GITS fans alike will enjoy this game. For others, perhaps a decent rental.
The game is based off of the popular anime of the same name. The story is set between S.A.C. and its sister show "GITS: S.A.C. 2nd GIG". It is set in the year 2030, where crime and terrorism plague a society torn by humanity and technology. You play as two cyborgs who are the major characters found in the movie and the series. A female cyborg who was once human named Major Motoko Kusanagi and her second in command Batou. They are a part of a government organization known as Section 9 who are on a mission to uncover a mysterious case called T.A.R.
The plot becomes much more complex as you progress, so you really have to pay attention in order to really know what's going on.
Kusanagi and Batou both play very similarly, with the only major difference being that Kusanagi is more acrobatic and her stages have more platforming. Whichever you choose, one thing is certain: You'll be shooting alot of bad guys, which happens to be the best part of the game. The missions are not really complicated and the levels are pretty linear. Your objectives mainly consist of fighting off enemies, collecting a few cards and codes, and opening doors. So, unfortunately, there really isn't much variety to behold. Getting through these missions will only take around 5-6 hours to complete. The control scheme feels very awkward at first (much like Rockstar's "Oni" released a few years back), but you'll eventually get used to them.
The graphics are very mixed. The in-game graphics look okay, but most of the environments feel bland and lifeless, unlike what you would find in the anime. The most attention was put into the character models, which look great. The pre-rendered cutscenes look pretty good, though a bit fuzzy on the edges. In terms of music, the soundtrack is very forgettable. The voice work however is pretty good. They managed to get all of the original voices from the show and they do a good job in the end (with the exception of Tachikoma, an ally robot who has an incredibly annoying voice).
To sum things up:
PROS:
-Graphics aren't too bad for the most part, with plenty of attention going into the character models and animations.
-Nice looking cutscenes
-Controls feel awkward at first, but you get used to it
-Some clever environmental puzzles
-Exciting combat
-Voice work is pretty solid
-Retains some feel from the series
CONS:
-Game only lasts about five to six hours
-You may lose yourself from the plot if you don't pay special attention
-Little variety in missions
-Tachikoma (an ally robot) will instantly get on your nerves
-Some environments are bland and feel empty
-The soundtrack, while decent, is forgettable
Bottom line: Fans of the series can find something to enjoy in this game, but for others this would be considered a decent rental.