Breakdown

"Move it, soldier!"

In games these days, I'm always looking for great gameplay, first and foremost, as well as ''the Next Level'' (thanks SEGA!). For me, this game has achieved what mostly RPGs are good at -- immersing the player in a different world, as created by Namco.

IMMERSION:
This is the Next Level for immersion. Everything you see or do is from Derrick's perspective, and this includes in-game real-time cutscenes. Every punch that you land to the side of the head of some T'lan bruiser will have you bloodthirsty for more, and every punch you take will send you (and the camera!) reeling backwards.

To add to this feeling of immersion, you are given choices of dialogue as well as a partner, Alex, who will back you up. Although she's more of a decoy/shield most of the time in actual combat, she adds such depth to the story that ''I'' always enjoyed running with her, and missed her if she went AWOL. (11!/10)

STORY:
It's got some sci-fi cliches, but once you get wholly immersed into BREAKDOWN, the story is superb. To say anymore would spoil the surprises -- all you need to know is that the story goes hand-in-hand with the immersion-factor. (10/10)

GAMEPLAY:
The platforming is as tricky as most FPS's. The auto-targeting can complicate things when you are facing off against multiple T'lan, who enjoy surrounding you and pummeling your face in if you give them that chance. Every item you pick up will require Derrick to look at it, and then pocket it. The shooting element is good, with auto-targeting working well enough in this case, but if you're expecting the depth of HALO for FPS-style, you'll be disappointed. But the core of the gameplay is the action, and specifically, the fist-fights.

I'd describe the hand-to-hand as a combination of PUNCH-OUT!! and TEKKEN (but completely in first-person), and it's done really well. The Left-trigger corresponds to your left arm & leg, the Right-trigger the other side. Experimentation is key in figuring out what combos do what, and which are best for pummeling your enemies.

To add to the punches & kicks, there are also special moves that you'll acquire on your adventure. Each one makes thinning the seemingly endless T'lan army easier, and more fun. (9/10)

GRAPHICS:
Okay, so there are a lot of repeated textures and some areas look exactly the same. However, the character models look and animate really well, the impact of giving and taking punishment can be seen and felt.

There are many memorable moments, and being conveyed all in first-person adds points for graphical presentation & style. The T'lan army are truly grotesque, and they look even better when you feed them a knuckle-sandwich that has them hurling against the opposite wall. Supports 480p, too. (8.9/10)

SOUND:
I enjoyed the natural dialogue and voice-acting (Namco did a great job localizing this game!). Who would have thought this would ever be an integral part to the gaming-experience? Bad voice-acting would have made the game funnier, but not necessarily in a good way. I'm glad the voice-acting is good, as is the soundFX and background music. The music conveys the mood very well, and unless you don't have a pulse, you'll feel exactly how they want you to. You'll hear Derrick breath if he's running, and even talk when prompted. The guns sound great, and the punches sound bone-breaking good. (9/10)

CHALLENGE:
On Normal, it's kinda hard. You'll die and retry plenty. There's actual strategies for taking your different enemies down ASAP, and they come into play even more on the higher difficulties. Also, this game forces you to think quickly on your toes, fast with your fists, and sometimes, crawling on your belly. (8.5/10, MEDIUM-HARD)

REPLAY:
More modes (perhaps a Time Attack or Survival modes, or Alex as a playable character) would have sweetened the deal, and given real replay-incentive. As is, the unlockables can all be accessed upon completion of the game. The game itself averages about 10 hours (without retries!). Since the game is completely linear, some may only play through once. The replay value is found for those who love the story and/or fighting on the higher difficulties (there's Easy, Normal, Hard, or Expert). There is also an alternate ending. (7/10, MINIMAL)

SCORE: (9/10) (not an average)
It's rare that we get a game that attempts to innovate in an established genre. It's even more rare when the game succeeds! I can not help but recommend BREAKDOWN whole-heartedly to anyone who bothered to read this review and is interested. However, if playing is believing, the April 2004 OXM demo disc might help, or a rental.

GAME-ON.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/01/04