MDK 2 Review

Those Bioware guys... can they do wrong? No, really, can they? So far, their track record has been superb, dishing out some of the PC industry's trendsetters, like Baldur's Gate, and Tales of the Sword Coast. And just as we thought they've reached the limits of their creative potential (all right, I never really thought that to be true, I just didn't know how much potential the development team really had) they do something so different in terms of what we have expected, and they do it so well, all of us just have to give tribute to such large quantities of pure, fast-paced fun known as MDK2. Taking on Shiny's mega-hit, and making a worthy sequel is a job even Shiny would shudder from, little lone a company that has been renowned for doing excellent RPG's, and having no tangible success (tangible being the operative word) in the fast-paced, action-arcade department. Bioware obviously knew they had it in them, I guess it was just my ignorance to doubt the outcome, and quality of their work.

Shiny ball of light!

Ribbon Chute open...

No doubts people, not any more! Not only did Bioware create a worthy sequel, they actually managed to surpass the original, providing players with strong, "comic book nostalgia" art style, intense action, and challenging, beautifully designed levels. On top of that, they've managed to pull off an entertaining cartoonish "type o' storyline" that manages to sparkle the interests of gamers throughout the adventure with lively humor and genuine character. Much like Alien v. Predator Bioware made all three "heroes" unique with entirely distinctive gameplay styles, and even slightly different genres. OK, I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but there is so much to say about MDK2...

Dr. Hawkins, Kurt Hectic, Max, and Streamriding Aliens...

Behold, the mighty protagonists of the great adventure. Each has boatloads of character, each has that little thing that we can all relate to, and none of them is perfect... Let's start with Kurt (my second favorite space janitor, right after Roger Wilco) --- that guy isn't much interested in saving the world. I bet he's a lazy janitor too, but he has that spark in his eyes. All it takes to ignite it is one mean ass Ribbon Chute suit, and a chaingun. When Kurt Hectic puts on his special suit, he becomes... a mean-mother Kurt with a kick-ass suit... and a chaingun! And you better believe he'll kick some alien butt... Of course, when the odds get too high (in favor of the alien scum), Kurt will have to call in for some backup...

And who better to call than an Uzi-blasting K9, known as Max. Just get that crotch lickin' dog some fire power, and he'll bark his way through hordes of aliens chewing on that AA battery, and smoking a big, fat "Cuban". Max is more like hmm... Clint Eastwood of dog world, maybe Sly Stalone (although Max has much more charm), and he relies solely on his guns to take care of stuff. Just don't forget to pet the little doggy once he's all done with shooting aliens... He's just a household pet after all.

Did we forget somebody? Oh yeah, Dr. Hawkins --- the senile, yet ingenious scientist, with his undying British charm, and demeanor. Dr. Hawkins is the brains behind the operation. His blind optimism keeps the spirits high, and provides for a jolly good show! He bosses around Kurt, and cuddles Max; he doesn't like aliens, but he is sure as hell not afraid of them. Let's see... Dr. Hawkins would be the combination of Winston Churchill and John Clease, or something like that...

Then, there are the Streamriding aliens, and the mighty Shwang. That guy's big, and has cool, red glasses. Oh, and he has that deep booming voice... Perfectly delicious villain, I'm sure...

They Are All So Unique!

Do you ever find those 3 in 1 advertisements interesting? More value for your money and all that... That is exactly what MDK2 offers - three unique and equally entertaining gameplay types tide together by a consistent and involving plot. As I have mentioned earlier, even the genres slightly vary depending on the character --- Max is a strict action arcade hero, with plenty of fire power and little in terms of puzzle solving. The player should usually pay more attention to his guns than anything else, and there will be plenty of aliens to shoot at along the way... Max doesn't use much tactics; there will be no sniper mode, nor nifty inventions. The best way is to pick up powerups, grab an Uzi and fire away. Even the levels are done in such a manner so that they would fit Max's style of play. It's all about unrestrained action, and it flows. The number of aliens that stand in his way primarily sets the difficulty level. Yes, there is a jetpack to pick up along the way, but the level design is not nearly as aerial as with Kurt Hectic.

Chaingun baby!

Don't fall off the ledge!

Kurt Hectic's role is probably the most balanced, and certainly the best-known type of gameplay in MDK2. Much of the things that MDK fans were used to seeing in the original are back for the sequel. It's all about balancing out the tactics, skills, and rush attacks, and using your aerial and sniping abilities to solve puzzles. The famous Ribbon Chute is back, providing for some fun gliding and slightly frustrating trial and error level puzzles. The level design excellently compliments the range of Kurt's skills, and provides for a streaming, and "on the edge" action. Overall, I found the "janitor campaign" to be the most entertaining of the three, probably because it integrates all that's really fun about MDK2.

If over excessive action is not your cup of tea though, there is always Dr. Hawkins' campaign. It carries the majority of the classic adventure elements with emphasis placed more on object manipulation, and some quick thinking rather than pure action. Dr. Hawkins is a frail, old man after all, not really cut out to be an action hero.

There is a little something for everybody in MDK2. If a game is defined by its genre, then defining MDK2 is a breeze. Bioware has created a true action adventure with the right ingredients, spiced up with a lot of humor, bizarre dialogues and quality design. Bioware made a true tribute to the action heroes of the 80s portrayed in, at the time insanely popular comic book culture. What's more, they've managed to outdo the gameplay intensity of the original, and fuse it all together into a seaming less gaming experience... And it all appears to have been done without any stress or hassle... Nice, and easy - a true labor of love!

Graphics and "The Score"

I know many of you like to read about eye-candy. I guess people get off on reading how a game will pour beautiful textures and thousands of polys onto their screens, and how it will run in more that 25 magical frames per second. Although that is in my humble opinion, not the most important thing in the world when it comes to game design, it certainly does give you some satisfaction for spending your cash on a shiny GeForce 2 card, and boy, oh boy, does MDK2 ever justify your shopping spree! You'll be glad to know that you certainly won't need a GeForce 2 to run a game smoothly at "high detail". Bioware's Omen engine works like a charm, and it boasts some excellent FPS numbers. The 32bit rendering is simply gorgeous and it just impregnates the screen with vibrant colors and light flares. If you are a fan of the original, you'll certainly know what to expect from MDK when it comes to graphics. If you are a newbie however, prepare yourself for a real barrage of wacky, cartoonish décor, engined by some mighty impressive technology. MDK2 supports hardware T&L, and it works fantastic as far as the level design goes. The environments are so rich, and more importantly dynamic and imaginative, that there is no way you'll ever feel bored of your surroundings. Just like the gameplay styles, the exteriors and interiors are conceptually following different eras, different moods, and different themes. Simply put, MDK2 visual experience can be characterized as "gaming artwork at its best", providing of course, you dig its unique style in the first place.

As far as the models go, well... They're still very beautiful, but not with as much polys as I have expected. That is natural though, considering nVidia's T&L engine can only process static objects (thanks eurohatter).

Finally, a mention of MDK2's incredible musical score --- it's just excellently setting the tone of the action; it never gets repetitive and it's hitting all the right melodies at the right times... I almost feel bad, being a game reviewer I couldn't find a single substantial flaw in the game.

With a risk of sounding like a goddamn groupie, I will go out on a limb and say that MDK2 is one of the best "pure action adventures" I have played this year. It's hard to compare it with some of the other excellent games of its genre, like Evolva, and it's unfair really. The two are very different, and do not nurture the "same styles". Each game is in its own right special, so I'll just stick to my final comment --- MDK2 is one of the best "pure action adventures" I have played this year. Period.