Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy

"May not be for everyone..."

...but I think a good portion of people who play this (maybe 4/5ths) will find the time they spend playing Psi-Ops to be time well-spent. Let's say one thing right off, this game is SHORT! For as long as it lasts, I think you'll enjoy it, but from start to finish, you'll be lucky to get 10 hours out of it, and although there are extras, at the core, the game itself doesn't change a lot, so seriously consider renting this one before you buy, otherwise you might be extremely disappointed by the short-lived fun that is Psi-Ops.

Graphics: 8/10 - They're actually representative of the higher end PS2 games you've seen out there. The facial expressions aren't very detailed, but they do get the job done. Gestures are fluid and realistic, and the rag-doll physics make combatting enemies a lot of fun. There's really not a lot to complain about where the graphics are concerned. One point worth mentioning is this game is rated mature for one reason: gore! If you're someone who is opposed to graphic violence, pass on this one. It's messy, start to finish.

Sound: 8/10 - I really couldn't say the sound stood out, but it didn't annoy me, either. Sound effects, music, voices, etc., all of it got the job done. It was solid, it didn't have me cringing, and in a game which was more like an interactive movie than a game, that's no small achievement.

Gameplay: 8/10 - Again, a solid showing. You gain your psychic powers over the course of the game, and they integrate smoothly into the story as a whole. Telekinesis will be the dominant power you end up using, but I found plenty of opportunity to play with the others, also, aside from Aura View, which comes late in the game, and seemed more contrived than practical. What really galled me was that I could see these "ether creatures," but I basically had to run into one to get it into my world to interact with, making it pretty useless to see these creatures in Aura View. Overall, though, the gameplay was a LOT of fun, and very open-ended, allowing you to take out enemies in a variety of ways.

Story: 7/10 - The story was slightly cliche', but again, got the job done. I would have loved it if they'd doubled EVERYTHING, though. Doubled the bosses, levels, story, etc. It reminds me of Metal Gear Solid Lite... It's a great engine, a great set of powers, for the most part, but everything seems minimal. Two words sum up this game: "That's it?!" Again, what there is of this game is quite good, but it'll be over just as you're starting to get into it.

Final Word: This is a title made for rental. It's great fun for a few days, but then you'll have gone through the game 3-4 times, and you'll be ready to take it back. At a rental price, you won't be disappointed with the experience, at retail price, you'll feel like you were held up at gunpoint...

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 07/08/04