Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand

"The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades."

Well, Hideo Kojima promises and delivers once again. This time, taking a small break from his Metal Gear Solid series, he takes a small step out and produces Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hand, a truly original and revolutionary game, involving players to get up, go outside and get some Sun, all while having fun with the game. With cameos from Konami games here and there and some borrowed moves from the action hero, Solid Snake, the new kid on the block, Django, comes into the scene, showing there's more than one Vampire Hunter around and not just the Belmonts. But over all, how did the game add up? Let's check it out.

Story: Similar to the Castlevania series, you, Django, are a Vampire Hunter and your goal is to rid the world of Vampires or rather, Immortals, a race of beings that are unable to die, but can be banished away for some time with help from the Sun. The story starts out as Django wants revenge for the death of his father, Ringo, at the hands of Immortals, rather, The Count, but it turns into a rather predictable story just shortly into the game. Once Django does avenge his father, he's forced into saving the world from the Immortals and stopping them before they make everything Undead. Add in a shadowy, ''mysterious'' character that appears here and there and vague story clues and you have Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hand. (Hell, even Otenko barely helps you and constantly, before he explains something, says ''Nevermind''. Real helpful.)

Now, the predictable parts of the story mainly are with Sabata. If you can't guess his connection to Django the first time you meet him, something's wrong. Just, very easy to figure out and besides that, the ending is rather dull and the final boss is not anything that'll leave you talking about for years to come. That and the story is only seen when Sabata appears and when he does, you're given it in bits and pieces, something you won't fully understand until the end of the game, but even then, it's not anything mind blowing. Over all, the story's pretty normal at best and could've used some work, but other than that, it'll do.

Rate: 7/10.

Controls: Hands down, excellent. The motion and control for Django is just perfect. Django moves freely around the playing field and never stalls or gets stuck or anything. His movement itself is reasonably fast and maneuvering around with him to avoid or combat the Undead is rather easy and simple. To make things even better, you are able to edit the controls to your liking, incase you have problems moving diagonally and want something more simpler. There's not much more to explain about the controls, but once you pick up the game and test it out, you'll find you have no problems with it and you'll never get frustrated. Over all, very well done and no complaints on my part.

Rate: 10/10.

Graphics: No lies here, the graphics are just stunning and beautiful, especially for a Gameboy Advance game. So much color and atmosphere is in this game and it shows. From the changes in the seasons from place to place of where you go to the details of Mansions, Castles, Volcanoes, etc, you'll find detail is everywhere. Heck, even Otenko and Django have so many animations, you'll wonder how they pulled it all off. My only quip about the graphics, though, would have to be how some of the Dungeons did look a bit repetitive after a little while and also some of the Mansions. They could've perhaps changed some stuff around a bit, but other than that, they did very well.

The great thing is everything is ''bright'' in the game, but it keeps that ''fearful'' feel to it here and there, with the dead trees, Ghouls roaming around, Spiders here and there and all that jazz, so it may look ''kiddy'' at first, but it's not and that's for you to decide. (Meaning, you can see the graphics and you can play, without having to sit under a light constantly, which, well, with this game, you will anyway, due to the Sun needed.) As for the enemies, just like with Metal Gear Solid, they can be alerted or see you and attack, become knocked unconscious and whatnot, but you can't drag them around and empty them of goodies. Ah, too bad, would've been nice.

But, over all, I really liked the graphics. Everything is really crisp and clean, easy to identify, colorful and everything fits the mood to what you're doing, right down to the time of day you're playing this. Even with the day and night effect, things change and you can easily tell if the Sun is out or if it's night time and heck, depending on which, colors and everything change. How great is that? Just simply over all amazing and I wouldn't change a thing here.

Rate: 10/10.

Sound/Music: I'll be honest, the music in the game was alright, but nothing I really felt drawn to. Don't get me wrong, it fits the mood and everything, but I just didn't really enjoy it. The opening music at the title screen was pretty cool and whatnot, but other than that, it's nothing amazing. The music for Dungeons and when you're on the World Map fit very well and definitely aren't cheerful, either. It fits the mood of the dead and everything feels sad and spooky, if you will. Just don't expect any really happy songs in this game. I think the opening title screen is the most cheerful one you'll get.

As for the sound, I REALLY liked it. This game has voice acting for crying out loud. That's just really sweet, especially for a tiny game such as this. From narrated parts of the game to hearing some of the characters talk, it's just pretty cool to here. (Heck, I was pretty surprised Django and Sabata were voiced by women, but after watching Anime for a while, nothing's really that surprising, since they do it all the time.) Sound effects are also done really well in this, from knocking on the wall to enemies going ''Erp?'' to your presence, to them screaming at you when you see you, along with the evil laugh of the Count, I felt the sound was done very, very well and it added so much to the game.

Over all, the music was good at best and fit the mood, just nothing really re-memorable, but the sounds for the game blew me away and you'll see this the second you start the game. I have no real problems with it at all and other than perhaps tuning the music a bit, I wouldn't change anything.

Rate: 9/10.

Game Play: Ah, yes, the game play. Well, what can I say? This is the do or die part of any game and Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hands does deliver this part, but not a full 100% in my eyes. The game mostly plays out much like a Metal Gear Solid game, where you must make your way from area to area, but you can revisit areas and whatnot to pick up stuff you may have missed or to just visit for the hell of it. Also like Metal Gear Solid, stealth is your best friend and using it can make you go far. Though, you aren't forced to be stealthy and you can fight your way through the whole game just blasting a path for yourself, but, ah, your Rank. Yes, you are graded for each area you do with a Rank.

A Rank may seem worthless at first, but it serves 3 purposes: 1. It determines what Item and how many of that Item you get after a Dungeon is cleared. 2. Your final Rank at the end of the game is added up and depending on what you get, you get certain Items that are DAMN good. 3. You can input your Password that you get at the end and after going to Konami's Site, you can see what your evaluation is for the game, just like Metal Gear Solid. But other than Rank and sneaking around, what makes the game so good? Well, the Sunlight issue is one of them. Hideo Kojima is the first guy to take a game and make it where you need Sunlight to play. (You need REAL Sunlight. Normal lights don't work, but people have found other things that do...)

Sunlight does alot in this game. For starters, you need Sunlight to power your Gun Del Sol, your main Weapon, which is used to fight the Undead. Without it, you are helpless. It also is used to fight the Immortals and to activate the Pile Driver, a device used to purify the Immortals after you defeat them. Without this, you can NOT continue on with the game. Aside from also using it to create Skylights in Dungeons/Mansions and using it to store Sunlight Charges in Solar Stations, which you can find throughout Dungeons/Mansions to recharge your Gun Del Sol, Sunlight is a must in this game and playing without it isn't possible.

But, exactly how fun is it to play the game with the Sun? It's pretty cool. Trust me, you'll be running around your house or outdoors, hunting the Sun down trying to get energy for your Gun Del Sol or trying to banish that Immortal. But, game play is based mainly on you going through Dungeons, defeating Undead or going through a rather big area to find an Immortal and defeat them. Fighting Immortals is unique and fun, actually. Not only do you have to go through a Mansion or Dungeon to get to them, but after you beat them, you must drag their Coffin outside by going through the Dungeon again and put it into the Pile Driver outside, where you will fight them again, with help from the Sun.

I thought that idea was really cool and original and over all, the game play doesn't disappoint. You can play the game, if you use good enough tactics, without the Sun for the most part, but you WILL need it for the Immortals, otherwise you can't continue. (Unless you're using a Rising Sun Grenade, which, you'd better have a TON of those or a Mr. Rainnot or something.) But, I thought the game play was good, although at parts it was rather too easy, but you WILL get a challenge out of the Immortals, especially if you aren't getting enough Sun, because it'll becomes a task to keep the Pile Driver going. As for the replay value, there's a New Game+ with a Hard Mode, which, in New Game+, not only can you view what Treasure Chests you missed in areas of the game at the Solar Tree, but you get new Equipment, keep your stuff from the first game and you can explore the Azure Sky Tower with all the Emblems you get from your friends or from the game.

Talking about friends, with a Multiplayer feature, you can go head to head with 2-4 friends and fight for fun or Sunlight Charges and Items, depending on how many ''Coins'' you win after each battle. (Coins are added up and after a certain amount, you get Items.) You can also trade Items and copy and trade your Emblem you obtained in the Azure Sky Tower to a friend, so you can explore more of the tower itself. Over all, good game play, with a little repetitive stuff here and there, mainly with Dungeons being basically the same, Immortals being the same and whatnot, with a Multiplayer feature that's always fun, but for the most part, the game was damn good while it lasted.

Rate: 10/10.

Over All: Well, that about sums up Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hand. It was a pretty damn good game, but it only lasted me 4 days, but I was rushing everything and that was with the restraints of the Sun. (Also, I didn't cheat.) I suggest you definitely give this game a shot, since it's a breath of fresh air for those of you wanting a game that is new, original and fun to play. That and if you're a fan of Hideo Kojima's work, pick this up, you won't be disappointed. The game plays out ALOT like Metal Gear/Solid would, with a touch of Castlevania here and there. Though, if you're a Castlevania fan, eh, maybe rent the game first, since the game's a bit on the kiddy side and less on the violence and gothic style that Castlevania is. But, with great controls, amazing graphics, fairly good music and spectacular sound and some game play that'll really keep you going, Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hand is something that should definitely be in your gaming collection.

So, if I had to recommend you rent or buy this, I'd say go out and buy it. It's a revolutionary game and very, very unique and if you're a fan of Hideo Kojima, grab it while you can. Only rent it if you aren't sure about his work or you didn't like Castlevania or Metal Gear Solid, but just know, Konami makes some GOOD games and this one is no different. Again, rent if you're unsure, then decide, but if you love Konami and Hideo Kojima, this game is for you. But regardless, try this game once to see how good it came out.

Final Rate: 9/10.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/30/03