Overview: Another predictable capcom action game, feels much like Devil may cry stripped of much of the depth, and replaced with summons which do little to break up the repetitive nature of this game.
Developer/Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Action/Adventure
System: Playstation 2
Capcom seem to do little in the way of ground breaking action these days. A few years ago people eagerly awaited the next resident evil or Streetfighter, and while people still do look forward to these games it seems they pump out generic action games or another streetfighter game with either turbo, super, a number, vs someone or other or any other amount of mumbo jumbo. Chaos legion is another action game, but at least this one has a twist, but I would call it a saving grace, rather than making this a good game.
Don't get me wrong, I can enjoy action games which only go for a few hours, since I just get them for a rental. I finished Gungrave 3 times in the same night, because that was quite an enjoyable game. This...well...it's interesting. At first it fools you into thinking it's an amazing and slick action game, and after you smash all the monsters in the first room. The problem emerges when the same thing happens, again and again and again...and you start to question where the fun is, and why exactly you are clearing rooms of identical monsters.
Basically, the summons mix up the genre a bit (a good thing) but not really enough for the game to remain enjoyable for more than one playthrough (not such a good thing), and when you have a game as short as this (4-8 hours) then that basically puts a purchase out of the question.
The game basically runs like this. You can be in either force or assault mode by pressing R1 at any time. In force your summons follow you arround and either attack enemies or you have to order them do, depending on whether you set your summons as active or passive. Some summons have special abilities which can usually be activated with triangle. In assault mode the summons power goes into your sword, which then proceeds to glow blue and look cool while you lay the smackdown. Every monster has a support attack which you can use while in this mode by pressing triangle, but they cost force points (the summons health basically) and they are different depending on the summon. For example, Thanatos (the best summon in the game, who you have at the start, but not for long...) slows down time and looks extremely cool as he blows stuff up and you run around slashing in slow motion. Each summon can also be levelled up and learn abilities, which I will explain now.
The rpg elements are there, but you could hardly call them rpg elements. You give summons exp by letting them kill monsters or giving them various exp gems. You then use this exp to level up attack or defense or teach them new abilities. These range from bigger explosions from the bomb summon, to making the snipe ability of the archer better, to adding an extra legionairre to the legion summon. They are really just a way of making you not switch off the game in between levels.
The graphics, on the other hand, are pretty damn fine. They use a great gothic setting and the flashy lighting and slashing effects are good. The summons also look good for the most part (Thanatos in particular). Sounds is up to the average for this genre on PS2, but nothing spectacular, as is the case with most of the game.
The character himself is shrouded in mystery. The story is pretty average and alot of the voice acting is terrible, but at least it's there I guess. The character is very limited, only doing the same 6 or so hit combo over and over again, you can never change the combo but you can make it more powerful by picking up strength gems (there are also health and defense gems to make your character better). The only other thing you can do is a small energy ball which does three things:
1.Locks on the enemy for your summons to attack him
2.Stuns the enemy briefly
3.Juggles the enemy if it's in the air
It gets very boring doing the same thing over and over again, although after you get Thanatos back it at least always looks cool.
There are also two elements, flesh and metal, which at least makes you use your brain a little bit occasionally. Certain summons are better against a certain elements, and you can only take two summons per mission so you need to take a balanced team, and the summons are a nice and varied bunch, ranging from groups of knights to suicide bombers.
In the end, not a truly awful game, but another basic game. It's just so average, graphics are good but game is repetitive basically. After Devil May Cry I thought capcom might start making some truly great action games, but it seems I set my sights too high. Much like Gungrave and a few others like this, leave it for rental or leave it alone, as although it is a polished game, it is repetitive and lazy. Go and play Viewtiful Joe instead, or even P.N.03, they are infinitely more enjoyable.
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