Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand

""Keep the Sun Always In Your Heart!""

Konami has given us several gaming icons over the years. Of particular note are Castlevania, the legend of the vampire hunters; and Metal Gear Solid, the game that made stealth action cool. What Boktai does is combine the two into possibly the most innovative video game on the Game Boy Advance or any video game system. Not only that, but it also was created by the brains behind MGS, Hideo Kojima.

OK, here's the plotline. The world has been engulfed by darkness because of the evil Immortals. Basically, these are vampires and stuff. The sun has been all but forgotten and dark matter is turning everything into hideous Undead. Enter Django, the son of the last vampire hunter, and the wielder of the ''Gun del Sol,'' the Solar Gun. With the aid of the solar spirit Otenko, Django sets out to stop the Immortals, avenge his father, and save the world from armageddon.

You control Django through various caves and dungeons, slaying Undead with the Solar Gun, tricking them into triggering switches, solving puzzles, finding treasure, and employing stealth tactics to outwit your enemy. The Solar Gun draws power from the sun itself, and this is where the innovation appears. Boktai is the first game ever to utilize a solar sensor to read sunlight to power the Solar Gun, as well as affect various other conditions in the game. This is a huge part of gameplay; in fact, to complete the game, you'll have to get out of the house and into the sun. The game also includes an internal clock, so the game can differentiate night from day. For example, at 10:00 AM, you'll get 3 to 4 marks on the solar meter; at 1:00 PM, you'll get 7 or 8; and at 7:00 PM, you probably won't get anything. The game also has a safety feature. If you play in strong sunlight for too long, the Solar Gun will overheat, rendering it temporary useless.

The solar sensor is actually an enjoyable gimmick, but it may be problematic at times. Sometimes on cloudy days, you'll need to tilt your GBA to angles which leave you struggling to see the screen. The emphasis on stealth is also a challenge for players who just want to kick some Undead butt.

Despite these slight shortcomings, Boktai is a delightfully refreshing game that introduces gamers to the outdoors. It's challenging, unique, and a whole lot of fun.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/24/03