| If ever a game had the potential to be a bit different, this is it. Controlling a character with psychic superpowers must be a first, and if it isn’t, well, this is the first time you’re supposed to be able to use those powers practically. Should be worth investigating, then…
At first, Psi-Ops plays like a standard run-and-gun game, with you playing a typical meathead character, strolling around dark corridors filled with crates. Why is it that every ‘3D’ game has to be filled with fucking crates?
To make matters worse, you initially don’t have any of those juicy psychic powers at your disposal, thanks to the memory-wipe you suffered at the start of the game. Where’s the fun in that?
Tonight, on “It’s The Mind”…
So, not off to a great start as, graphics aside (the physics engine will be talked about everywhere, trust me, but that’s not what we’re here for), it all seems very run-of-the-mill. Thankfully, it only takes a few minutes of average gameplay until you find the “plant” – that is, the girl-you-can’t-quite-remember (you were probably shagging her at some point in your past), and what do you know? Turns out she’s a double agent and has infiltrated the mysterious ‘Movement’ you’re attempting to bring down. One quick shot of something via a big needle, and you’ve got some of your telekinetic powers back. Now the fun can start.
And does it ever. How much fun do you think it is, picking up an enemy at the other end of the room using the powers of your mind, before throwing him against the wall, dashing his pathetic body to pieces? A lot. And you get to do it over and over again. Even better, is using your ‘TK’ to pick up one of those bastard crates, hovering it over an enemy and then dropping it on his stupid head. Ho ho ho.
“I am the god of Hellfire, and I bring you…”
Best of all, though – picking up a explosive barrel, moving it over the heads of the enemies, and then either shooting it and sending them all scattering, or lobbing it into the crowd, blowing them every which way. Tremendous.
But, what if some of the enemies get through and have the nerve to start shooting at you? Why, simply use your mind to pick one of them up and move him in front of you, using him as a human shield against his mates’ bullets. Yes, that’ll do the trick.
There’s a large element of stealth to this game, which I’m not usually fond of. That ‘sneaking up behind someone and breaking their neck’ thing has been way overdone. Thankfully, the stealth here is necessary, very useful, and totally enjoyable. You see, to recharge your psychic powers, you can use your ‘Mind Drain’ power on anybody, but with live targets you have to remain unseen. So, you sneak up behind, start draining and, eventually… their head explodes! Yes. Just like out of ‘Scanners’. Trust me. This never gets old.
You can do this. You have the power. Try it. You’ll like it.
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy is the perfect game for lazy shooter fans. The powers at your disposal mean you don’t have to be as nit-pickingly precise as usual, and anyway, it’s far more fun offing people in creative ways. Obey the voices. Use your brain. And mind. Buy now.
PAULEMOZ, September
2004.
RODENT CASH RATING -
30-quid and a headfuck.
"My… brain… hurts"
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