12/19/05 >> Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (Sony PSP)
Genre: First-person Shooter
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex comes to us offering a solid FPS presentation with an in-depth story, good characters, and interesting additions - but is it well done? My answer is a reserved yes. Let's cover all the main points.
Graphics
For a portable FPS, the game looks good. For a PSP game, it doesn't look great, though. All the characters look like they should for the most part, except the Major and Bateau both seem to have gone on a major diet since the TV series. Character animations all look smooth, if a bit limited, but the main reason I can't go with a higher score is how un-detailed the backgrounds look in-game. Not 1 level in the game really looks crisp, or draws you into the game by its atmosphere.
Sound
Again, the sound is good, especially in the menus and the cut-scenes, and really sounds like the anime, but as with graphics, the in-level music leaves a lot to be desired, with simple rock-beats and about 3 different tunes depending on the kind of fight you are in. Guns also sound good, but without much variation.
Control
For a FPS on the PSP, the makers are on the right track, but haven't perfected it yet. They offer a few control options, with most using the analog nub for movement, and a combination of face buttons and L and R for looking and shooting. They have also introduced a lock-on button to the mix, which made me want to retch at first, but after playing with it I think it is the way to go with FPS on the PSP. The lock-on is done so well, because when locked-on you aim to face the enemy, but still can adjust your aiming with the look buttons. This lets you circle-strafe with ease while still being able to tweak the look to go for a head-shot or shoot past debris.
The only problems are that you can only lock on to someone in your weapon's 'effective range,' which is often much shorter than the gun can shoot, making pistols and SMGs almost useless on big levels, and that sometimes the lock-on seems to arbitrarily choose a target for you, and you can't push the lock-on button again to fast change targets.
Gameplay
In addition to good controls, the play of GitS flows very smoothly, at a nice 30 fps I'd imagine, with almost no slowdown. The AI isn't the best, but enemies do try to maneuver some, and almost never get stuck or just let you kill them. The tachikoma partner of yours also adds a neat new feature, as you can issue commands to it by accessing a menu with the select button, or you can let it roam free, and it will do a very nice job of backing you up. There are even 4 tachikoma robots to choose from, with each having different strengths and weaknesses. Load time is also a nice 12-25 seconds max for a level.
Levels also add a lot to the action. Most levels are quite large, with a variety of tight tunnel crawling and open field action to mix things up. You have a ton of mission types, too, ranging from capture and save to escort, and total action, and the AI people you escort or fight alongside almost never getting in the way or walking to their death like they do on so many FPS.
Lasting Appeal
This is a hard area to rate. There are over 50 weapons to unlock, a ton of parts to find for the tachikomas, and a cute mini-game you unlock after beating the main game. But the main game itself is a bit on the short side. You can redo each mission as each of the 4 main characters, and have to use certain characters to unlock some items (the game displays next to each mission who you've beaten it with), but the 4 characters are so similar that this may get a bit tiring.
Overall
This game is a well-executed FPS on a console that desperately needs it, with an engrossing story, good controls, and a nice feel. The somewhat short story almost demands a sequel, and there are some minor areas that need tweaking, but this sets the stage for other games to copy, and establishes the PSP as a platform for modern-feeling action games.
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Game Score: 8.6
Reviewed By: Contributed
