I don't feel so good...

It's tough to believe, given the wholly impressive track record by the Melbourne House development team is responsible for producing such a bleak, formulaic game. The game engine can be likened to an old-school shooter, engaging aliens in a linear, routine passion (much like Contra, only this is substantially more frustrating). The first level alone was enough to make me turn the game off and never look at it again (actually, I did for the first week I received it). Imagine a level where you're put in situations that are not only difficult to navigate, but extremely repetitive. I lost count of all the times I ended up dying to the same situation, but only because you're required to take out all of the enemies throughout the level just to advance. Hm, so the AI is smart enough to surgically kill me in the same spot, but not enough to go out and find me? How boring and unsatisfying. On paper, the controls seem like they're a breeze, but they're not, especially under the conditions you're put in.

However, visually, Men in Black 2 is loaded with flashy particle effects as Agents J and K collect more powerful weapons to obliterate the alien scum. Players can collect a series of weapons, upgrading their arsenal along the way, acquired from defeated enemies or hidden throughout each level. There's also a smart bomb, limited in quantities which dispenses a large degree of damage to any enemies within its proximity.

Back in flack...

Beyond that, picking at the rest of the elements are rather bland to say the least. To its credit, the game features an original plot, but lacks any ties to the animated series or feature films. While the voice acting is a poor emulation of the respective roles played by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. Men in Black 2: Alien Escape offers very little enjoyment, due to its weak level design and awkward controls. Very disappointing, look elsewhere for your shooter fix.

· · · Bahn