Another day, another quick attempt to cash in on a movie license! Frank Miller’s 300 is hitting theaters nationwide as the PSP game of the same name hits stores, and you can probably guess which of the two is worth checking out. 300 the game offers plenty of gory violence with a Spartan theme, and has some play-worthy moments, but doesn’t even attempt to raise the bar.
When Spartans Attack!
Following the basic plot of the graphic novel and movie, you take the role of King Leonidas, who along with his 300-member bodyguard, must hold off an attack from the massive Persian army of Xerxes I during the battle of Thermopylae. For reasons that the game explains in the opening cinematic, Leonidas is unable to bring his full army to bear against the outside onslaught. So, it’s up to his 300-member bodyguard to stop an army of thousands.
It’s a terrific plot for book, movie, and game, and just the sort of epic storyline that drives other truly great action games like God of War. Unfortunately, Kratos has yet to appear on Sony’s portable, and Leonidas is a poor substitute. 300 has many elements that smack of good action though. You’ll fight with sword, spear, and shield, and occasionally dual swords, and each kill earns you upgrade points. Leonidas also has blood lust abilities that help him heal and cause more havoc for a short time.
Shield Thyself!
The ability to use your shield as weapon is a nice addition; although the sequences where you must press both shoulder buttons to protect from raining arrow attacks quickly become annoying. The combo attacks aren’t varied, though, and the action soon becomes incredibly repetitive. Even the Spartan’s biggest asset—the phalanx formation where they join ranks and essentially become a single weapon—is mostly wasted and gimmicky, as you just slowly move forward slashing, blocking, and stabbing an elephant now and then.
The graphics are hit and miss as well. For a game so focused on 300 guys against thousands, there are precious few on the screen at once. While this might be due in part to limitations of the hardware, you’ll only see two or three of your guys on the screen at once, and maybe six or seven enemies. To make matters worse, the AI of both your friends and foes is remarkably weak.
The animation is also middling, and while Leonidas is well detailed, most of the other character graphics are over-used and less defined. Even the landscapes are noticeably blocky and lacking in interesting detail. The audio work is better. Although almost none of the film actors lent their voice to the game, the Spartans manage to throw out plenty of amusingly macho one-liners. The clanking sound effects are well done and the dramatic score is very good.
It’s No Epic
300 is, at best, a passable hack and slash action game. It has moments of inspired violence, and the story it tells is engaging, but there is too much monotony to the gameplay to make it addictive. The visuals seem rushed and the AI is lame, and there’s no option for any sort of multiplayer—cooperative or otherwise.
Article by: Jason D'Aprile
