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FOR THOSE OF YOU who don't know, and I'd imagine there would be few, TM:B is a level based car-combat game, where you collect various weapons and powerups which enable you to wreak havoc on your opponents. Single player modes include Story, Challenge, and Endurance. In Story mode, you progress through the levels, one by one in a fairly linear fashion. Challenge is a single player deathmatch affair with computer controlled opponents. With Endurance, you get a single vehicle, with the objective being to eliminate as many enemies as possible with only that one vehicle. Multiplayer modes include 2-4 player deathmatch, 2 player co-operative team play, and 2 player 'last man standing' (identical sets of cars for each player, first to run out of vehicles loses).
The 2 player co-op team play is a great option to include, but when facing only AI controlled opponents, can sometimes get a bit repetitive – you end up trying to waste each other anyway!
This title's strengths lie in its multiplayer game. The single player game is a rather staid experience where you simply kill off your opponents in each level, and then progress to the next. No 'story' as such to speak of, as far as I could tell.
First Impressions:
The opening FMV cutscene was short – the first bar of the Rolling Stones' "Paint it Black", and then that was it!. The menu system is great looking, and easy to navigate through. There are three different types of controller button settings, but no 'user definable' option. The options are reasonably varied, and should suit most people. Our one complaint about these is that when selecting 'X' and 'square' as accelerate and brake respectively, 'square' only stops the vehicle, but does not put it into reverse – whereas using the right analog stick, pushing down will cause the vehicle to brake, and then reverse. A minor quibble.
The Good:
The graphics in this game are nice. Particle effects are done very well, and there is plenty of detail, both on the cars themselves, and with the surroundings. All vehicles are rendered in real time - gattling guns protrude from side panels, explosive barrels readied for firing appear in the boot, and missile racks pop out of vehicle roofs.
Level design is great, with many little nooks and crannies to ambush people from, and quite a few secret areas to explore too. You can choose from very small areas through to extra large areas, and the style in each of these is nicely varied – snowy mountains, sprawling suburbs, downtown cities etc.
There are plenty of very cool vehicles to choose from, each with it's own special weapon. Some of our particular favourites were 'Brimstones' flying preacher, who leaps from your vehicle and lands on any opponent directly in your path exclaiming "Repent!" as he tosses a grenade into the cab of your unwary enemy, and 'Sweet Tooths' missile attack, where the vehicle, an ice cream van, morphs into a towering 'transformer-like' robot with wheels, and unleashes a hail of homing missiles. Extra points for all missiles hitting their target!
Other special weapons include, freezing missiles, electrifying lightning strikes, and plasma pulses (there are many more). There are also standard weapons such as homing missiles, ricocheting rockets, and lobbed barrels of explosives, to name but a few. The weapon effects are all very impressive, and with the sound cranked up the experience is brutally satisfying. All vehicles are equipped with a turbo, which can be activated at will, and replenished with one of the many powerups.
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