Yes, it’s a move tie in. Yes, we detest movie tie ins. Yes, the movie is a bit on the lame side as we’ve previously suspected. But we’ll try not to let that cloud our judgement.
Movie tie ins generally adopt whatever gaming style is in vogue at the time and Vice is no exception. It’s a third person shooter much like the recent Tomb Raider: Legend. Well, without any of the tombs. Or raiding. Either way, it’s bound to be rubbish.
They say:
Gamespot: “Despite its relative ease and short running time - you'll probably be done with the game in less than six hours - Miami Vice: The Game feels really well put together.”
EuroGamer: “Guide speedboat, shoot targets, collect drugs, win, move on. If Rebellion can't even make it remotely fun or challenging, then why bother, frankly?”
Edge: “Miami Vice is undoubtedly rough around the edges, and is not without several irritating problems.”
We say:
You can tell by now that we weren’t looking forward to reviewing this one, but at first glance it doesn’t look all bad. It’s certainly well produced with the developers managing to fashion a fair looking Miami for the PSP’s small screen.
As you’d expect, the flared trousers and linen suits of the original series are gone and you’re left with Michael Mann style grit. The aim of the game is the same as the movie – battle the baddies of Miami and their evil drug dealing ways. Damn them getting our kids hooked on all those naughty narcotics.
The controls are pretty simple and fairly well implemented by PSP standards. The game’s very arcade-y in feel too so it’s easy to pick up and play. Unfortunately those are the only compliments we can muster.
Vice badly needs a shot in the arm. Anyone out there remember Namco’s tragic Dead to Rights titles? Well, the action’s slower than that. In fact it’s slower than a tortoise that’s managed to nobble all of its four legs.
Your enemies pop out from behind the scenery the same time every time offering no challenge whatsoever. Once you’ve picked up the ridiculously simple patterns, you’ll be picking off Yaphet Koto style hoodlums with ease.
OK, so that happens in a lot of games. Well, we’d forgive that if it wasn’t for the insanely short time it takes to reach the end of this drab affair. You’re looking at maybe three or four hours at the outside.
Plus there’s far too many health kits and ammo pickups lying around to make this anything like a serious challenge. Coupled with the ridiculously short length of the game, this offering is an obscene waste of money.
Now if it had flared trousers and 80s synth chords, that would be a different matter.
Like this? Try these:
Infected – PSP
Resident Evil 4 – PS2, Gamecube
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – PS2, Xbox
FORMAT REVIEWED
PSP
OTHER FORMATS
PS2
POSTED...
Mon 14 Aug 2006 at 11:28pm
