Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter

"This story has a lot of beginnings ..."

In the year 2412, Humans had terra formed most of the known solar system. Over 200 years other races are discovered and become integrated. But with that came crime, and crime had to be countered.

The major corporations created the Enforcers, but they couldn’t keep the peace. So the High Senate created the Rangers, and that was another beginning for Mace because, as he grittily states "that’s what I do - hunt, protect, kill."

But despite the calling, there were problems and fall guys. Griffin was one.

"Then there was the setup, and I was sent to prison. That was another beginning, of 10 long years, then I was released ... "

Released from prison, Griffin gets a job as a bounty hunter, and that opens the door for revenge over those responsible for his incarceration. Why?

"Because let’s face it, no one wants to go to hell alone, right?"

Warthog, Black Label Games and Vivendi Universal present Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter, a first-person shooter for the PlayStation2 that is a taut tale of vengeance. The story really begins on a cargo ship with Mace and the 13 Ranger unit trying to discover what is going on. A Code 4 has been called and when they land they find that ship has been overrun. But by whom?

And how does all this play out in the set-up that send Mace to prison?

It is obvious that something is afoot from the outset. Even the squad leader of the Ranger unit seems to pick on Mace, in tone and duty assignment. The first task given Mace is to find the control center and release the airlock, which has shut on the unit. Along the way, players will get a lesson in targeting, and killing a host of bad guys, all of whom speak with Russian accents with trite mean slogans - like "your scalp is mine, dirtbag" or "I’m going to have your head on a stick!" during the firefight.

The game itself is somewhat linear in nature, and the AI is really good. The bad guys don’t just stand there waiting to get shot. They roll, hid and take irregular paths to their target - you.

The graphical quality of the game is very good, and the PS2 version is better than the Xbox version. The details are just as good, but the textures and coloring is much more lush. Some of the cutscenes are a little robotic, though. And there are some lip-synch problems.

The sound is a mixed bag as well. The musical score is very good, and the battle sounds are well done. Some of the vocal characterizations are cliche, and there is some overacting.

The control elements are fairly straightforward and typical of the genre. The right thumbstick controls targeting and is rather touchy. Newcomers to the genre will have their work cut out for them but after about 20 minutes, they should have the fundamentals down well enough to work through the early levels. You will have to pay attention to health and ammunition and find power-ups along the way to sustain both.

The game also has auto-save points that enable you to save your progress in a level without having to begin all over should you die. And count on dying. The better you do, the more the AI seems to adjust and throw smarter, tougher and more enemies at you.

Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter is almost non-stop action. This is a linear tale that asks players to rely on reflexive abilities rather than worry about thinking too much. Yes, you will have to process information and sometimes they will throw innocent non-playing characters at you as decoys. A quick trigger finger is not always the best idea.

This is a game that is challenging, looks good, has a moody soundtrack appropriate for the tempo of the game and plays well. Mace is not your typical hero, but then he has good reason not to be.

If you are a fan of FPS games, target this one.

Gameplay: 8
The game is somewhat linear and there are load times between the cutscenes (which advance the storyline) and the action. Once in a level, though, the game moves seamless.

Graphics: 8.4
While some of the cutscenes are a little robotic, the PS2 version of this title looks better than the Xbox version. The colors are richer and the contrast is a little starker.

Sound: 8.2
Some of the vocal characterizations are cliche, but the musical score, effects are all well done.

Difficulty: Medium
The targeting is touchy, and the levels get progressively harder as the game evolves. While a reflexive game, the AI seems to adjust to the player’s abilities quite nicely, allowing the less experienced the opportunity to improve before the game gets really difficult.

Concept: 7.8
The interface is simple to use and players should be able to jump in and go with little difficulty. The game does ask for a L3 button for auto-target. However, generally speaking, this game does borrow a lot of elements from a variety of sources and well good, they are not exactly original

Overall: 8.2
This is a good first-person shooter. The storyline maybe a bit familiar, but the new settings and the way Rollins expresses himself all add up to a very enjoyable time. Mace Griffin sports all the features of the very good FPS titles, and deserves a good long look.