Friday, November 7, 2003

Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.2

Let’s get one thing straight. Julie is a babe. Also known as F.A.K.K.2, she’s a resourceful comic book heroine who lives on a peculiar planet where no one ages. Not only is she a looker who wears scanty outfits, but she’s a fearless warrior/huntress who uses flaming swords and rapid-fire Uzis to take on Gith and his invading force of monsters.

Okay, so Heavy Metal F.A.K.K.2 doesn’t have a terribly original plot. But the home planet is gorgeous, (even prettier than Julie), and the Quake III engine chugs along superbly. There’s a training session to help you handle Julie’s moves and weapons, and lots of cute animals and gruesome monsters to please the eye.

The frame rate and controls are smooth. Combat is satisfying. Julie wields an arsenal of weapons that ranges from slingshots to explosive devices. She also changes costume several times, for no discernible reason other than flashing new portions of flesh.

So what’s the bad news? The adventure is great fun, but it may not last long enough for hardcore gamers. While beginners may find it sufficiently challenging, a practiced gamer could probably finish it in about 20 hours. And, because the story is linear, the replay value is somewhat shortened. The puzzles are simple (push-the-button, open-the-passageway), and many of Julie’s weapons, except for her swords and Uzi, are relatively useless. Also, Julie’s acrobatic repertoire seldom includes anything beyond running and jumping.

But hey, if you can overlook the story’s brevity and Julie’s plotline warts, you’ll have a blast. And isn’t that what gaming is really about?

Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.2 :
Gathering of Developers  |  www.godgames.com  |  877-463-4263