 It's
always a treat to play a game where you get to kill
innocent civilians, isn't it? I hope the Democrats don't
find out about this game or we'll all have our videogame
rights revoked. I've played so many games where I've
killed so many people that I am sure that I would become
a serial killer the instant I left my house. But until
they unlock my bedroom door, I will continue my killing
spree vicariously with THQ's latest third-person, action
adventure game, Destroy All Humans.
In
this game you assume the role of Crypto, an alien
who is on the hunt for DNA which is to be used for
cloning purposes back on his home planet. They've
been cloning their own kind for years and are starting
to run out of DNA material. Earth has a large supply.
To acquire the material, Crypto must stun the humans
and extract the juicy gray matter that resides in
their heads. It's all in a day's work.
Taking
place in the campy 50s, you will begin your harvest
in the rural backwaters and eventually make your way
to the Whitehouse where you will be confronted by
the U.S. Army. The game starts out easy enough but
it gets really challenging near the end. Extracting
brains leaves you vulnerable so you'll have to get
tons of it at earlier stages of the game. You can
use the DNA to upgrade your abilities, especially
your talent with weapons.
Some
of the less forgiving weapons require a lock-on system
but it doesn't really work that great. It doesn't
always target the character that you are facing which
can also leave you vulnerable.
 Throughout
the game you will unlock new levels, extra lives and
mini-games that will grant you more DNA points. These
mini-games are mostly of the timed racing and collecting
type. They are generic but they are a good source
of DNA if you figure out how to take advantage of
them.
Gameplay
is divided into three main components: Shooting; action,
and stealth. The Zap-O-Matic (in keeping with the
50's theme) stuns your prey for just enough time to
relieve them of their brains. I image that Crypto
must have already visited the CCC offices. Other retro
sci-fi weapons include various rays, plasmas, electricity,
tractor beams and the hilarious Anal Probe. Did I
mention that this game has a wicked sense of humor?
You
will get to pilot a flying saucer but it only flies
and fires in a one-dimensional plane, and you can
only land it in specified areas. Stealth is less restricted
but if you get caught it's instant death. Using your
psychic powers you can create a holographic image
of a human being and walk around unnoticed - that
is until you run into one of the Men in Black. They
have the ability to see through your disguise and
will kill you dead if given half a chance. The only
way you can escape this situation is to apply your
powers of telekinesis and pick them up and throw them
as far away as possible. It's fun to play this style
of stealth where you don't have to hide in the shadows
but it requires you to constantly scan people looking
for powers.
 Interacting
with people can be great fun. You'll read various
men's minds and find out just what people were thinking
half a century ago. The cutscenes are funny and well
produced. The gameplay as well as the story is inspired
by those classic B-movie, sci fi thrillers but it
never, ever takes itself seriously. Unfortunately
that is also evident with the gameplay which is kind
of generic and just a little too repetitious.
Destroy
All Humans certainly has a lot of charisma but imagine
if you had to take the title of the game literally?
Killing a few billion people would certainly become
boring after a while no matter how psychotic you are.
Perhaps if the reward system offered better mini-games
this game might have been an instant cult classic.
As it is, I would certainly recommend a rental but
any further commitment is your call.
|
People
have had both fears and dreams of Aliens for years.
Hollywood has cashed in on this craze starting in
the early 50's making those cheesy alien attack the
earth plot movies. Of course the radio broadcast of
War of the Worlds helped convince people that aliens
had really began to attack earth. Only later did people
realize that they had been taken in by a hoax. 
Regardless
if Aliens really exists or not they sell things. Including
video games and now Pandemic Studios is basing a new
game on those movies that started in the 50's. Gamers
will get to play a brain-eating Alien named Crypto.
Who is sent to earth to seek out the needed DNA and
wreak havoc along the way he won't be alone in his
mission though. You see Crypto is a bit old and has
a few wires twisted upstairs. So he will need the
help of his commander Orthopox-15 the number 15 means
he is the 15th generation of the clone and is superior
in his intelligence and powers. Although Pox will
try and give Crypto instructions the game seems to
be made that things can and will go wrong. Crypto
will have the option of following the advice of the
know it all or try things his way. He can use his
futuristic weapons and even hypnotize humans at will
to do his bidding. Of course he can also decide to
satisfy his need for hunger and snack on their brains.
It also seems that Crypto has a sarcastic sense of
humor and their will be sight and sound gags in the
game. I am starting to like the purple guy already!
Okay-it
sounds a bit gross or something that would also feature
robots that look a lot like those featured in Cole's
Botz segments. To be honest the game is looking interesting
and will require players to think and not just destroy
things. Although besides Crypto's powers while on
land he also has his flying saucer loaded with some
great toys. He can demolish a whole city block with
just one shot and the effects are so far looking impressive
thanks to the 3D graphics. Expect a campy story line
and those cheesy sound effects and music scores with
a new twist. The game will feature some new music
and be updated in certain levels. It's hard to describe
this game but I will try. Think of it as an action
adventure with a sci-fi twists. Of course with the
game a long way off we do not have all the details
but it sounds crazy enough to work. It may just be
a fun one to play stay tune for more details on this
one. 
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