(Rated T; $39.99) A 2K Games presentation of a game developed by Climax and
licensed by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Entertainment for PlayStation 2.
Johnny
Blaze, a.k.a. "Ghost Rider," is so busy battling a barrage of demons,
hell bats and ninjas in his new videogame that it's tough to notice the lack of
a fully developed story. That said, publisher 2K Games and developer Climax
have created a hell of a ride that will please gamers who enjoy fighting
non-stop waves of blood-thirsty enemies, though it will likely disappoint
comicbook purists who care about who the guy with the flaming skull is or why
he's hurling chains at all those demons.
Absence of an engaging plot to
complement the pulse-pounding action is all the more puzzling considering that
two acclaimed comicbook writers -- Garth Ennis and Jimmy Palmiotti -- penned
the story, which supposedly takes place after the film but largely mirrors its plot,
in which Ghost Rider has to defeat Mephisto's son Blackheart and save his
girlfriend.
Arcade-style action alternates
between on-foot fighting and motorcycle-racing sequences. Gameplay is good and
gets better as points are accumulated and upgrades to Ghost Rider's fighting
skills become available. The designers put a lot of work into creating some
cool combo maneuvers that will likely remind gamers of the ultra-succesful
"God of War."
Motorcycle racing sequences are
particularly good. The "hell cycle" is fairly easy to maneuver and
challenging obstacles are creatively placed along the track for the racer to
navigate around.
Graphics are adequate, but
far from spectacular, even taking into account the absence of a next-gen
version for the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3. Backgrounds in hell are bland, while
the carnival environment is rich in colors and details.
"Ghost Rider" isn't
particularly challenging. Most players can finish it easily in a weekend, and
the lack of a multiplayer option means gamers won't have much incentive to pick
it up again. But in the weak crowd of games based on movie licenses,
"Ghost Rider's" intense action helps it stand a little above the
crowd.
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