ActiveXbox.com: Breakdown

Product: Breakdown
Company: NAMCO
Website: http://www.xbox.com & www.project-breakdown.com
Estimated Street Price: $49.95/�44.99
Online Manual: Xbox.Com
Review By: Brian Kvalheim

If you are looking for a change from the popular hits, Halo and Half Life, grab a copy of Breakdown by namco (their site was down at the time of this review). Indulge yourself in a cheeseburger and coke as you carry on through the eyes of Derrick Cole. Literally. A first person game, with burgers, soda and a candy bar to help bring back your health as you fight and shoot your way through an army of militants and aliens. But this game is far from cheesy. This is a single player (no Live), with in game Dolby Digital and HDTV 480p.

Unique first-person-view with a hand-to-hand and weapons-based fighting game system.
Unprecedented realism in a first-person view creates the ultimate story-driven action gaming experience through a combination of combat, exploration and puzzle solving.
Compelling science fiction storyline delivered through intricate graphic renderings.
Stunning, detailed and immersive 3D environments allow for hours of exploration and discovery.
Includes licensed music soundtrack.

Trapped inside a mysterious laboratory and unable to remember his past, Derrick Cole discovers his extraordinary powers as he fights for survival against a determined military faction and a legion of seemingly invincible super-human warriors. Breakdown� is a science fiction thriller combining the best elements of shooters and fighters into a comprehensive first-person action/adventure game. Breakdown�s intense storyline is revealed through its high-end, real-time rendered graphics, bringing an unprecedented level of realism to the gameplay experience. The game features fierce hand-to-hand and weapons-based combat, challenging puzzles, surreal dream sequences, advanced A.I. and massive, detailed environments for exploration.

Outside of putting in your Breakdown DVD into the Xbox, installation and setup is a snap. And that is probably the most difficult part. Watching the traditional Breakdown trailer/movie at the beginning of the game will help you understand what your goals in the game will be. Unlike Rainbow Six 3, this trailer is the real thing. The first load of Breakdown does take a few ticks longer than one would expect for normal game play. For the graphics in this game, you will be pleasantly surprised with the load times. Menu options are as follows:

As I will mention in further detail in this interview, the default game settings are very predictable or easy to learn if you are new to this game pad setup.

At the beginning of this game, you are introduced with a short story line, a preview of the enemy, and a quick overview of how to move, fire, jump, rock and roll. The narrator introduces you to moves that require extensive use of your Xbox triggers. A bit out of the ordinary for me, but very easy to use after getting used to it (as of the writing of this game, I just bought Morrowind "Game of the Year Edition" and found similar use of the triggers).

In many of these First Person Point of View games you look around from what appears to be from the chest view. This game takes you into the eyes of Derrick. Namco went above and beyond with reality with this person's movement. Even standing in a position will bring your body to a natural sway. This game may or may not be for the motional unstable (Read: I can't play Halo without getting motion sickness). Using the right thumbstick will give you views above and around you, including your legs and feet. In addition, you get eye view of your arms when climbing, punching or maneuvering. The view of your weapon is very similar to most other first person shooter games, with a bit more body shown.

The game screen interface is very simplistic, leaving room to view more of the well detailed rooms. There is the Life indicator, which shows your health. You need to visit the closest Pepsi machine (not really Pepsi), snack machine, or dead body to obtain additional health. With namco's original view, you actually see yourself eat/drink these products, including opening the cans and pressing the buttons on the soda machines. Again, my first impression was, how cheesy, but in this game, it seems to work for me. There is an Access Marker which shows you something that is in close range that you can investigate. There is T'Langen which is your health for fighting. You will quickly find that when you get hit in a gun battle or are taking a beating during a fight that you will begin to get a blurred view and the screen will be surrounded with a red haze. And finally, there is a targeting marker, which is displayed when you lock on an enemy (but hard to unlock when trying to target a different enemy).

Be sure to pick up additional ammo, which is required to continue use of your machine guns and hand guns. You will note over a short period of time, some enemies require different techniques in order for you to defeat them.

Everyone will need to get used to using both thumb sticks for controlling Derrick. One for forward/back and side movements, the other to change your view aim your weapon, or leap over open areas. The tutorials will show which buttons you need to use for picking up items, swiping your key cards for different locked rooms and the sort. Keep in mind that if you access the options menus, you can change these settings to your preference. I personally find that I default to MOST game pad setups that the developers default to (with the exception of the invert feature in Crimson Skies).

In the game, Alex (your partner) will occasionally find you and let you go at her convenience. But when you do have her, take advantage of her. She can take many more beatings than you. Feel free to put her in the line of fire, or take the incoming bullets when opening a door. While she occasionally can be a bad shot, or take so long that you could have cooked your own cheese burger, she will eventually come through for you.

It would not be fair to judge this game for lack of online Live play. While I would agree that online play makes or breaks many games, especially in the sports arena, but this story line just doesn't account for such play. Offline multiplayer working with a partner, as you do in this game, would be a nice added bonus. A Breakdown II could probably find a way to enhance this game with multiplayer and live ability.

Specs & Package
Overall Score	85%
Version Reviewed	Breakdown NTSC
Release Date	Out Now
In The Box?	1 Breakdown DVD 1 Set Of Instructions
The Good Points	Excellent Graphics Movie like Sound Entertaining Music Original First Person Feel
The Bad Points	Checkpoint Screen Stops Sporadic interaction with partner Begs for less cheesy power up
PAL 60 Support (Europe)	Yes