Psi-Ops Review

There is no artificial lengthening here, just well designed levels and bosses.

The humble physics engine has certainly become the 'feature du jour' for games these days. After watching the Half Life 2 videos last year who couldn't wait to use its gravity gun to start chucking stuff at bad guys? Well sod all this 'indefinitely delayed' nonsense; you can throw people about right now. And it looks great, with each item bouncing or moving in a very realistic way (well, it's how I'd imagine a barrel would bounce when it's thrown against a heavily armed enemy) with sound effects to match. One problem I came across that does distance you a little from the experience is that the scenery is non-destructible, except for certain defined items. It can make some puzzles more difficult when you're unsure if you can break that glass or smash that wall panel. It would be extremely satisfying to shoot a wall apart and throw the broken pieces at the enemy. That's not to say that there isn't plenty of things to throw about, but the level of experimentation the game offers just makes you greedy for more. Well, that's what sequels are for, I guess...

Another issue, (and to some people a major one) that affects many of this generation's games, is length. Psi-Ops is a short gaming experience. My completion time was just under 5 hours. Now, I'd say with the repetition of sections and the time I've spent in the training room, I've easily spent closer to 10 actual hours on the game. That's not even to mention the many un-lockable mini games and treats that you collect throughout the game. However, it will still be considered a short game when you consider titles like KOTOR, which demand around 40 hours of your time, or even other action games, such as Ninja Gaiden, which takes closer to 20 hours. Though this is definitely a case of quality over quantity, so you never get the impression you are playing through a level that has been tacked on to lengthen the game. There is no artificial lengthening here, just well designed levels and bosses.

Combining both powers and guns is another nice touch

The game has more trump cards up its sleeve, however. The Training sections for example, are a joy. The actual Psi powers trickle out slowly, getting one or two a level. You see, our man Nick is afflicted with 'handy plot device 18' - amnesia, which prevents full access to all of his powers at the start of the game. This prompts a flashback to his training days in the titular Psi-Ops. It's an excellent way to teach people the control systems and gets around the problem of having a training level at the start of the game. It also ties in neatly with the amnesia sub-plot.

A great game allows you to have fun, regardless of other elements: And Psi-ops excels at this. It blends all these concepts into such an effortlessly playable experience, that using your psychic powers becomes second nature. It's a testament to this that after playing, I was trying to use my telekinesis as a strategy in the next 3rd person shooter I played. It just felt so right.

Graphically both versions of the game look great. However, the Xbox version does have a generally smoother frame rate which gives the game a nice visual boost. Controlling your powers is remarkably easy on both systems so your personal pad preference will be the determining factor.

It does something different, and it does it well.

If this were just a regular shoot-em up, it would struggle to be seen from within the pack. By throwing some new ideas into the mix, it represents one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences in recent memory. It does something different, and it does it well. Hell, this game makes me want to be a Jedi a whole lot more than Jedi Knight ever did. This game is recommended to anyone, and offers a refreshing tonic to the usual standard 3rd person shooter. The physics revolution starts here.