Breakdown

"You'll either enjoy it or want to go back into a coma"

Introduction
Although I have not completed the game, this review is solely based upon my current experience with it. The game starts off with you being the main character, Derrick, waking up from a coma. A doctor then questions you. You most likely have amnesia and loss of any memory before your awakening. The introduction basically plays into a tutorial (ex. Halo’s single player introduction), where you learn the control schemes while progressing through the story. Then all of a sudden a lot of people in the building are dying and military suited men are after you. A women by the name of Alex, drops in and saves you since you are still a bit woozy. And so you are trying to escape the building with this women and the story then evolves more later on.

Gameplay
Controls take awhile to get use to. The wielding and usage of gun mechanics is absolutely horrible. Machine guns require you to be extremely close to the enemies. To the point where you might as well just take them down with your fists at times. The camera can get a bit tipsy, since the game is being played in first person constantly and the main character bobbles his head all over the place. There are certain enemies that cannot be defeated by your guns, however you’ll learn later on that you have the ability to take them down with supernatural strength. When you get to the better parts of the game your fighting skills begin to improve. All cutscenes are from your perspective. So that means that you’ll be seeing EVERYTHING in first person view. I wouldn’t necessarily call this game a First Person Shooter, but more along the lines of a First Person Adventure. Fun, but things such as gun mechanics are horrible. 6/10

Story
So far I do not know much about the story because it is very confusing and twisted. Basically you’re a guy who is infused with supernatural abilities that you aren’t fully aware of. Your powers then develop enabling you to defeat enemies in explosive moves. A lot of scenarios that are played out consist of Derrick, the main character, having abundant amount of hallucinations. They are very interesting to watch because most of them are constantly random. Sometimes you’ll follow a cat into corners and then watch it disappear, there are times where you’ll open office doors only to find yourself opening a door to a desert in the middle of the suburbs, other times you’ll converse with talking bloodstains. Just like a drug trip. Very odd and trippy. Interesting nonetheless, sort of like a violent Alice in Wonderland. 8/10

Graphics/Sound
Uh…graphics?…What do you mean Graphics?…OH! You mean this bland level design, choppy lighting effects, and poor character design? Breakdown in terms of graphics is just that…boring and plain. Level design is very linear and coloring is awfully similar to each other. You’ll be seeing a lot of gray in this game because more than 70% of the game’s color is gray! Sound is no biggy either. Although the music can get catchy sometimes, it’s nothing that sticks in your head. There isn’t much to say about the graphics and sound in Breakdown, besides not very good. Uhh…no 5/10

Final Verdict
Breakdown is one of those games that could’ve been so much more. It had a ton of potential going for it. However, I am not saying that this game is near horrible, it’s actually a great game. The innovation and concept of it is wonderful. The fact of a whole game and its story being played out in a First Person Perspective where you, the player, is enveloped in all the action. I bought the game from a limited deal at Target for $20, but I wouldn’t say that this game is worth $50. If you’re into twisted anime stories and don’t mind the dizziness effect created by some FPSs(breakdown is more severe in this aspect), then Breakdown is for you. However if your looking for the gameplay of Halo or Metroid Prime, I suggest you look elsewhere. Breakdown is average at best. 7/10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 04/22/04