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TRON: Evolution Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

TRON: Evolution Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

The Grid Is So Shiny!

My first impression of TRON: Evolution was that it was a very pretty game. From the first cutscene to the contrasting neon colors of TRON’s inner worlds, I immediately thought that TRON: Evolution was one of the best-looking franchise-based games I had ever seen. The look of the TRON universe is something so unique that it begged to be recreated in a video game, and it is done in spectacular fashion. Even the character animations are done with the utmost attention to detail, and both Flynn and Quorra look remarkably like their on-screen counterparts.

Though I was initially impressed by the game’s look, the experience went downhill pretty fast. Much like nearly every licensed game that came before it, TRON: Evolution comes with an all-too-short story mode and an unsatisfying multiplayer mode. While this is all par for the course for franchise games, it doesn’t help TRON: Evolution move above the ranks of “generic movie tie-in game” which is quite a shame, considering the TRON movie series is all about how real and immersive a game world can be.

TRON: Evolution  Screenshot

The story in the game bridges the gap between the first movie and TRON: Legacy. However, for all the little “in” jokes made for those who know and love the first movie, the story’s plot really ties in more with Legacy than with the original, so if you haven’t seen the first movie, you won’t feel lost at all. You play as Anon, who is a new System Monitor tasked with getting rid of a new virus threat on the Grid. The game makes swift introductions of characters from the movie, inducing Flynn, Clu, and Quorra. The plot never expands on character histories (despite being a prequel), and if you haven’t seen TRON: Legacy yet, you might be a little confused at first. Still, after a few hours of playing the game, you’ll find yourself not caring too much, as the plot is about as shallow as a light cycle trail…five minutes after it has passed.

Combat mechanics in the game work well enough, but also suffer from being shallow. The game’s main mechanic predictably revolves around using TRON’s signature light disc and getting rid of undesirables from a distance. This means mashing the attack button whilst running in circles is your best attack strategy. While initially fun, this gets old fast, and the game takes on a level of simplicity that’s almost comical.

TRON: Evolution  Screenshot

TRON: Evolution does try, though. There is a melee element to the combat that comes in handy a few times, and a leveling system that gives you access to enhanced abilities and upgrades for your light disc. These upgrades are nice, and certainly provide an incentive to keep battling undesirables (instead of running away from them), but the difficulty curve seems to ramp up at the same pace as your unlocked abilities, which makes the game feel a bit stagnant. The game’s battle system is by no means broken, but if you are looking for a combat system with any kind of depth to it, TRON: Evolution will disappoint.

TRON: Evolution  Screenshot

Still, if you can stand the monotony introduced by the single-note combat system, you will be rewarded with a few welcome changes to the gameplay pace. The game does include several levels where you can use the franchise’s trademark light cycle and a heavy-duty light tank. These levels are brief, but satisfying overall (and, hey, instead of running in circles, you can drive in circles!). These interspersed levels certainly make for a nice change of pace, and I found myself wishing there were more of them included in the game.

TRON: Evolution  Screenshot

After you’ve beaten TRON: Evolution’s story mode, there is an additional online mode that you can check out. You actually don’t have to wait until you’ve beaten the game, but I would advise it as the leveling system is persistent through the story and online modes. While it may not matter in the story mode if you have exploding light discs unlocked as a skill, it does matter in the online modes, as you can safely assume that everyone has their stats maxed out already (the game story mode only takes about five hours to complete, after all).

The online mode itself is a mixed bag. The idea behind it seems solid, as the game allows you to battle other residents of the Grid in a deathmatch or capture-the-flag style match. In practice, however, the gameplay devolves into a “who-can-get-to-the-light-cycle-first” match, which can get tiring quickly. If there were a little more variety across the online modes, perhaps they wouldn’t feel so shallow, but as it is, the story mode actually feels deeper, which is not a good thing in this case.

TRON: Evolution isn’t the worst game to ever come out of the movie-and-game-tie-in-factory. In fact it fits the status quo rather nicely. If you are looking for a game that plays like every other licensed title out there, then you won’t be disappointed by TRON: Evolution. It has functional combat, a bare-bones online offering, and some high production values. However, if you are looking for something a little more, you won’t find it here. It really is a shame that a game based on a franchise that is all about a “real” video game world, the game that ties-in with the movie franchise doesn’t stand out. Though the game does look nice, it seems that beauty, even on the Grid, is only pixel-deep.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.5 Graphics
TRON: Evolution is by far one of the best-looking franchise-based games to come out in recent years, and nails the highly-stylized look of the movies. 3.9 Control
Controls lack depth, but work well enough overall. 3.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Background music is a bit repetitive, but voiceovers are expertly done. 3.7 Play Value
The story mode is extremely short, and the online offerings feel a bit hollow. 3.4 Overall Rating – Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • Bridges the gap between TRON and TRON: Legacy and provides insight into the film’s past.
  • Features the voice and likeness of actress Olivia Wilde as Quorra.
  • Provides an epic adventure across a massive digital world.
  • Take part in disc-based combat and utilize advanced light cycles.
  • Enjoy dazzling CG animations that immerse you in the action.

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