There are some games that will blow you away with a combination of graphics, sounds and gameplay (Prince of Persia, Ninja Giaden) and their are some games that are just fun to play. No matter how many times you go through a level you can always do things different, games that give us 5 ways to solve a problem. You know what I am talking about! Games like Dues Ex, Freedom FIghters, etc. Well now you can add another game to that list Psi-Ops.
Gameplay/COntrols
This is where te game really shines. In Psi-Ops you play a trained elite soldier called Nick who is batteling his way through various situations to seek revenge and help a fellow soldier out as she searched for her sister ( Hmmm didn't I see that "Searching for your sister thing in Ninja Gaiden?
) Anyway lets get to the point.
The Gameplay of this game is phenomenal. What sets it apart is that besides your boring basic FPS crap you have control of Psychic powers as the main weaponry for the character. This is where the game starts to get good. You can levitate objects with your mind, drain brain powers from enemies, leave your body to search through walls and my favorite, mind control people. Now whether you think this is too sci0fi or not, these make for a great game and the ability to do things in several different ways. Example: Let's say you come to a gate that is locked but you can see through it. Well you could turn around jump on a box and levitate it over the gate with you on top. Or YOU could mind control a guard, shoot all the soldiers in the area, have him open the gate and then have the guard (in a cool close-up) put his rifle in his mouth and commit suicide. Nasty stuff. The controls are also well done and fit you character very well. The Xbox controller is able to handle most of the moves in this game and camera is well done as well.
The Graphics
Graphics in this game are well done. They are way above such games as Manhunt, or Red Dead Revolver but not quite on the texture level of Ninja Gaiden. The main thing that this game has going for it is the graphics of the PsiPowers. The Boss fights are really well done and feature some nice artistry. The same goes for your Psi-Powers, The other thing I will mention here is the Physics of this game. The Physics engine is the same one from HL2 (The Havok 2.0 Engine) and is used to great effect in this game. If you mind control a solider and make him jump off a cliff you can watch as he realisticlally bounces of rocks and plummets to his death. The same thing goes for the soldiers as you use your Psi Powers to levitate them and slam them into walls. Heads break and arms snap as you slam them and then drop them to the ground.The same goes for Crates, Flammable Barrels, etc.
The Stroy
What can I say? The story seems to be a bit hackneyed but as you play the whole conspiracy angle starts to take effect. You start to have flashback and your memory slowly returns. You are not sure who to trust or even what side you are on for a while. And in fact some of the bosses you face are your old partners. Good stuff.
All in all this game is really fun to play. As I said before the Physic Powers and the Havok 2.0 Physics engine really set this game apart from all the other currently out. A good fun game that has excellent replayablity value with all the codes and secrets that you can unlock. Everything from Boss Rush mode to Boss Skins to even unlocking Scorpion from MK fame.
I give this game a solid 8 out of 10.
Posted at Xbox-Scene, Future Gaming, and Xboxanomics
