|
 | Constantine PS2 Atari  Timed to coincide with the release of the film of the same name, 'Constantine' is an odd hybrid of the film and the original 'Hellblazer' comic series. Taking the characterisation, setting and style from the former, and some additional lore from the latter, it fails to rise above the typical "me too" menagerie that is the movie license tie-in. 'Constantine' sees you taking on the role of John Constantine, an exorcist and mage who takes on the demons of the underworld as they spill forth into the human plane. The character back-story from the comic is deep and complex, but sadly almost all of this is ignored, as the game draws mainly on the lore presented in the movie. It seems 'Constantine' isn't aimed at directly at fans of the film, nor fans of the comic, but rather at someone who may have enjoyed either and might be suckered into buying something sharing the same moniker. The visuals of are on par with that of most PS2 titles, and the overall consistency of the world works well. Some of the special effects present, particularly on the first level, work well to set the scene (especially if the movie is fresh in one's mind), but it isn't enough to hold together what is ultimately a boring game. Various memorable set pieces in the very early part of the game work quite well, but it's not long before they become few and far between. The magic system is possibly the worst of any game in recent memory; unsatisfying in every respect, you'll find little reason to use it (except where mandated by the game). Its inclusion, whilst a positive step by the developers to try and reach out past the bounds of the movie (in which Constantine's magic is barely touched on), is somewhat wasted and simply adds to the mediocrity of the game as a whole. The story arc of the game is barely held together by a mish-mash of cut-scenes which appear to have been scripted in complete isolation, both from each other and the gameplay. Your overall purpose in the game is never really made clear, and as a result, you play without any sense of purpose - and given the run of the mill gameplay, there isn't really anything to keep you playing. The only area in which 'Constantine' rises above the mundane is the sound design. This is one aspect of the game in which attention to detail and polish is truly evident. If the gameplay and cinematic scripting had achieved the same level of quality, then 'Constantine' could have been a surprise hit. It's easy to expect 'Constantine' to be an average title. It's hard not to want it to be a good one, especially for those who enjoyed the film or comics. At the end of the day, it's not surprising to find yourself turning off your PS2, thinking "yeah... just as I expected."  | |
The latest issue available now!     |
All content copyright dB Magazine