather than using split screen sees both players sharing the screen and teaming up to blow away the aliens.

Whilst I absolutely loved it, I must admit it won't appeal to everyone. As great as the gameplay is, it is repetitive and sees every level being a long succession of destruction. Fine for some, but maybe boring to others. Also one thing I must note is the fact that the game doesn't actually seem to get any more difficult as you progress - whilst it may make the game consistently fun and never frustrating, it does somewhat diminish the overall challenge. All in all though, despite not being everyone's cup of tea, Expendable is one of the best mindless blast 'em ups I've ever had the good fortune to play. With stunning visuals and simple yet addictive arcade play, it deserves a place in every DC owners library.

GRAPHICS - 9/10 - Despite being well over 3 years old, it still looks stunning. Some of the best weapon and lighting effects ever seen. Best played wearing sunglasses...

SOUND - 8/10 - Everything present and correct with great music, sound effects and alien death noises (insert manic laughing here).

GAMEPLAY - 8/10 - In essence it's repetitive, but when it's this fun, who gives a monkeys?! Pure simplistic arcade gameplay and all the better for it.

LIFESPAN - 8/10 - Loads of levels and bonus stages, a great 2 player mode and you will want to play it again and again.

OVERALL - 8/10 - Welcome to trigger happy heaven. One of the best blasters out there. Old-skool gameplay with very new-school visuals. Brilliant!

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/27/02, Updated 11/27/02