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Dark Nature Apostle Preview
Chris Leyton
00/12/0000
Hudson`s latest title is a dark action/adventure title that uses cell-shading techniques in a new light.
D.N.A or Dark Native Apostle to give it it's full name, is the latest PS2 title to come from Bomberman creators Hudson Soft. As with their most famous title, the lead role has the ability to place bombs, however that's where any similarities stop, as DNA is a dark 3D action/adventure title that uses a cell-shading technique to give an impression of Gothic/DC comics. The game takes place in the near future, a world where scientists have perfected the genome technology, and can now alter human beings genetic code to create the perfect being.
You play as a reluctant test species in the on-going experiments, implanted with nano-technology that gives you greater abilities then the average human, a modern day super hero. The technology also grants you the useful ability to create infinite bombs to place at will from your right hand, whilst his left hand has slots where you can place bio-chips, granting you with special abilities and knowledge. The lead character is the kind of Bomberman you'd expect if DC Comics had invented the guy.
You begin the game with no memory of where you are and why you're there, it's up to you to seek your identity by infiltrating the research facility of a secret organization, known only as Stray Sheep.
DNA is very much a traditional action/adventure title, you'll have to solve puzzles, fight enemies, navigate the occasional platform, etc... However Hudson have incorporated a selection of novel ideas, that could mark the final game out amongst the over populated crowd. For starters the use of performance enhancing bio-chips allows you to enhance your abilities in a certain amount of set ways, your hit points can be extended, you can increase the range, intensity and time of your bomb explosions, increase your characters jump, run and air resistance abilities. The correct use of these is vital to solve the puzzles faced throughout the game, for example on one occasion you'll have to run past a group of industrial sized fans, the key is to locating the different chips you'll need to enhance your characters speed ability, thus granting him easy passage past the fans. It's this style of gameplay that DNA revolves around, if you're not a fan of games that involve a fair amount of back tracking you'd be advised to stick away.
By placing the chips in different orders you can create different types of bombs, such as flash bombs, smoke bombs and time-control bombs. This kind of puzzle solving is certainly refreshing from the 'push block a - push block b - collect key c' that is standard in so many of today's titles. However that's not to say these mundane puzzles don't feature, there are a fair amount of blocks to push and keys to collect.
The game uses the same kind of visual effect that was pioneered in Sega's Jet Set Radio, however the overall effect is more gothic then the anime style featured in Sega's title. Despite the gothic feeling I believe the graphics are too dark at times and the use of self-shadows incorporated slightly too much, resulting in an end effect that lacks the panache found in JSR, one thing it does highlight is what a good job Sega did in creating the fantastic visuals for that title. The environments however are rendered in traditional 3D, and look very sparse with no real diversity in textures, the first sewer level is very drab, and doesn't inspire you to carry on playing. In the preview code there is also a fair amount of slowdown, particularly when the scenes get busy, one to look out for when the final version appears.
Asides from the different bombs you can also fight hand-to-hand and pick up various different weapons. Unfortunately the combat system is bland, requiring just multiple presses of the same button and unresponsive, one particular creature took 5 minutes to kill, simply because my punches weren't landing and bombs wouldn't work, in a word frustrating.
You'll need to be handy on the camera controls as well, as doors and key items are often found hiding away behind the default cameras position, don't be surprised to find yourself constantly back-tracking through areas that you've already visited.
