Digimon World: Data Squad Review for PlayStation 2 (PS2)

System: PS2	Review Rating Legend
Dev: BEC	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Namco Bandai	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Sept. 18, 2007	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

After a command is chosen, you have to wait while the camera scans the environment. Then you have to wait while the move is implemented. Then you'll wait while the attack is registered. Then you'll wait for the outcome of the command, after which you'll wait for the opposing Digimon to do unto you. It's a tiring process which drains you of any patience that you have left at the end of the day. Kids, heed my warning. You're going to need a double dose of Ritalin just to get through this game.

Digimon World: Data Squad screenshot

There is little correlation between this game and the animated series. This game is tedious, and while it features popular characters from the series, the game is unable to capture any of the charm. This RPG format is definitely a wrong choice for this franchise. An action game would have been better. Instead, I find this game to be an example of a poor man's Pokemon.

Graphically the game looks old and tired. The command menu looks outrageously messy, while the environments are sparse and drab. The Digimons are decent enough, as are the alternate forms that they digivolve into, but there is also a lot of repeated characters with slightly different skins. There is some cell shading which rivals the graphics in the cartoon, but overall, the quality and attention to detail is inconsistent. The animations aren't even altogether smooth. The environments are huge and there is no world map. Navigation requires accessing menus. And menus take time to load. There is a damn menu for everything.

Expect some slowdown, and I'm not talking about the load times that choke any remaining semblance of fun right out of the game. At times, the animation is even more jerky than the original Pokemon cartoons that caused epileptic fits in children.

Unless you're the biggest Digimon fan on the planet, don't even bother to rent this mess. Because if you do, you certainly won't be the biggest Digimon fan on the planet anymore.

By Cole Smith
CCC Senior Writer

Features:

Dozens of Digimon: As you travel through over a dozen stages, collect and evolve over 140 Digimon.

Each Digimon has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, and upgrading your Digimon can be easily done through the intuitive Galactica Evolution System!

Exciting new look and feel: Digimon World Data Squad is a new kind of RPG featuring cel-shaded artwork and emotive Digimon that are affected by the way you treat them!

Digimon speak their minds: Digimon World Data Squad features a unique emotion engine for the Digimon, allowing them to communicate to the player what they would like to do in battle.

Numerous items to wield: There are over 250 items to find and acquire during the course of the game. Some items will help you solve complex puzzles, while others will give you different advantages in battle.

Find them all! Unique storyline and characters: Digimon World Data Squad features a storyline that parallels the new and exciting Digimon Data Squad cartoon and also has new exclusive characters for the game!

The same voice actors from the cartoon have brought their characters from the show to life in the game!

Rating out of 5	Rating Description
2.7	Graphics Too ambitious. Little attention to detail in the environments.
2.4	Control You have to access menus for everything. Long loads make it frustrating and tedious.
3.4	Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting Music, sound effects, and voiceovers are culled from the TV series.
1.8	Play Value There is no way you'll want to go through the repetition of another battle.
2.1	Overall Rating - Poor Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

2.7

2.4

3.4

1.8

2.1