Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions

"Ooooooooh, shiny!"

Now, I don't really like most X-Box games. I don't even have one, really. But our little lounge at work has three generous people (Who generously gave us three generous systems with some generous games), so I popped in this game for fun after renting it. Well, I loved it. I hadn't even heard about before I started playing it.

Gameplay: 9/10.
The missions are crazy fun. The game has two settings: Easy or hard. Even some of the missions on Easy make you want to heave your X-Box at some poor by-stander...
But the REAL fun comes in this: The Replay. The game's replay alone makes this such an awesome game. You use the sticks to change camera angles, and up to change the camera type (Night vision, black and white, grainy, etc), not to mention that you can unlock other camera types as you progress in the game.
The controls? Eh, they're decent. I had a gripe with Halo's controls, but it's fairly simple.
Oh, one important reminder: The game doesn't have Auto-Save. Remember to save on your own.

Story: 7/10.
There are two sets of missions: Missions A-#, and Missions B-#, with a few bonus missions among them. In Missions A, you play as two female police officers out to find the ''Yakuzas,'' who've hijacked an armored van.
Missions B, you play as two spies for the government, who happen to be undercover, spying on the Yakuza.
Now, each mission has objectives (obviously). They very from ridiculously friggin difficult to being able to do them with your eyes closed. Mission A-1 is fairly simple: Destroy the three jet black Yakuza cars by running into them.

Audio 7/10.
The sound of the crashing bumpers, the screaming of bystanders, the noise of guard rails flipping into oncoming traffic... ahhhh. I could do without the officer in the car going ''Yeah!'' after completing some objectives though. It tones down the rest of the hectic noise, and is LOUD... like ''Little children on a sugar rush screaming in your ear'' loud. Well, maybe not QUITE that loud. But you got the general idea, right?

Graphics 9/10
This game rocks. The gleam of the cars as the sunlight bounces off of it, the license plates hanging from a screw after you run in to enough things, the trunk popping open upon enough ramming, it's just enough to make you jump up and hug this game til it breaks. My personal favorite thing is the civilians on the sidewalk. They run like hell, or back up against walls to avoid your speeding car of death and destruction. If you really want fun in this game, set the traffic on ''Heavy,'' ohhhh, yeeeeaaahhhh!
Only thing that keeps this from being a ten? Traffic disappears upon taking too much damage. They flicker twice, then POOF! Gone. Which is nice if you get stuck behind them, but otherwise...

Replayability 5/10.
Sure, there are unlockable cars, and yeah, there are extra missions, but you unlock them IN GAME, not through fantastic tasks. Also, it's single player only, which kills replay values. Could you picture the CRAZY FUN you could have with a friend going around beating the bejesus out of each other? Although, seeing how there is a tank-type thingy you can use, I suppose it is a good idea they not toss the Multiplayer in here.

Buy or Rent? Rent it first, as always. If you like it (Which you very likely should) Buy it! It's crazy fun! And even if you don't really like it, this game is worth having if you have an X-Box. Someone thinks (Insert System Here) can preform better? Pop this game in, and introduce them to the Replay... ''Hey, wipe that drool off your face!''

Now, I suppose I should mention I hate most car games. The only two I like are this game and Twisted Metal: Black. Though it lacks some nice features (Multiplayer & Auto Saves) this game has enough to make it a fine buy. So. Go get it. Now.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 02/11/02, Updated 02/11/02