Extermination

"After you see past the bugs you'll see some good innovation"

I have to say I was pumped about Extermination when I first read about it in June. Since I was a major Syphon Filter and Resident Evil fan this game sounded almost perfect to me. Since it was under the direction of the same guy who brought us the original Resident Evil I thought for sure this would be the PS2 killer app we had all been waiting for. Although here it is July and Extermination has hit the states and while its not the game I hoped for it still has a certain something about it. Maybe it is the host of new gameplay inhancements or the new infection system. Or could it be this is the only original game of its kind on the system so far. It is not too bad.

Graphics:
The graphics in Extermination will not wow any PS2 or Dreamcast owner. They are really nothing new and the general graphics are not that well done. Although the game does have some really cool special effects. Next to that you are faced with background fliker, bad framerates and other annoying bugs. Altogether Extermination really isn't much of a looker.

Sound:
Once again average. Not bad but not too good. Medicore music and effects matched with poor voice acting makes for a so so show in the audio department.

Game Play:
Here is where Extermination excels. It takes what makes survival games so fun and adds a ton of action. You have action orienteted game play with interesting puzzels and decent character interaction. The infection system is a cool innovation to the genre and really Extermination is a genre defying title that any hard core gamer can appericiate. The game gives you one gun that can be upgraded with a ton of add ons and also gives you an innovative save style and some cool new gameplay. Anyone who enjoys RE or any other action type games should find that Extermination has a lot to offer. Although for those looking to wow thier friends with amazing new visuals look else where cause you will not find them here.

All together Extermination falls short of what it could have been. Up the graphics and sound and fix the bugs and this would have been a great game. As it is the gameplay is good but if your a gamer who cant look past the cosmetic appeal then look elsewhere.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 07/31/01, Updated 07/31/01