Overblood – Sony Playstation
A team of scientists have been conducting controversial genetic experiments at the Lystra Laboratories research center. Due to a system malfunction, one of the test subjects, a man named Raz Karcy, is released from a cryogenic container. Infected by a terrible disease, Raz must do everything it takes to find a cure. In order to do that, he will have to discover the truth behind the scientists’ plans, the nature of their project, and his own past.
OverBlood is a predominantly survival horror game, focusing on exploration of indoor environments, puzzle-solving, and combat. Unlike the similarly styled Resident Evil, the game utilizes fully 3D backgrounds, and allows the player to toggle between third- and first-person view. The player controls Raz for the majority of the game; sometimes it is possible to play as another character, e.g. control a small robot named Pipo to perform special tasks. A few sequences are reminiscent of arcade-style “interactive movie” games, requiring the player to press buttons rapidly at the correct moment.
Rating – Complete
Price Paid – £22.40 (Cash Converters)
Asteroids – Sony Playstation
Take the original, Atari coin-op game Asteroids, add in the features of the Atari 2600 cartridge, then give it 3-D graphics and a bunch of power-ups, and you’ve got Activision’s Asteroids remake.
There are three types of ships to choose from, each with different strengths and weaknesses. There are also three skill levels. If you beat the game at Expert or higher, you gain access to a fourth type of ship. All ships features the standard laser, shield, flip (instantly flips your ship 180 degrees), and hyperspace. There are also limited power-ups you can pick up such as GunSat, Mines, Homing Missiles, Plasma Drill, and Trigger Bombs.
The game supports either one or two players. In two player mode, the object is to simply outscore your opponent in a random zone and level. You cannot directly kill your opponent by shooting him, but there are other ways….
Rating – Complete
Price Paid – £2.40 (Cash Converters)
Centipede – Sony Playstation
This is a remake or “modernization” of the classic arcade shooter Centipede, originally released in arcades by Atari in 1980. This remake keeps some of the original game’s shooter-style gameplay while mixing in more console-style exploration. Gameplay progresses through five “worlds”: Weedom, Frostonia, Infernium, Enigma, and Evile. Players blast away at the classic centipedes, spiders, fleas, and scorpions while fighting new enemies like the mosquito, cockroach, and killer mushroom. A “classic” mode is also included, which allows players to play the classic game in a new “3D” isometric perspective.
Rating – Complete
Price Paid – £2.40 (Cash Converters)
Time Crisis: Project Titan – Sony Playstation
In a similar style to the original Time Crisis, you once again take the role of Richard Miller, who has been framed for the murder of the president of Caruba. It is your job to shoot your way through the many levels of bad guys with your GunCon, and find the real killer before time runs out.
Rating – Complete
Price Paid – £4.80 (Cash Converters)