PsychoToxic (PC Games, 2005)

I would never have gotten this game if it cost more than the mere dollar I paid for it. Top review sites had it rated along with some of the worst games of 2005. I tried it out anyways, and they were just about right. I didn't, and maybe never will, make it through the game. Just like a book or a movie, a good game must make you want to play it through to the end, and this one failed at that.

From the start, you notice the graphics are poor. And this isn't even necessarily a good thing for those with lower computers, as the minimum requirements are higher than that of superior graphical games such as the original Splinter Cell, which was released over a year before this. Computer AI and movement is also lacking any sort of work. The enemies either stand and shoot, or dive and move unreasonably quickly. As far as I got, the weapons were basically of poor design, and only one of them, the pistol, had any use. The pistol was abundant in ammo, and out classed even the dual Uzi's. The tonfa, taser, snub nose, all were pretty pointless unless you really burn through everything else.

The ONLY plus side to this game was the dream levels. I made it through one, according to the game box, there are 8. They are the only thing that could drive me to pull out this game again, is to continue on and play through the rest of the dream levels. They are designed very creatively, and at that point, it is an enjoyable time in the game. But between these dream levels are redundant, poorly created levels filled with the same few people shooting at you. Hardly worth playing through the game to get to the next point.

The movement on this game is yet another problem. It follows the classic rules of really having no rules. Think Unreal, then put in walking and jumping puzzles. A crippled, not enjoyable, challenge. As mentioned before, enemy movement is often a problem, as they can dive, roll, stand up, etc. instantly if they so choose. Miscellaneous bugs are scattered throughout too, including, but not limited to, enemies walking through walls and closed doors, as well as shooting through them. There is a patch out, which doesn't help a whole lot, but it is needed if you are going to trudge though all 20 hours of this game.

As for character design, once again, a poor choice. Why games are released with the heroin wearing pants low enough to show off her somewhat skimpy underwear, I will never really be sure. I think it's a poor choice, and another failed selling point of this game. Enemy design is pretty much alot of the same sort of enemy, but that is normal. A couple other talking characters are scattered around. The main bad guy is, well, ugly. Tall, scrawny, that sort of thing. Doesn't really put off any sort of threatening appearance. Maybe later he would have a evil manacle laugh to inform you that this really is the guy who is evil.

This game probably has so much more to rip on, and I only made it a few hours into the game. Don't bother with this game. I would have rather had a soda with the dollar I spent on this. I recommend you do the same.