ion wakes in a hospital. He doesn't know where he is, nor is he sure what has been done to him. A corner of his mind hears the pleading of a girl/woman. The voice beckons, but from where, Rion doesn't know. It is Rion's quest to unravel the mystery of his mystery. Oh, by the way, if any of this--heck, if all of this--sounds a bit familiar, feel free to skip to the opinion section.
A 14-year-old boy who has been subjected to waves of Psychic Power Enhancement Chemicals (PPEC), Rion walks the city of Michelangelo searching for both his past and the voice in his head. In his way stands an assortment of gruesome baddies, not the least of which are the Galerians. Created by the evil super-computer Dorothy (no relation to Auntie Em's niece), Galerians are powerful semi-humans who obey Dorothy without question. It's typical Resident Evil gruel, but nevertheless well done.
Played from a third-person perspective, Rion tromps the Galerian's stages with nary a pistol. The boy's mind is his weapon. And a useful weapon it is. Whether peering through metal locks or flinging psionic blasts, Rion's gray matter is his principal survival tool. Unfortunately, it is also his most dangerous adversary. Each time Rion uses his psychic powers, he creeps closer to shorting. When he shorts, Rion's powers amplify--they kill anyone nearby, but they also rapidly drain his health, eventually snuffing his candle. It's a neat concept, and one that spices the 50-some hours of play.
Same monsters, new weapons
Galerians is a good game but not a great one. The story is strong--as strong as gaming stories get--but despite the psychic trappings it's the same old wine in a brand-new bottle: person wakes, person has amnesia, person hides from and kills stalking monsters, person uncovers both the story and his past.
But that doesn't mean there isn't a lot to like. The game boasts more than 70 minutes of full-motion animation that is masterfully done. The breathtaking city-noir theme pumps life into Rion's dark adventure. But the hi-res movies are more than eye-chocolate. Each serves a purpose and is artfully meshed with both plot and in-game engine. In one disturbing scene, Rion discovers a freezer full of body parts--some animated, some not. The camera effortlessly switches from the video of the boy's stunned face as he trips and lands heavily, to the game-engine shot of him standing and dusting off his derriere.
Nor is the video the only point of interest. The psychic combat system is a joy to play. Players can alter the power of Rion's attacks, killing opponents with one mighty blast (or fireball) or several smaller assaults. Which attack to use must be weighed not only against Rion's psychic reserves, but against the number and proximity of opponents. Both excessive psychic blasts and damage suffered by Rion can send him into shock. It's a delicious balancing game and one of the system's high points.
Unfortunately, the game's fright factor is one of the low points. Despite the dark story and creepy creepies, Galerians never truly scares--a damning statement for a horror survival game.
Nevertheless, it's worth a look. Its strong story, beautifully meaningful videos and captivating combat system overshadow the lack of tension. Galerians might not be the best in a sea of Resident Evil clones, but it's surely not the worst.
