Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy

"A good action game made better by psychic powers"

Psi-Ops or ESPionage, as it was know as during early development, is an excellent game it combines a basic shooting game with the ability to use 6 unique psychic powers to make a superb game.

Gameplay: 10/10 I can't believe how fun this game is! You start off with no memory or powers whatsoever. Over the course of the game you slowly regain your powers as you learn more about the Mindgate group. In the training room you can use all the powers you have already gained in the main game against select enemies or just crates and boxes. With this place you could spend hours just torturing people by dropping a wrecking ball on enemies and it never gets old.

Controls: 10/10 You would think it would be impossible to pull off such an easy to use control interface considering you have 6 different powers as well as guns but somehow Midway pulled through. Each psi-ability has it's own button on the controller, eliminating the need for awkward scrolling through psi-powers in the heat of battle. Not only that but it also manages for you to move about whilst mentally moving an item at the same time.

Story: 10/10 The progression of the story is simply magnificent! As you go deeper into a world of deception and conspiracies you soon realize whom your allies and foes are as the game culminates into an unexpected finale.

Graphics: 10/10 This game uses the Havoc Physics Engine. That means that no matter how many times you splatter, throw, or torch an enemy it will never happen the exact same way. The fires, kinetic effects, and other things in this game look fabulous as well. Everything about this game is so realistic its easy to forget about real life and lose yourself in this game.

Sound: 10/10 I really enjoyed the music score and sound effects. They got every bit of it just right! From the choir that sung in the background as hundreds of MPs marched towards you to the suspenseful tunes that play as an enemy becomes suspicious of your presence the music keeps you in the mood through the entire game.

Replay Value: 10/10 The main game itself should only take four hours tops. However, There are so many things to unlock by playing on different difficulties. And you can get bonus levels by collecting Evil Lawn Gnomes, yes that's right Evil Lawn Gnomes, in the games levels. This game offers hours and hours of fun.

Recommended? Oh yeah! This game is a must-have for any PS2 or Xbox owners.

Overall: 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/19/04