Modern design+old-school game-play=P.N.03
The game itself consists only of two things: shooting and dodging! Sounds simple, sometimes hard to follow that directive…
Here we go:
You play as Vanessa Z. Schneider, a woman that is the definition of "game chick". Wearing a very special –and yeah tight- suit she's able to blast energy with her "hands" or start special attacks, that might clean up the whole current room you're in… someone missed the good old smart-bomb from the 16bit-era?! Here you go!
Second part of the game-play is the dodging-system which also seems to be the part where the producers (yeah, Shinji Mikami was in as well!) invested a LOT of time… not that it works properly every time (because of the level design, more concerning this later) but how often do you see a girl in tight suits dodge laser rays and energy beams by doing somersaults or pirouettes?! That was new…
And here we see the first problems: all parts that make this game so good (awesome for me) don't fit that well together, meaning that the design of the levels often doesn't give you a chance to use your dodging-abilities because of narrow passages and weird ankles.
That doesn't mean that the design itself is bad contrariwise it is a very unique and bright design that may look a little bit to aseptic and the technical part… well it could have been made a little bit better to be honest. But for this you need money that they didn't had…
If you can overlook that part you get a shooter with excellent enemy design and really cool bossfights! As mentioned this game is short! 90 minutes and your through (without the "Test"-section)… not that much but that's what makes this game playable on the other side! You forgot what you did last time before saving and going on vacation?! Ahh, who cares?! Go and shoot everything! Instant fun far away from that casual crap…
Is this now a good or an average game?
Well, your into first-person shooters like Halo or Call of Duty and you need HD-graphics you will be disappointed, you are looking for simple action without overloaded button settings and menus you will be quite happy with this game.
The big disappointment for me: the fact that they didn't make the game it should be! There are only a few fmv-sequences the rest are fixed screens with text boxes without any audio… not good! This game deserved more! But the voice acting in that few scenes is very good and you might listen to it and find out who gives her voice to Vanessa Z. Schneider… MGS-Fans could be nicely surprised…
Nonetheless I really love that game!