Loaded

Review by: Kevin Ip

Essentially, Loaded is a hybrid of two classic top-view action games, Gauntlet and Smash TV. Set during a prison breakout, you assume control of one of 8 homicidal maniacs intent on escaping, even if it means killing a few hundred people in the process. Gameplay is simple: Search levels for keys to locked areas, terminate everything that moves with extreme prejudice, and find the exit. However, while this simple premise (Actually, Smash TV was even less complex!) worked well for the aforementioned games, somehow it doesn't work as well for Loaded. In the end, what seems to prevent this game from fulfilling its potential is also its greatest strength: Its graphics.

When it first appeared on the Playstation, Loaded was praised for its moody and detailed artwork, perspective-correcting environments, huge explosions and fantastic lightsourcing. Frankly, this was, and still is, the best-looking top-view shooter ever made. And while these elements have survived intact on the Saturn version, one wonders if some minor changes would have made this game much better. When the action gets intense (usually every 30 seconds), the huge and numerous explosions work together with the dark and dreary artwork to make it near impossible to tell what's going on. The gunfire (especially the enemies') blends into the background or is obscured by the explosions, making dodging considerably more difficult than it should be. Similarly, the enemy characters' dark colour schemes allow them some unintended camouflage, making enemy detection another annoyingly difficult task. Finally, to accomodate all this graphic splendour, the game slows to a crawl during much of play, especially when two players are going at it.

Had they just toned down the explosions a tad, or made the gunfire/enemies more distinguishable from the floor, Loaded might have been a great game. As it stands, it's merely fustrating and disappointing. Bottomline: Rent it, marvel at the graphics, then forget about it.

Graphics: 8/10
+ Beautiful lightsourcing
+ Moody artwork
+ 3D walls
- Enemies and weaponfire hard to distinguish from background
- Graphics are muddy sometimes
- Slowdown

Sound: 8/10
+ Great, fitting music
+ Numerous and adequate sound effects

Gameplay: 6/10
+ Controls are simple and fully customizable
+ Very easy to pick up
+ Big weapons and massive destruction satisfying to macho ego
- Dodging and enemy detection next to impossible, ruining any attempts at strategic play

Overall: 7/10