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It has it's ups, it has it's downs | | ManatOrr the Obb from Redding, California says (15/Oct/2003): | This review is for the PS2 version of the game Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
It's a decent game. Really, it is. It's got a great movie to work off of, and a good developing studio. The graphics are superb. It has fairly high replayability, with multiple paths one can take to complete the scene, a plethora of weapons that can be used, and multiple characters and story paths to unlock.
Most importantly, the fighting engine is simple, well done, quick to learn, and extremely fun. Combo blocking is great fun to use and looks wonderful on screen, and the quick-use button for healing items is a godsend. Furthermore, if you get locked in a combo and can't block it, simply pressing the jump button and a direction will cause your character to perform a very helpful (and well animated) evasive maneuver to get out of it.
The "special moves" system they've thought up isn't that great and has no real use when fighting against more than one opponent (at least I couldn't find any use for it,) and the other combo's that the player himself can utilize are limited in scope. Weapon selection and collection is a little clumsy and awkward, as is the use of non-healing items. But aside from these rather minor flaws (they may sound bad, but trust me the fighting doesn't feel awkward at all) the combat system is very fun.
Camerawork, however, is a different story. The camera control isn't very good, many places have set camera angles that're horrible for gameplay and not very good cinematic angles either. Movement controls are touchy, and the analogue stick isn't really "analogue;" it will move your character in one of only 8 different directions (no smooth turning here!) And.. well, I've seen the movie many many times, and I don't remember any poorly laid out and innapropriately placed jumping puzzles. Many of the jumping puzzles aren't even nescessary for completion of your goal, and some of them don't even have a purpose. Combine the jumping puzzles with poor camera control and touchy movement controls, and you've got a navigational hell-hole where sometimes you can't even figure out *where* to go next, and probably couldn't get there on the first (or second, or fifth) try if you could.
The level designs are rather droll and bland, though in my opinion that's ok for a game that's primarily action oriented, especially since the action generally takes place in droll and bland areas like city streets; however, it still leaves *much* to be desired. The colors and bland, the layouts are simple and repetitive.. there was even a point where I did 15 minutes of backtracking, thinking I'd erroneously headed in the wrong direction because one area looked *exactly* like one I'd gone through 5 minutes before.
In final closing, I think this game is a decent and enjoyable action game. Personally I find myself having the time of my life while somersaulting over enemy spears and performing complex parry maneuvers, all the while dreading the arduous journey I'll most likely be needed to make and frustrating camera-wrestling I'll have to do to get to the next batch of baddies to kill.
| supposed to be awsome | | grant from sheboygan, WI says (5/Oct/2003): | i dont have the game but i have heard its supposed to be a great game. i saw the movie and if its anything like the movie its going to be awsome. the antigravity and the fighting moves look awsome i have this gam on pre order i should be getting it any day and i recomend you order it too.
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