xXx
Score: 60% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: Activision Developer: Digital Eclipse Media: Cart/1 Players: 1 Genre: Action
Graphics & Sound: If you look at most of the licensed games released in the last few months, its hard to find ones that hit the bottom of the barrel (where they usually go). Because of this, I had very high hopes for xXx. Think about it, how could you go wrong with a game version of a movie that is a live action video game and mentions gaming in every other line? Well loyal readers - as hard as I think it is make xXx into a stinker, it can happen. Vin, Vin, Vin - what have they done to you? The first time I saw Vin Diesel walk across the screen I knew things were not going to be pretty. This game harkens back to the early days of gaming where animations were short, stilted, and overused. In the movie, Vin was a very animated character - yet in the game version he lumbers along like Frankenstein's monster. Even when jumping, his arm is sticking out like there is a metal pipe in it. xXx does have its high points - mainly the Road Rash-esque motorcycle missions. These are the only times that the game looks like a quality GBA game and its clear most of the work went into creating these levels. I also have to give Digital Eclipse big thumbs up for the great looking comic-book style cut scenes. They really go a long way in capturing the feel of xXx (something the game does not do quite as well). Sound is just plain bad and not worth mentioning other than the game has sound.
Gameplay: Another problem xXx faces is that it cannot seem to settle on whether it is a traditional side-scroller, or one that allows you to move between the fore- and backgrounds. As I played the game, I had a hard time figuring out where I was in relation to elements on the screen. I would walk towards an enemy, feet firmly in the foreground only to be magically transported into the background as soon as I jumped. Instead of going for a scene-for-scene retelling of the movie, Digital Eclipse opted to throw in a few movie missions while building the game around original missions. After playing the game, I would have rathered if the game went straight from the movie because the 'new' missions are dull and rudimentary. In nearly every mission, you go from point A to point B to get object A, then go to point C to end the mission. Along the way, you will fight the same gun toting bad guys and jumping dogs (wolves?). Of all the game's enemies, the only ones that even closely resemble something from the movie are the fire-spitting guys - but it is a thrill that is short lived.
Difficulty: xXx comes in two flavors - mind-numbingly easy or friggin' hard. If you possess the motor skills necessary to push down on the control pad, you have already beaten all of the side-scrolling missions. For whatever reason, enemies only possess the ability to shoot at one level. The never aim up or down, they just point forward and shoot, meaning you can duck every shot. But, in the off chance that you are hit, don't worry because enemy bullets do about as much damage as a bee sting and it is very possible to take a hit from every enemy in the level and still have half of your energy at the end. For the paranoid gamers who are worried about dying, there is always at least one health pack around at all times to give you a boost. The challenge comes during the motorcycle levels. For whatever reason, your bike guzzles more gas than Oprah at an all you can eat pancake jamboree. Because of this you are constantly trying to line yourself up with gas can icons while dodging a constant barrage of enemy bikers and oncoming traffic on a bike that does not share in Vin's invulnerability.
Game Mechanics: Since we've already established that the down button is the only directing you really need to get anywhere in the game, it should be noted that there are other buttons available if you want to use them. The controls are very responsive and work like a charm. Again, the problem is that you can figure out how to not use them. For example, during the motorcycle missions, the shoulder buttons can be used to defend yourself from riders on each side. The thing is that you really do not have to use the buttons because the oncoming traffic does a better job at getting rid of baddies than Vin. As negative as this review is, it should be noted that xXx is not a bad game - it is just a very poorly done licensed game. In truth, the license actually hurts this game more than it helps. Had this same game come out and not been related to a movie, it would have been a passable side-scroller. After watching the excitement of the movie, the game seems less than stellar.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
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