MDK 2

MDK 2

The first MDK was one of the coolest games I've ever played. It was pure action, and pure fun. At first glance it would seem as though the game was just another mindless third-person shooter, but after playing it, you'd come to the realization that there was also a very healthy mix of puzzles along the way as well. This mix was quite possibly the best mix of thumb-reflexes and mind-binding in any game ever. It was also unique. The concepts were truly original, which is great to see with games nowadays.

There's good news: MDK2 features that same great mix, and even more originality.



MDK2 is also a lot deeper than it's predecessor. Mainly due to the fact that you now play as 3 different characters as opposed to just one, and each character has his own unique abilities for you to learn. The first is, of course, Kurt Hectic, the main protagonist from MDK. His abilities are roughly the same from the original MDK. He can work his way through a puzzle, and also blow his way through a wall of baddies, Kurt's got it all. The second character is Max, the six-legged dog. If Kurt Hectic were cut in half, separating his action side from his puzzle side, then Max would be the action side. The greatest thing about Max is that he can use four guns at once (he runs with two legs, the other four are used for blowing up stuff...). Let me tell ya, there's nothing that can stand in your way when you've got four Uzi's flaring at once. Nothing. Max is a true bad-ass, in every definition of the word. The last, and most interesting, is Doc Hawkins. The Doc would be the other side of Kurt, the puzzle side. Doc Hawkins has personality to spare. What was the last game you played where you used toxic toast as a weapon? What was the last game you played where a dorky scientist would talk crap to the bad guys? Doc Hawkins levels just drip with humor, he's the perfect comic relief.

Sure, you say, all that character development is great, but how does the game play? Is it fun? Well, the answers would be "great" and "hell yes."

Firstly, let me give you the scoop on the environments. Environments set the tone for a game. They give it that special "feel." And, the environments in MDK2 are simply UNBELIEVABLE. The artwork is awesome, and the pure creativity of the level-design is amazing. Trust me, you'll never feel as though MDK2 is more of the same in terms of environments. It's in a class all it's own. They're so... unusual, that you'll be floored. You'll literally stop to take time to look around from time to time, it's that good.

Secondly, the control scheme. Ok, let me give you the layout for the controls first. The Y button moves you forward, A backward, X and B strafe. You use the analog stick to point you in the right direction. The R and L triggers are shoot and jump. These controls are different, to say the least. However, I think that MDK2's controls could become the overnight standard for third-person shooters on the DC. The control is GREAT, and very responsive. It just works surprisingly well. Never during the course of the game did I feel as though the controls were a nuisance. They're great for blasting baddies on the run, which you'll be doing a lot of in this game.

Finally, difficulty. This game is one tough mother, believe me. But it's a good kind of tough. It's the kind of tough that when you complete a level, you feel as though you've accomplished something, not just like you've been beaten up, as is the case is many difficult games. The bosses are hard and HUGE (the size kinda brings you back to a lot of the old-school boss encounters in NES games). The action is non-stop, you'll be blasting while running, jumping, sniping, strafing... Those thumbs will constantly be on the move.

MDK2 is the most complete game I have played in a long time (probably since MDK). You'll be glued to your DC for hours. I can't think of anybody who wouldn't like this game, simply because there's nothing not to like. In my opinion, if you buy MDK2, it'll be the best dollar that you can currently spend on your DC.

The Rundown
Graphics      :: 10 ::
Gameplay      :: 10 ::
Sound      :: 7 ::
Fun Factor      :: 10 ::
Overall      :: 9.8 ::

This was a review of Sega Dreamcast game.