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Bad Boys II - Hands On Preview
Derek dela Fuente
22/01/2004
We take a close look at Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett in this Xbox action fest...
Not having seen the film, which was released last summer, nor the original film of the same name, the fact that the preview code arrived pretty much unannounced was a pleasant surprise.
Any film, or game, staring Will Smith you know will be packed with plenty of action and hopefully loads of humorous dialogue to make it more than a mere gun toting fest.
Bad Boy II is billed as a full on, all action, 3D, first/third person, shooter with you playing both characters, depending on where you are in the plot. Mike Lowry is the hard man who you will control whenever something is going down that needs a gun to do the talking. Marcus Burnett will jump into play when things need to be a bit subtler and stealth is required to move the investigation forward.
You are placed back on the streets of Miami as narcotics detectives having been assigned the task of investigating the flow of designer ecstasy into Miami.
Their enquiries inadvertently lead them to a major conspiracy involving a key kingpin (Jordi Molla), whose ambitions to take over the cities drug trade have ignited a bloody turf war. But Mike and Marcus' friendship and working relationship is threatened when Mike begins to develop feelings for Marcus' sister Syd (Gabrielle Union). Unless they can separate the personal from the professional, the bad boys are in danger of blowing the case and endangering Syd's life in the process.
With 15 stages of fast paced, all-action gameplay, featuring multiple mission objectives, plus the fact that in-game scripting is from Matt Castelloe (Starsky & Hutch, Doom3), this certainly sounds the part.
The game starts with a customary loading sequence where you see a number of shady folk taking about having no balls and double cross and one chap being given an ultimatum that he has three days or else. Itās interesting to note that English with an Eastern block slant, a cigar smoking head honcho, a cursory looking hardman with huge muscles with military gear on and a pretty lady all add up to the standard perception of smack pushers and double dealers.
Trying to conjure up the seedy goings on may have been more effective if the characters were not so large on screen and wooden in their movements but then again this was only the trailer.
Before you move into the game in earnest you have an opportunity of honing your shooting skills by going to the target range. Here you can become familiar with the controls, weapons and the general feel of the game, its pace and what is required.
Being offered this option means that precise shooting could be the order of the day and it was.
The shooting mechanics initially appear cumbersome in the 3D world but that is partially due to the fact that XBOX controls are not the slickest around but getting an āeye inā and shooting at cardboard cutouts was fun and gained familiarity with the extensive array of moves on offer ā“ then the progression in the game speeded up.
It does appear to be the flavour of the past few months for action shooters to have an extensive list of cover, offensive and diving moves and Bad Boys II is no exception. You can roll on the ground behind some cover and at the appropriate time, using a pad button, pop up from where you are hiding to take a few pot shots at the person or people you want to waste. Although this and other moves look and feel right it is in the execution of targeting and firing at speed that could cause the lesser players some consternation ā“ not forgetting initially you could be hiding. Once you show your face you are a sitting duck. That said, this is how it would be in real life but maybe a shade less complex. OK, there are some liberties taken for the sake of gaming. You can take out someone with a single shot whilst they need to throw a barrage at you to deplete your health! The exceptional player may breeze through the game but the average gamer may experience overbearing frustration.
Another slight concern was the intuitive path to success in the game. Although you have been assigned your tasks at the beginning of each of the 15 stages and you are left knowing what they are once you enter the stages - shooting at the enemy, chasing after them. If you find yourself alone, all goes quiet and canāt find the trail again it could be some time before you get back on track. Initially there are a number of help elements to put you on the right path, even nuggets of banter from your sidekick and baddies but at some points you feel concerned about what needs to be done at the appropriate time and this not only frustrates but is a let down and spoils the momentum. (This may be rectified in the finished game.) If you have moved through a level, done all the hard bits, there is nothing more annoying than having to scratch your head pondering what to do!
The environments you are placed in are pleasant enough, large and expansive be they outside, on the streets, or in a warehouse. The games mix of ideas is pretty constant throughout. Whether you kill via using explosive barrels as an incendiary tool or shoot straight through the head on the move, aiming with your cross-air target is the order of the day. There is also a good array of weapons throughout. One important thing to remember is that targeting a baddie in some cases is not enough. Although you can pinpoint a shot from some cool vantage points, you have to be close enough for the ammo to reach its destination! Also, because you canāt see the antagonists it doesnāt mean that there arenāt snipers around. Ascertaining where rogue bullets are coming from, which in some cases means some hard graft, is all part of the job!
The multitude of angles and positions to shoot from or vantage points you can take is the main mix/variety on the gameās simple theme. Plenty of cannon fodder, along with the gameās own AI, serve up the challenge.
A big plus point to the game is that in certain instances you do not have to rush things and run around like a mad man shooting at anything that moves. A nice ambiance prevails when you know there are a couple of dudes waiting to take you out and you them. Hiding behind crates or any good cover and taking your time, waiting for them to show their faces adds tension to the game. In some cases it is a question of who makes the first move and is better at targeting. The slow methodical way can sometimes have it rewards. At some points it could be down to who can hold their nerve the longest. Another plus is that the locations are large and if you do get into a spot of bother you can always run away, get your bearings back and continue.
The more you move through the game the more affinity you get with the main character and Will Smithās banter is typically straight to the point and amusing.
Bad Boys II does offer a small fix of cerebral focusing. Clues are picked up as you play and you can visit the Police Precinct and browse over what you have achieved which also includes a stat breakdown to how well you have fared in the shooting stakes!
The full review of this title will be served up in a few weeks time!
