Scud: The Disposable Assassin

"One of the best Saturn titles ever."

From the first glimpse I have had at this title, I knew this game was going to be a lot better than I expected. I had my second thoughts about it though, I mean, any game based on a comic book is usually bad, but this was a pleasant surprise. Following the story of the comics, SCUD finds himself battling against Jeff, an abomination who's wrecking havoc all over town. Having to make a choice whether to eliminate his target and self destruct, the game brings you into this with appealing detail. With dark, moody graphics, and a moving soundtrack, this is an excellent game. Scud is much more than your average side-scrolling game. Hats off to SegaSoft for taking the comic and putting it all together on the small screen! They have created one of the best Saturn games to date.

Graphics - 8.5

For the most part, the graphics are none short of amazing on the Sega Saturn. With rendered sprites, everything looks crisp and clear(except for a few cinemas). This game really shows off the Saturn's sprite power. Having the fluid motions really brought the comic to life.

Sound - 9.5

This is also a very strong feature and the one aspect that I remember most of all about SCUD. It's the one thing that drew me into the storyline to make me feel more 'one' with SCUD. With a wide variety of music, you always get a soundtrack to match the level you are on. (Most of it is techno, you will probably like it though.)

Gameplay - 9.0

It has a broad range of ways you can play. You can play a side-scrolling game, which is pretty average for games nowadays, or a light gun game, which is excellent yet not needed. Of course, you can combine the two modes to get a great side-scrolling/light gun game. This is quite possibly the best mode. But again, I found the side-scrolling control pad mode just fine. But for the light-gun lovers out there, you can also play with two guns at once. Nifty!

Overall - 9.0

I'd have to say that SCUD: the disposable assassin is definitely worth the money. It has great graphics, excellent gameplay, and superb sound to boot. This is one of the best Saturn games; its only flaw is that it is a bit short, but it's an great addition to any Saturn collection.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/28/03