PSX SLAMSCAPE [PlayStation]

ReviewBe suspicious of a game that hypes its soundtrack more than its gameplay (or even its graphics for that matter). Lets face it, if cool tunes are the most noteworthy feature of a game, why bother? Whats even worse is when the hyped soundtrack is full of wretched MIDI-esque tunes as bad as the game - like in Viacom New Medias Slamscape. The result: Slamscape is like some bizarre cross between a cyber-pinball game and Twisted Metal, but nowhere near as cool as the latter.Slamscapes graphics are sharp and look good, though the polygon objects seem a bit crude, and the impressive frame rate does make the game move quickly and smoothly. Explosions are particularly impressive. However, even these nice graphics cant hide the games overriding problem: control. Players pilot a hovercraft/bulldozer hybrid, and have to plow their way through four big, utterly flat levels (filled with goofy-looking polygon baddies) in search of glowing balls of energy. The vehicle features all the precision handling of a superball - bouncing chaotically off anything it hits and slavishly following every whim of inertia. In addition to the awkward movement, its not possible to strafe (which players will yearn to do after just a few minutes). This makes the vehicles weapons nearly useless, and players will be reduced to bouncing off of the tops of obstacles for their main play tactic. The result? A game that gets very annoying, very quickly. The game has a strange shield power-up system, wherein players collect energy spikes (of varying levels of strength) which attach themselves to the rear of the craft. When fully powered, players slam around the cyber-world with a bunch of nested spikes shoved up their, uh, afterburners. Other power-ups include better weapons, a clamping jaw landmine, and a turboboost. Once the novelty wears off, however, players wont find much here to hold their interest. Its theoretically possible that Slamscape is someones idea of fun. But with competition so stiff in the action category, this game doesnt even come close to being notable or even particularly entertaining. And even though the CD contains a couple rocking music videos by God Lives Underwater, they arent enough to make the game worth the purchase. --Jason DAprile --Copyright ©1999 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited. GameSpot and the GameSpot logo are trademarks of GameSpot Inc. -- GameSpot Review