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Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense

Score: 30%
ESRB: Teen
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Luxoflux Corp.
Media: Cart/1
Players: 1 - 4
Genre: Miscellaneous

Graphics & Sound:

Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense has some pretty good graphics. Every object had good color and depth. Even the detail level was a bit higher than what is usually encountered on the 64. This game is enhanced by the Expansion Pack. Using the pack, things like reflective light and distance fading are added to the already good graphics. I wouldn't say it's the best I've ever seen, but for a racing type game, it's not bad. There is so much going on in the game (driving, shooting, and shouting) that you would think that the graphics would have to suffer to support the action and speed. Well, it does to a small degree, but not much quality is lost in graphics, speed, or fluidity (for the most part).

Never have or never will we ever see (or should I say hear) digital audio on the Nintendo 64. The cartridge is eternally stuck with MIDI sounds and music. Well, in this one it's very obvious. It's not so bad that you have to play it muted, but it doesn't hurt to turn the volume down. Good graphics - bad sound.


Gameplay:

Basically, this is how it goes: shoot up and destroy the other vehicles before it happens to you. It's a destruction derby with weapons, if you will. The game boasts 3 different options of play with 3 modes to each. The first option is single player. The Arcade mode is simple - select an arena, a vehicle, and your opponent(s). After that, it's blast and crash. In Survival mode, it plays like Arcade mode, only you see how many of the infinite enemies you can vape before biting it yourself. In the last mode, Quest mode, you go through a series of arenas. Each successive one gets harder and the objectives get more complicated. After you fulfill your objectives for that level and destroy the opposing vehicles, you 'unlock' additional characters and vehicles as well as move on to the next level. In the two-player option, you can play in Versus mode, Cooperative mode, and Quest mode. Using the multi-player option, you are allowed 3 - 4 players. The modes include Brawl (all against all), Team, and Smear (one player vs. a team).

Whenever you destroy an enemy, you are given points. With these points, your vehicle is upgraded. When you reach a certain amount of points, you get an entirely new looking and playing vehicle. I thought that was a nice little upgrading bonus.


Difficulty:

Like almost every other game, this one has adjustable difficulty. What is nice about this one is that the difficulty can be adjusted for each player; i.e. if I'm playing with someone much better than me, to even it up, I could put it on easier for me and harder from him. The difficulty is adjusted by armor and ammo. I found that the game was not too difficult. It controlled okay and was easy to pick up on. All in all, pretty straight forward for anyone.

Game Mechanics:

There were only a few places in which the game would slow down. Unless there was extreme action going on, the game ran fast and smooth. With Memory Pack, Rumble Pack, and Expansion Pack support, this game is packing. I'm not sure what that means, but it does support all the peripherals and 1 - 4 players.

The game is short (Quest mode) and does get very old, very fast. I guess that's why it sports 9 different modes of play. This is a good game to play with 3 other people. If you want to go at it alone, it might be a disappointment to you. It is much harder for multi-player action to get too old, too fast.


-Storm, GameVortex Communications
AKA Jeremy Kelso

Windows Mig Alley Nintendo 64 Xena: Warrior Princess

 
Game Vortex :: PSIllustrated