"A late review...but my two cents:"

This game is good...very good. From the very beginning, it grabs you and only tightens its grip. I'll just say off the top that for 20 bucks or less, this is likely to be a buy if you enjoy action/adventure. The game is straightforward in its approach, not necessarily breaking new ground, but rather making broken ground look prettier...you'll see what I mean.

Story: One of the game's greatest strengths lies in the tale. You are Jade...a young, ambitious reporter who cares for orphans. Already, the premise is different from most titles, but it gets more interesting. You are on the world of Hyllis, a seemingly sister-planet to earth, but whose origins, I'm not quite sure of. Anyway, the bare skeleton of the story here is that aliens are invading the planet, and the government/military agency in place to combat them is doing a less than stellar (no pun intended) job. You are called on by an underground organization to investigate...the rest I will leave to you to find out. The story could be construed as cliche, but in the course of the game, you never feel like it.

Graphics: This is what I consider to be this game's greatest strength, period. The overworld of Hyllis is absolutely beautiful from top to bottom. The sky varies from day to night and is quite nice to look at. The open water looks great...not necessarily realistic, but it fits with the rest of the environment. The islands and buildings and such all have a distinct look about them that I can't quite describe, but suffice it to say that the vivid, organic overworld gels beautifully with the feel of the game and within itself.

The 'levels' as I will call them, are appropriately atmospheric and vary between the main ones you encounter. Textures look good, effects look good, and the levels (like the overworld) are extremely colorful and lifelike.

Animations and framerate are all clean as a whistle in the gamecube version, which is the only one I've played. I can't recall any slowdowns that weren't intentional (some dramatic fights) and to the best of my memory, the animations were nearly flawless, if not a little repetitive at times (enemy deaths).

Graphics: 10/10 this is a very stylish title

Sound: Another strength. Music is beautiful and moody whether you are in the middle of a dramatic fight or chase sequence, or in a bar full of shady characters and grandpa's old cough medicine.

When out on the water in the overworld, the ambient noise is relaxing and very natural sounding. This can also be said when just running around through levels if no music is playing. Dank sewers sound like dank sewers (I think). Military complexes sound like...well, military complexes.

The sound effects are also well implemented. Machinery, footsteps, motors, electricity, it all sounds good if not maybe a little over-compressed, but that's very forgivable.

I'll put voice-acting in this category. It's some of the best you'll hear which isn't necessarily saying much, but it's good. A nameless character's battle lines get a little old, but there's enough that you don't notice it too much. Jade's actress does a pretty good job with emotional or humorous dialogue as do her costars.

Sound: 8/10 It's not a sound intensive game, but what is there is great.

Gameplay: This is where some may have complaints, but not myself per se. Most all the gameplay elements work magnificently, save the combat. Don't get me wrong, the combat is not bad...it's just awkward compared to some more fight-heavy titles. There's no defined targeting system but rather, pointing your control stick at an enemy will target it. The camera is prone to awkward angles during some fights, but not all. That's pretty much it. The fighting just doesn't quite feel natural at first, but once you get further in the game you get used to it, so that shouldn't be a deal breaker.

The rest of the gameplay is worked in quite well. Everything from platform elements to picture taking, to boat-driving sequences are handled with style and feel very crisp...heh heh...I like that word. Anyway, the camera is fairly good too for the most part...about as good as any third person game camera.

The only other complaint I would have is the control scheme and feel. Again, it's not that it's bad, it just lacks that tight feel that so many of us take for granted and certain intuitive button functions, i.e. B as attack, are switched around and could take time to get used to. But like any other game, an hour or two in will cure the discomfort.

Gameplay: 7/10 The elements are well put together, but controlling them can be a chore at times.

That's pretty much all i feel the need to cover here. The main fact is: this game is just gorgeous and stylish and unlike anything you've played before (or at least I've played before) and anyone who enjoys a good adventure ought to give it a go.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/08/04