Machine Head

While you could sing the lyrics to Bush songs while playing this one, from what we saw, you might not have the opportunity. Your job is to destroy. As you fly your craft around, lock on to enemies and blast away your rockets, blowing the various machines to smithereens. The programmer turned Machinehead will do anything to stop you from defeating all of his creations. 15 levels along with 25 different types of enemies will make for some long nights playing this one.

In a frightening future plagued by the Machinehead virus, one heroic scientist (that'd be you) struggles to save the planet from annihilation. Blam's blend of 3D shooting, driving, and strategic gameplay goes down in both cyberspace and the real world. Playing from a first-person perspective, gamers will face wave after wave of freaky, virus-altered mutants on the path to salvation.

First-person shooting gets a sci-fi treatment in Machinehead. You maneuver a flying bomb ready to detonate if you can't complete the 15 hunt-n-shoot missions in time. The missions take you over diverse 3D landscapes populated by mutant spiders, big flying insects, and a host of bizarre mechanized menaces. The shooting action looks like a blast so far, with big machine guns, homing missiles, flamethrowers, and more lighting your way with explosive force.

Overview

It is the future. Nanotechnology is the buzz. As with most new forms of technology, there are risks involved. Unfortunately, the risk has been realized. Something has gone wrong and a bio-engineered virus is threatening to take over the world. It is up to you to stop the virus and the creator behind it.

Machine Head is best described as a first person shooter that has a little twist. Instead of the normal walking around and opening doors idea, you play strapped to a nuclear warhead. This freedom does not limit you to corridors but opens up whole worlds with 360 degrees of explorable terrain. Add 15 different missions, tons of weapons, enemies that will blow your mind and even an occasional race against the clock. Machine Head is a great idea for a game that fits together fairly nicely.

Gameplay

Like I mentioned above, Machine Head is a first person shooter with a twist. The best way to describe the gameplay is a cross between Doom and WipeOut. I know that sounds strange and, well, it is but it works. The main difference between Machine Head and corridor shooters is the fact that you are not constricted to a corridor. Your game environment is outdoors that takes you through water, land, cliffs, ramps and other terrain. Since you are flying strapped to a nuclear missile, speed is also an important factor of the game. Once you get the hang of the controls, you will be able to navigate just as if you were walking in your favorite corridor shooter.

The object of Machine Head is to complete your missions. You are briefed on your mission when entering each level. Of course, there are lots of enemies who want to stand in the way of accomplishing this goal. The enemies range from mutated humans to giant spiders to dog bats to anything else in between. The enemies were all well done and looked real. The giant spiders would always cause me to yell some sort of expletive and quickly retreat to gain my composure and attack. Some of the enemies drop weapons power-ups or energy power-ups that help prolong your quest. After a while, you will learn which enemies are most likely to have some sort of goodie and seek them out as supplies diminish.

Your character has a well stocked arsenal available, especially considering you current vehicle. You will start the game with a chain gun, which is basically a machine gun with unlimited ammo. Also, a flame-thrower is at your disposal. As you progress through the game, you will locate missiles, homing missiles, photons, grenades, disruptors and IO-storms. Each of these weapons has their best situations for use but each is deadly in any situation. Just like other shooters, ammo is limited on your heavy-duty weaponry so it must be conserved.

Graphics

Machine Head has some pretty decent graphics for this type of a game. The cut scenes are all animated 3D that is pretty standard fare for the Playstation nowadays. During the game, the graphics and views take a little getting used to but after you get the hang of things, they do just fine. The enemies are all quite creative and look good. I really liked the spiders and how real the appeared. All in all, the graphics fit this title just fine.

Bottom Line

This game is worth a weekend rental to decide if it is for you or not. I know this is kind of a cop out answer but I think that some people may not like it and others may love it. All I can say is that you need to give it a chance before making your decision. Get a feel for the game mechanics and controls before giving up. I think if you stick it out, you will find a pretty decent title. If you only play for a few minutes, well, you won't get much out of it.