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ET Interplanetary Mission
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Graphics & Sound:
ET Interplanetary Mission (ETIM) is one of a series of new games about the lovable extraterrestrial movie star, ET. This particular game is not just for kids, and is a third person view, isometric perspective, action game. ETIM has nice though somewhat bland graphics. They are fitting for the particular subject matter, and there is a good variety of objects to interact with, and creatures to contend with. The variety of actions available, and the way they are represented onscreen, makes for a game with pleasing animation, There is no real music in the game, but sound effects and ambient noise are present and well done. The game allows you to control the level of each, and they are quite enjoyable. Overall, ETIM has good graphics and sound, and for what is essentially a family oriented action game, they seem quite fitting.
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Gameplay:
Levels start off in rather small, confined areas with vegetation, unfriendly creatures, and various obstacles and objects. As you progress through the game, the levels get bigger, with more interesting obstacles and creatures. ET has to eat the vegetation, avoid the creatures, and navigate the various obstacles and objects. Once ET has cleared a particular level, he moves to the next one. After clearing a certain number of levels, ETIM offers to save your game. ET is equipped with a number of abilities that he can use to complete each level. He can use his telekinesis power to levitate items, which helps him to obtain plants, or even move the various creatures he comes in conflict with. He can stun creatures, heal himself, run, or pickup items. Accessing the various abilities is easy to do, and should be simple for kids and adults alike. While not amazingly engaging, ETIM is fun. It starts off at a slow pace, but once more and more creatures are introduced, it becomes more demanding. Instead of being able to walk around and just stun the creatures, you have to run, and it becomes more and more important to clear the level in a timely manner. |
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Difficulty:
ETIM starts off slowly, and as mentioned before, quickly becomes more difficult. There are no settings that allow you to adjust the difficultly level, but the game is paced such that you learn as you go, and even if you have to repeat a level, it doesn't become too monotonous. The game actually provides good opportunities to develop strategies, which can make it more fun and less difficult. When you first begin, you are provided with on-screen help that introduces the interface, and eases learning the game.
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Game Mechanics:
The game can be played in either a window or in full-screen mode. Since the main menu is largely controlled through the keyboard, navigation is simple, although not always terribly obvious. Game pads and the mouse are both supported in varying capacities, and overall, control is easy and smooth. Moving ET through the environments, consuming vegetation, and eliminating creatures is a straightforward affair, and is largely intuitive. As the game progresses, you have to think more in order to figure out how to overcome obstacles, and it's this increasing challenge that makes the game fun. ET Interplanetary Mission is recommended for those who love the sweet alien, and who wish to play a relatively easy but enjoyable action game. It's recommended for kids, though since ET has to dispatch creatures, be aware that they are learning about killing as they play the game. There is no blood or gore, so it seems rather harmless, but parents should make sure their kids are ready for the challenge. |
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-Gordy, GameVortex Communications AKA Gary Lucero |
Minimum System Requirements:
Windows 95, 98, 98SE, 2000, XP, Pentium III 500 MHz, 256MB RAM, 100MB available HD, 4x CD-ROM, 32MB video card. |
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Test System:
Windows XP Professional, 1 GHz Pentium III, 384MB RAM, GeForce 2 Ultra with 64MB RAM, SoundBlaster Live! Value, 32x DVD-ROM. |
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