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GRAPHICS: A- (9.25) You know, it is an amazing thing how games that look this good on the Playstation will be overlooked by gamers because of the N64's deceitful anti-aliasing. Instead, boys and girls will rush out and get Mario Kart or Diddy Kong racing this summer because of it's blurred effect that offers a "pixel-free" image. What they don't realize is that underneath that creamy cloudy cover lies a flat, plain, repeating polygon with little to no texture or detail.On the other hand, there are games like this that are rarely seen on any other platform (spare the PC) that are ignored by many simply because it's not "breakthrough technology". Well, if you ask me, I'll take V8's constant 30fps, eye-popping light sourcing, and great resolution over Diddy Kong racing's grotesquely flat, 2-D, barely texture-mapped environments and oh-so plain looking explotions any day. It's just no comparison. Even two player mode it's not even such a big difference in frames and resolution, and it still looks incredible! An overall superb looking game.
SOUND/MUSIC: B- (8.25) I must admit, it's no longer the seventies and this game is full of it. I really disliked the music in this game a lot, but although it seems like that could be a major problem, it really isn't. If you dislike the music in this game as much as me (which you will unless you like disco and casino music), you have the excellent choice of pausing the game and loading in your desired music CD from there. Not only is this a good option, it is a great option, you won't be able to understand how cool games can get until you play this baby with Chemical Brothers' "Block Rockin' Beats" in the background, or whatever you choose to complement the game with (thank god for CDs!).Sound is done well and accomodates the action just fine. Like just about every shooter, nothing special though. It's the wonder of exploring the possibilities for BGM, that saves this category from reaching mediocrity. GAMEPLAY: C (7.75) Practically all of us have played Twisted Metal (1 or 2) at some point or another and have come to expect great control from the series. And while this game is not at all related to those classics, it borrows so heavily from them in both control and concept, that it makes it seem almost like a sequel. This time around however, you won't be just blasting things away like a mad man (granted there is plenty of that), you'll also need to use some strategy and a great deal of skill. You see, the environments are all HUGE and completely crammed with secrets and neat features (not to mention completely destructible) throughout. You can ride a blimp in the Nevada Casino City, a trolley in the snowy mountain, or even cause big avalanches or boulders to fall in the desert, just to name a few of the many fun and innovative features found in V8. One major problem I found with the gamplay upon initial playing was the terrible digital control, it just reacts too much to your commands making it near-impossible to maneuver the way you want it to. The game was obviously designed to run best with the Dual Analog pad. To further enhance the value of the gameplay, pick up Sony's Dual-Shock analog controller to truly experience the game. The reason gameplay got a C is that the controls are just too complicated, and no matter how much you move the settings around, you still need three hands pull off special moves while also steering. The digital control is just a mess.
FUN AND REPLAY VALUE: A+ (10) You should've guessed it, this is an extremely fun and addicting game. You just can't get tired of driving around in search of the second player (2 player mode), and blowing him/her away with all you've got. You also have the choice of teaming up with a friend to do battle against up to 9 other AI opponents on the screen without ever loosing it's blindingly fast speed. 1 Player modes are you typical, ARCADE And QUEST mode (where you play through to reach the ending FMV). Arcade mode is where it's at as well, you choose your battleground, then your machine, and which and how many enemies you wish to fight. Nothing beats trying to survive the mayhem of You vs. 12 School Busses. You'll play it long after you discover it's many secrets. WORTH BUYING: YES If you get a thrill from crushing your opponents that come at you from every angle possible of the screen with brutally powerful weapons and power-ups, there's nothing you should buy other than this. It's a game that will keep you awake all night by yourself (you should ask me!), and is even more fun in multiplayer modes. The complicated controls may turn you away, but I got used to them fairly quickly with the Dual-Shock, so now I'm blasting some hippie butt from the cockpit of my "fully loaded" RV. Give it a try and you'll most definitely be hooked by it's hilarious gameplay. OVERALL: B (8.75) 10 tracks, 13 characters and vehicles, and 4 different game modes offer great depth and replay value. Add in TONS of secrets and power-ups littered throughout the arena and you've got yourself a superlative experience. Definitely recomended to Twisted Metal fans or multiplayer game freaks (if there is such thing). To order Vigilante 8, click on the button
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