Due out next week for the PlayStation 2, PSP, and GameBoy Advance (yeah, the GBA is still alive), I got a chance to play the final build ofGhost Ridertoday during a visit with 2K Games.
Check out my impressions of thisGod of Warclone after the jump.
When first booted up, the thing I initially noticed aboutGhost Riderwas how good it looked on the PS2. If there’s one thing developers know how to do right now, it’s push the limits of this console.
The next thing I noticed as I was shown some gameplay was how muchGhost Riderlooked likeGod of War. And it’s not like an accidental thing either, this game really looks and plays likeGod of War —except it has aGhost Riderskin and story thrown on top of it.
Everything from combos to soul orbs to even those very same special kills Kratos will do when you make an enemy weak are in there. What sets it apart, however, is thatGhost Rideris actually half fighting game and half driving game. Also, there’s no annoying puzzles inGhost Rider— no columns to push around and such.
As far as gameplay goes, this is a button masher. ThinkGod of WarmeetsDevil May Cry— you have a gun, ala Dante, and you can upgrade yourself via the collection of soul orbs. It is every bit your modern-day fighting/action game as you’d expect. And you know what? For a licensed title that is scheduled to be released around the same time as its movie counterpart, it ain’t half bad.
When playing through a few levels, I had fun. It’s actually a fairly solid experience. The only downside of the game is in its driving levels — which consist of you straddling Ghost Rider’s motorcycle. Controlling the bike was difficult and seemed more like something the developers were forced to throw in to make the title a completeGhost Riderexperience.
Here’s the really good part for youGhost Riderfans though: There are a ton of unlockable items. You can unlockGhost Ridercomics, development diaries and check this out: Once you beat the game, you unlock Blade and can play through the entire game again as him. Cool, huh? Well, I thought it was.
Other details of note: The game is broken up into six different chapters with each chapter including an end boss from the Marvel comics roster. The game’s story takes place after the movie and is meant to be more of a compliment, not mirror of the film. To regain health, find and stand next to open flames. And most importantly, no Nicolas Cage voice.
