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‘Jericho’ provides mediocre gaming experience |
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Thursday, 20 March 2008 |
by LINDSAY CRAVEN
Lifestyles Reporter
Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a four-part series about popular video games debuted within the last six months.
From the start menu of “Jericho” it is unmistakable this game came from the mind of Clive Barker, the man responsible for horror classics such as “Hellraiser.”
Unfortunately, the game does not live up to the quality of Barker’s films.
The story focuses on the Jericho Squad as they travel to the middle of the Middle Eastern desert to investigate a tear in space and in time that has created a pretty nasty storm and apparently releasing the first-born.
The firstborn was God’s first attempt at creating a being in his own image that ultimately failed and was banished to the Abyss.
According to prophecy, the firstborn is to return seven times to create havoc and guess what? This is the seventh.
Each time the firstborn returns he brings back pieces of time from his
six previous trips. The Jericho Squad must travel through these time
periods in an attempt to find the firstborn and destroy it for good.
This gore-packed first person shooter is fun in its own way but quite
frustrating at times as your character’s special abilities can also be
a pain in the butt.
There are seven members of the Jericho Squad, each with their own unique weapons and occult powers.
First is Capt. Devin Ross, who carries an assault rifle and has the magic to heal.
Sgt. Frank Delgado carries a mini-gun fed by a continuous ammo strip and a semi-automatic pistol with round clip.
His magical power is a flame-throwing technique that incinerates his
enemies, as well as a fire wall that protects him from the explosions
or fire attacks of his enemies.
Cpl. Simone Cole carries an assault rifle and grenades and has the
power to slow down time and can intensify the entire team’s firepower
for a short time.
Capt. Xavier Jones also carries an assault rifle and a semi automatic mounted shotgun and has the power to possess his enemies.
Lt. Abigail Black carries a sniper rifle and has telekinesis. She also
has the mind powered ghost bullet, which can be directed in any
direction or angle.
Sgt. Wilhelmina Billie Church carries a sub-machine pistol and a
Japanese sword and has the power to casting a spell called the blood
ward, which holds nearby enemies off for small amounts of time and the
fire ward spell, which creates a circle of flames that consumes any
enemies that venture near it.
Eventually in the game, you will be able to control all of these
characters by a simple series of buttons and utilize each one’s weapons
and magical capabilities, but once they die you are automatically
thrown into the next nearest team member.
While the imagery for this game is fairly well done, it is quite
complicated and a little repetitive as you guide the team through the
mazes of the city.
Every five minutes or so, the team will encounter a slew of blood
thirsty demons that you must spend another five minutes trying to kill.
But more frustrating than that is the fact that as your teammates die
you are responsible for transporting yourself to those able to revive
them while still trying to hold off the unending throngs of undead.
Game play is fairly steady but you have to repeat some chapters repeatedly as they are more difficult than others.
The story line is fairly well done; however, the dialogue of you and
your team members is worse than what you might find in a Schwarzenegger
flick.
Another laughable aspect is the ridiculous costumes provided to female team members.
Of course I guess it seems logical to go into battle donning a
skintight latex bathing suit with cut outs in the breast and thigh
areas.
Overall the game is suitable for a one-time play, but is definitely
going to leave you with the desire to go back and try it again.
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Lifestyles 
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