Forsaken 64

"An FPS of great quality."

Forsaken has to be one of the greatest FPS games on the Nintendo 64. Its innovative gameplay and graphics makes this game one of my favorites.

Forsaken has the standard post-apocalyptic storyline, but with a unique twist. The Earth was heavily defended against possible attack from any enemy force. Breakthroughs and scientific advances allowed for new means of creating life. However, an experiment went awry, resulting in the Earth's automated defense system turning on the planet it was supposed to protect. Earth was left a barren wasteland, with only a government adrift in space as the only humanity left. The abandoned Earth became a hot zone for bounty hunters, mercenaries, and scavengers. However, all were slaughtered at the hands of the remains of the Earth's automated defense force. The government has hired a team of mercenaries, code named ''Forsaken'' to penetrate the Earth's defenses and shut them down. You are the Forsaken.

Forsaken has amazing gameplay. Your character rides a hover cycle through different levels, shooting down robots, and picking up power-ups. What makes this game shine is its three dimensional gameplay. Since you're on a hover cycle, you can go up, down, side to side, diagonally, and backwards. You can even go upside down if you can handle the reversed controls. The controls themselves are very responsive; you can spiral through tunnels and swerve around enemies with little effort. Also, this game moves fast; you need to be alert of your surroundings at all moments, lest an enemy shoots you from any angle.

Also, Forsaken has a multiplayer that rivals Goldeneye. The massive levels allow for you to roam around, picking up power-ups, then finding a good sniping spot to take out your opponent. This game requires a certain amount of stealth when in multiplayer. With all the powerful weapons at your disposal, it's easy for someone to come out of nowhere and vaporize you. There are few things that are more satisfying than finding a Titan Bomb, hiding in a tunnel for your opponent to pass, then dishing out the damage.

While the story levels are challenging, they aren't that fun after a few times through. The real replay value lies in the multiplayer. The levels are large enough for you to do some exploration, but nothing that would take more than a few minutes to uncover. Forsaken is better played at parties than solo.

The graphics in Forsaken are of excellent quality.The lighting effects and the stage detail are well done. You can see the glow of a power-up as it lays hidden in the shadows. You can see the detail in the individual hover cycles. The sound is great as well. The explosions are loud and realistic. The in-game music is negligible; with all the action going on around you, you won't be paying attention to the techno in the background.

If you want a solid multiplayer for your Nintendo 64, Forsaken should be at the top of your list.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/22/04