MDK2 Armageddon Hands-On
MDK2 isn't the first Dreamcast game with disappointing sales to look for greener pastures on the PlayStation 2 platform. Is this campy third-person shooter more than just a port?
MDK2 is a great third-person shooter on the Dreamcast, but its frustrating difficulty and unintuitive control scheme, coupled with the fact that it's on a console with a small user base, limit the game's sales considerably. BioWare and Interplay, likely hoping to recoup some of the development costs from MDK2 on the Dreamcast, are polishing up MDK2 Armageddon for release on the PlayStation 2 next month.
MDK2 Armageddon's story takes place just three minutes after the end of the original MDK on the PlayStation. Just after returning from their mission to rid the earth of an alien presence, Dr. Hawkins, his janitor Kurt, and his bionically enhanced canine Max find that the aliens have begun a second wave of attacks. Dr. Hawkins decides to send Kurt, clad in a superpowered coil suit, down to the surface to put an end to the aliens' shenanigans. Once Kurt gets to the surface and destroys the first boss, he loses communication with Dr. Hawkins, and Max, the six-legged dog, becomes playable. As Max heads out to retrieve Kurt, the ship is attacked and Dr. Hawkins has some problems of his own. It's in this way that each of the three main characters becomes active for play.
Keeping in line with MDK for the PlayStation, MDK2 is full of toilet humor and off-color jokes. As such, it wouldn't be right to preview Armageddon without mentioning the tone of the game. The majority of the enemies have a flatulence problem and they waste no time letting you know it. The game also borrows directly from popular movies. One scene reenacts young Anakin Skywalker's entry into the Trade Federation ship from Episode I with a tongue-in-cheek twist. The antagonist of the game, a towering purple alien named Schwang Schwing, introduces himself by asking, "Who's your daddy?" A comic book cover featuring a parody of scenarios to come introduces each level.
Unique to the PlayStation 2 version of MDK2 are four difficulty settings, customizable controls, and in-game hints to help out in the most difficult portions of the game. These three features address the majority of concerns from the Dreamcast version and should help players of all abilities get more out of the game. Even with the enhancements, MDK2 Armageddon can present a respectable challenge. There are several points in the game where it's difficult to ascertain what needs to be done. This can sometimes result in relentless trial-and-error sessions and a great deal of backtracking.
With three playable characters, the conditions are perfect for a variety of gameplay. And that's just what Armageddon has. While playing as Kurt, you'll get to know the finer points of sniping. To progress, you must shoot cleverly hidden glowing balls that act as switches to unlock doors. They are also used as attack points when you're confronting bosses. Kurt must also use his ribbon chute to float down holes or ride the drafts from air vents to reach ledges perched on high. Max's levels are straightforward run-and-gun excursions with droves of enemies to mow down. He also has to use a jetpack to scale towering columns. While playing as Dr. Hawkins, the puzzles become the focus of the game. He must cleverly combine items to create new items for use in solving the puzzles. One scenario finds Hawkins retiring to the restroom for some inspiration and getting a special item by flushing the commode. No matter which character you play as, there are plenty of gadgets to keep things interesting. Blow-up dolls can be used as decoys, chameleon and cloaking devices help you blend into the surroundings, and the deadly black-hole bomb is always handy for the tougher enemies.
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