Graphics and Sound

Maniacally Devious Kontraption

Of course, in this day and age, having a good story by itself just doesn't cut it anymore. So, the game backs up its story with gorgeous 3D graphics. The hardware-only engine executes hallway battles and expansive outdoor scenes equally well, with typical levels often containing equal parts of both. The first time you make your way up to the floating platforms in the sky on the first level, your breath will be taken away. You'll find yourself so busy adjusting to the heights that you'll fail to notice those enemy aircraft strafing you. The sense of altitude is definitely breathtaking, bringing on a sense of phobia (falling off will kill you). The well-designed levels do a good job of showing off the engine, setting a dark, foreboding atmosphere, although never really casting any overwhelming terror in your heart.

Subtle hints are given by the game to help you along

Some pipes and a rope make a nice ladder... Up we go!

Characters and enemies are modeled well, and you can even see some expressions. Use of shadows in the game gives the models a real sense of dimension. You can't change camera angles though - it always follows the character from behind during game play, so when you get close a wall, the game shifts to a semi-first-person view. There's still a certain amount of freedom, allowing you to look up or down, even while in the air. Overall the engine is well-polished, pleasing to look at, and does not detract from the game.

Uhh...

This suit is too small, can I get another?

Mozart Does Kill

Music and sound effects contribute to the overall experience of the game, providing further immersion. The cutscenes are told through voice-overs, which are done commendably. On the negative side, some sound effects problems were encountered. Loss of weapons sound effects during game play was all too common. Killing in silence, with only background music as accompaniment gives a disturbing effect. Sometimes voice-overs also go strangely silent, though luckily there are captions which you can still read. These issues are fairly minor and will hopefully be fixed with a future patch.

nice explosion effects

Transparency, colored-lighting, and large, expansive levels