Endgame

"Endgame: Time Crisis meets....uh....Time Crisis..."

Rarely do I buy a game without researching beforehand. Today, however, I made an exception. I was lucky enough to buy a used Guncon for a mere $1.00. The problem? I had no games compatible with the lovely device, so I bought the only one they had...

Endgame.

GAMEPLAY: 7
Uh...whoa....this game is awfully Time Crisis-ish. Run through various areas while hiding behind obstacles, emerging when the enemy can be caught off guard. Sound familiar? Wait, it goes on. See those incoming bullets that are displayed with a bright circle around them? Those are the ones that can hurt you. Oh yeah, you have a time limit. See those enemies with uniquely colored uniforms? Shoot those to score extra time. Ok, are you getting the picture now? This game is A LOT like Time Crisis. This, however, is both a good thing, and a bad thing. Points are deducted because of unoriginality, but at the same time, if you're going to clone a light gun game, Time Crisis is DEFINITELY the one to copy. Sure, the gameplay is somewhat uninspired, but at the same time, it's fun as hell....and in the end, isn't that what counts?

The game includes a few notable modes, including your basic story mode, training, and a mini-game of sorts called Mighty Joe Jupiter. The story mode contains basic Time Crisis-ish gameplay intertwined with cinematic scenes that tell a story that I didn't give a damn about. The game boasts what developers claim to be a good plot line...but in all honesty, I really didn't care about it. The importance, however, is in the fun factor. Mighty Joe Jupiter is a mini-game based on Jade's (Endgame's heroine) favorite video game. The gameplay is basically the same as the story mode's, except it takes place in outer space, where you use a ray-gun to shoot Muppet-like aliens. This zany, comical mini-game seems totally out of place in Endgame, but it's a nice addition....I suppose.

PRESENTATION- GRAPHICS:7
SOUND: 7
As with the gameplay in Endgame, the good outweighs the bad in overall presentation. The menus in the game are fairly basic, but I won't really take that into consideration, because it doesn't really matter. Endgame's graphics are a mixed bag as well. The environments are fairly interactive (take THAT, Time Crisis!). You can shoot things off walls, break glass, etc. It's all pretty detailed, and it looks nice. The character models, however, are a different story....to sum it up, they're not that great. As for the sound? Music in this game is hardly noticeable. You'll be far too busy pumping bad guys fulla lead to jam to the background tunes. Notably, the voices in the game are fairly good. They're no Metal Gear Solid 2, but they definitely get the job done.

REPLAY VALUE- BUY/RENT?: 7
Whether to buy or rent this one totally depends on your gaming preferences. If you happen to have a Guncon (1/2) lying around, collecting dust, I recommend buying this game. All light-gun games are short (it'sa scientific fact), but this one offers enough to keep you coming back. Obviously, if you don't have a Guncon or another high-quality light gun...avoid this game. As with all other games of this type, playing with the basic controller sucks. Now, if you're thinking about getting ahold of a Guncon, I'd recommend Time Crisis 2 or Vampire Night over Endgame. If you already own both, Endgame is worth the extra cash.

OVERALL: 7/10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 06/10/02, Updated 06/10/02