Armorines

Despite some unique story elements and characters, Armorines hardly supports an original plot (aliens invade Earth) and the overall game gave me the unmistakable feeling I'd seen this all before. It's a classic first-person shooter--this time you play futuristic commandos trying to repel insectoid aliens (think Duke Nukem crossed with Starship Troopers). The graphics are surprisingly primitive for a modern PS title, and while the game is playable, I never got emotionally involved. Heck, I was much more immersed in Acclaim's Alien Trilogy with its eerie atmosphere (and that was a first-generation PS game). In Armorines though, I methodically waylaid the insects with about as much passion as I have when I mow my lawn. The game just can't match the depth of heavyweight contemporaries like Perfect Dark or Medal of Honor. To make a first-person shooter stand out you've got to do something exceptional. Armorines does not. I hoped to find some redemption in the multiplayer modes, but there wasn't much there either. However, I don't want to hammer a game too hard though that doesn't do anything horribly wrong. The mediocre parts add up to a mediocre finished product. If you're a hardcore fan of shooters and have got to play and beat them all then by all means buy it, but if you already own the top-tier titles in this category (Quake II, MoH), don't bother with Armorines.

Armorines has me frustrated for a number of reasons. For starters, spotting spiders against like-colored backgrounds is darn near-impossible. When you can't see a giant bug standing directly in front of you there's a problem. My other complaint involves the accuracy it takes to kill them. Seems like you have to nail 'em right between the eyes. Meanwhile they blast the crap outta you. At least in the N64 version the enemies are back-lit so you can see them. Last complaint: When my character meets his demise after a valiant battle, I like a little more fanfare than just an instant black screen--geesh. I can't recommend this one.

The N64 version of this game was far from stellar, so I figured this one would be mediocre at best. Of course, I gave it the benefit of the doubt, as the developers had ample time to fix the problems found in the sister version (taking into consideration the technological limitations porting a game from one system to another). Unfortunately, the game is exactly the same. Instead of the fog found in the N64 version to cover up draw-in, objects just pop up out of nowhere, and have little or no detail. Besides, the missions are just not fun. With Medal of Honor and Quake II available, I really can't think of a reason to bother with Armorines.