Neon Genesis Evangelion (For
N64)
Review by: Ikusabe
Wataru
After staying quiet for several
months, GAINAX once again proves that the EVA series still has the power
to attract people's attention. Together with one of the most famous
and well respected gaming companies, Bandai, they released the first N64-based
Evangelion game cartridge late September this year. Unlike all the
previous EVA game titles, this time the game is all about the EVA units.
Starting from the first episode as in the series, you will battle out with
the Angels as seen in the series: one on one close range combat with the
3rd and the 4th Angel, fighting the 5th Angel with the positron rifle,
synchronizing your attack with Asuka against the 7th Angel (since you will
be controlling the game as Shinji) and so on.
The game itself is divided
into three difficulty levels from easy, normal to hard. Each time
after you beat the game on these levels you will receive a certain omake
(special) function, the sound test chamber, 3D CG gallery and the mission
selection screen which will allow you to jump into any of the missions
after beating the game.
One other thing that makes
this game special is that the game not only contain the storyline from
the original series, but also those from the movies as well. Out
of all 13 missions in the entire game, three of them are battle scenes
taken straight out from the Evangelion ending movies. They are the battle
scenes between Asuka's Unit 02 and the JSSDF VTOL planes and tanks, Unit
02 versus Production Models and the final battle of Unit 01 versus Production
Models (the only scene that is not exactly the same as shown in the movie
throughout the entire game).
During one on one close range
combat with the Angels you will first have to neutralize your enemies AT
field - as in the anime - before your attacks will become effective.
There are also several other elements that will affect your performance
during these combats, the sync rate, the power cable and the distance between
you and your target. If your power cable is broken, your EVA is switched
to on-board power and you will be given the usual 5 minutes to kill the
Angel or your EVA will go down. Your sync rate is directly proportional
to the amount of damage your EVA can do in each attack, so the higher the
sync rate, the more damage. As in the anime, if the sync rate drops
to zero, your EVA will deactivate itself.
Overall, this EVA game is
a great improvement compared to previous EVA titles but it doesn't meet
the standards the previous titles had set, which in my personal opinion,
proved only one thing: the EVA series is great as an anime, but lousy as
a game. ^_^;;
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Review Info File |
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Title:
Shin Seki Evangelion [J] / Neon
Genesis Evangelion [E] |
Format:
Nintendo 64 game cartridge * (Rumble
Pack compatible) |
Production: Bandai |
Rating: B- |
Comments:
Amazing 3D real-time rendering with
incredible details and smooth motion make the EVA units come alive, but
like all the EVA games that came before, players are restricted to play
only as the story was written. The control is a bit slow as well,
especially during one on one battles with the Angels.
* North American Nintendo 64
system owners will have to purchase a converter (ranging from $3 - $10US)
before the import cartridge can be run on the domestic system. The
first release of the game also comes with a small pack of Cardess Masters
Cards. |
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Image Credit:
IGN64
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