Shogo
by Interplay
Our Price: $9.96
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Category: Video Games
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Product Summary
Brand: InterplayFormat: CD-ROM
Platform: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me
Model: FCC9511411
Publisher: Interplay
Accessories:
Video Game Reviews of Shogo
Customer Review: Fun in the short term - but lacks depth
Summary: 3 Stars
Due to it's unique style and presentation - Shogo: Mobile Armor Division was among the most remarkable first-person shooters of the late 90's - and manages to stand out amongst it's competition years later. Somewhat.
One of the strongest aspects of this game is it's storyline and presentation - which closely resembles that of a japanese animated tv-series or film. While it may not look like it - it is actually made by an american game development team with american audiences in mind (rather than vice versa). This is most readily apparent through the game's dialog, in which the characters have distinctly american accents and express themselves with a high degree of fluency in the english language.
For the story, its worth mentioning that there is much more emphasis on the characters and their interactions with each other, rather than an overall arching plot - which is in this case a good thing - given the quality of the dialog.
The tone of the storyline is mature and fairly serious. However the characters' reactions and emotional states are very well developed - should you - heavens forbid - succeed in making one of them angry, you had better believe you're going to be hearing about it later on. Yet - even at the most serious of times - the characters' well developed senses of irony and humor will shine through on more than just one occasion.
Overall, it lends the game a great deal of personality - and it's capable of being interesting enough to keep you playing - even in instances when the gameplay itself falls short.
The first person shooting element in Shogo MAD comes in two forms - on-foot and mechanized combat. However, don't be fooled - in either mode the game is going to play is very much like a first person shooter - if you're looking for a mech-simulator with a complex control scheme and a huge variety of customizable weapons, armor and parts you had best look elsewhere.
Despite the controls in each mode being nearly identical, the gameplay in each nevertheless feels and plays dramatically different from each other - in no small part due to the game's incredibly limited AI.
Which bring us to an important point. In this game - enemies will never use cover. They will not use teamwork to try to flank, supress or outmanaeuver you, nor will they ever bother to use grenades to flush you out of cover. Indeed, there is typically only three behaviours the enemies will ever use, period. First - they will stand out in the open and wait indefinately for the player to come into contact with them. Then depending on the mode - they will then either do one of 2 things. In the mech missions - they will stand perfectly still and fire continuously at you. In the On-foot missions, - they will simply charge at you blindly. Despite being a total failure in the mech missions, when you're on foot you will at least be treated to a much more frantic - intense shooting experience (typically you have to spot and shoot your enemy first to survive).
While the game does look and play very smoothly, the level design is a little on the generic side. In some cases it can be so confusing you may find yourself searching corridors and/or streets for ages before you finally find an exit(especially in the outdoor levels).
The weapons however have a great feel to them - the on-foot and mechanized missions each have their unique set (mapped to their respective number keys) and are typically great fun to play around with.
All in all - its a decent game who's high production values will in all likely-hood allow you to overlook some of it's flaws, at least for a little while.
The GOOD
+ Strong characterization and voice acting
+ Alternate ending/path does add to the replay value
+ Music is well done - some of the tracks are worth listening to a few times
+ On-foot missions are fast paced,hectic and deadly
+ Solid weapon load-out
The BAD
- Little or no enemy AI to speak of
- Mechanized missions aren't very exciting
- Confusing level design
- Simple gameplay mechanics aren't going to keep you playing forever
Description of Shogo
Shogo provides an involving, action movie-style, single-player experience, where the player takes on the role of Sanjiro Makabe, a security forces officer on the planet Cronos swept into a battle between terrorists and mega corporations. The result is an action-packed, first-person shooter game combining spectacular environments--from neon-lit, futuristic cityscapes to gaping desert ravines and canyons--with a meaningful story line packed with intriguing characters and plot revelations.Shooter Games
Computer and Video Games
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