Review

Godzilla Generations is a great concept with much potential, but sadly the final result feels a little unfinished. Starring all your favourite Zillas from over the years, Godzilla, Mecha Godzilla, Godzilla USA, Milina and First Godzilla smash things up.<p>Aside from the the exploding threes and the Japanese nature of the game, there's something odd about Godzilla Generations. It feels unfinished, which is quite unacceptable when you consider it was the very first Dreamcast game to be revealed.<p>The concept is simple: as Godzilla you must trample all over Japan, destroying the major cities in your path. There's a variable time limit and points are awarded depending on the percentage of carnage and also on the combinations of moves used in the process.<p>Godzilla's key abilities are therefore intact; he can breath fire and generally cause havoc. Others differ slightly: normal Godzilla's tail swipes everything around it, and uses its shield against helicopter and jetfighter pilots, but Mecha Godzilla has an impressive repertoire of projectile attacks, mostly fires from its fingertips.<p>Using a Godzilla VMS means that, after a little nurturing, Godzilla USA, First Godzilla and the younger Minila become available on the option screen. Naturally, they have different abilities and strengths from the other more basic Godzillas.<p>A little more nurturing reveals up to 36 other monsters. While these cannot be used in the main game, they CAN be downloaded from the VMS, and in full 3D incarnations battle in out in turns-based combat. Eventually you can even get Godzilla's three-headed dragon, King Ghidora.<p>It's an interesting and innovative addition, but not one that manages to elevate Godzilla Generations above sub-average status. The graphical quality, although cinematic and stunning in places, is overall disappointing. The control method is clumsy and the camera angles sometimes obstructive.<p>Although it is quite fun to walk right through a towering skyscraper and smash up sprawling metropolises, leaving gaping holes and rubble behind you, the game is ultimately flawed. Godzilla fans will probably like the game for the themes and historical value depicted, but gamesplayers will want to steer well clear.</P>