Forsaken

Summary

Genre: Shooter
Number of players: 1-4
Rumble Pak: No
Controller Pak: Yes
Expansion Pak: Not used

Review

Forsaken is a Nintendo 64 game that's been around for quite a while now. It's a shooter, but breaks the mould cast by most other shooters by giving you control of a craft that can move totally freely - left, right, forward, back, up and down. Choosing one of eight characters, each in possession of a unique-looking craft with unique attributes, you must go up against a legion of robotic enemies in 24 levels; or go up against up to three friends in the multiplayer mode. It's different - but is it any good?


Gameplay: The freedom of movement Forsaken allows certainly makes this game a refreshing change from other shooting games, and it's executed very well. Movement is smooth and responsive, and the control system is very well set-out and easy to get used to. But if the default control system isn't quite right for you, you can choose from three other control systems as well.

Gameplay itself is enjoyable. There is an abundance of weaponry and powerups to be collected and used, and the variety greatly adds to the fun. Aiming the weaponry requires aiming your craft itself, but the clever use of the analogue stick as the 'look' control makes this a straightforward system.

The levels themselves contain a lot of variety, too. Instead of just simple 'destroy all enemies' or 'reach the end of the level', there are about five totally different types of level. You therefore either have to find and destroy a target object or objects; or guard a base or a moving target from enemies; or locate and collect an item or items; or clear the level of every enemy and gun turret; or finally, to take on a boss. Each level type is enjoyable, and many levels even have secret areas and challenges which, if located and completed, will advance you to a much later level. It all adds to the depth and interest of the gameplay, and everything is clearly well-designed. The only annoying thing is that you can only save after completing certain levels, and not after every level, which can be frustrating when you want to stop. But overall, Forsaken plays very well, and is fun and quite innovative.


Challenge: There are 24 levels to complete, and these vary in difficulty. Early levels are simple and straightforward, yet still fun, even to replay; while later levels can be very challenging. One of the best features of the game is the very impressive AI, and enemies often dodge and retreat from you if you're in a strong attacking position. It's not just a case of mowing down armies of mindless enemies who throw themselves at you; here, destroying a foe can be quite tricky.

The game's tough, but fair, and the challenge is created more by the enemies themselves than by concealing the way to go and getting you frustrated. The way onwards is usually clear to see, and the emphasis is more on action and accurate combat than on trying to locate some sort of secret door. This is a good thing, and keeps the focus where it should be.

The game will take a while to complete, although it's possible to skip more than two-thirds of the missions by starting the 'hard' set of missions from the word go, which seems an odd way to construct the main game. Nevertheless, getting through all 24 missions is a real challenge, and even once that's done you face the 'battle' mode, which sets you the challenge of killing a series of computer-controlled teams with a limited number of lives. This mode is very tough indeed, though it's pretty much the same each time you play it.

But overall, Forsaken is very challenging, and in an enjoyable way.


Graphics: The graphics too are good. Of particular note here is the real-time lighting effects: weapon blasts and items actually light up the walls and floor around them. Different coloured energy blasts turn the walls different colours, and the lit-up effect follows the shot down corridors, changing with each new surface. It's very effective, and looks brilliant. Other than the lighting, graphics are overally good, too; there's plenty of detail on scenery and enemies, although some areas are rather repetitive in their appearance, and the general scenery is a little dull. Mind you, that calls more attention to the lighting effects, and this may well have been intentional. But generally, the game looks good, if not quite up to the standard of the more recent N64 games such as Perfect Dark and Banjo-Tooie.


Sounds: The sounds are pretty average. The background music is quite good, with a variety of both quick, pulse-pounding music, and slower, more atmospheric tunes. Sound effects are rather ordinary, though, but not bad by any means; the various weapon noises are appropriate enough, and there is a bit of speech whenever you pick up an item - although this is limited to a rather annoying voice naming the pickup itself. Still, there's no serious deficiency in the sound department, even if there's nothing to make it stand out.


Multiplayer: Multiplayer mode is enjoyable. Up to four players can battle it out in one of eight arenas, with computer players being optional to make up the numbers if required. All the weapons from the main game are available, and combat is fast and furious.

However, there are a few problems with the otherwise-great multiplayer. Most notably, there are a serious lack of options. You can set the level, the computer players' difficulty, and whether you want to play 'max frags' or 'last man' - and that's about it. You can't set up team games; you can't have a timed game; you can't choose which weapons are present; you can't set handicaps or starting conditions. This lack of customisation is unfortunate, since the multiplayer mode is otherwise professional, engrossing, clearly not an afterthought, and loads of fun; and surely a few of the aforementioned options wouldn't have been that difficult to include.

Another mild annoyance is the huge disadvantage being killed and respawning is to a player. The weapons you start with after dying are basically five unguided missiles and a feeble pulsar, neither of which make it possible to fend off an opponent armed with just about anything else. Being killed then killed again without a chance to fight back is a bit annoying, and it would have been far better to give respawned players some real weaponry when they jump back into the game.

But these problems aren't fatal, and the multiplayer mode remains not only playable, but very enjoyable.


Summing up: Showing its age a little, but Forsaken is still a fun game, and a very well-done alternative to the standard shooter format. Plenty of levels, great AI and impressive lighting effects make this game a worthy part of a gaming collection, particularly for fans of the shooter genre.


Gamesmark: 88%


Reviewer: Maverik



Tangycheese's opinion: Well, for once I wholeheartedly agree with Mav. It is a good game, and will keep you entertained for some time. But it is showing its age compared to the almost flawless PD. I do think he's been a bit generous with the scoreline though - I'd have given it a bit less than that - but it is a good game nonetheless and it's worth a look, especially if you liked the PC version.