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Infected Review
Written by Robert Falcon on Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Some of the best gunning action you'll find for your PSP. Looks and sounds great.
Gets a bit repetitive, and multiplayer is limited.
Nothing says spreading the joys of Christmas than showing off a game that shows a killer virus taking its tolls on a store Santa Claus and making him go insane, lobbing explosive presents all over the place. It sounds like something out of a Roger Corman film, but it is in fact something that stems from a Planet Moon product. These guys are known for their twisted sense of humor, as well as the ability to create off-the-wall gaming efforts that gather eclectic gamers and give them something to really appreciate. Infected is the latest in their line of games, and it continues to show them doing fine work.
In the game, you take control of a character in quite a bit of a predicament. It seems that New York City has been overrun by a terrifying virus that turns people into zombies almost instantly. Worse yet, it spreads like wildfire, as the zombies enable themselves with faster speed and jumping capabilities. This causes your problem to spread wide and far more than you'd like it to, and they show no signs of slowing down. In fact, the longer your linger about, the worse they get in terms of their power. So, with the help of a task force feeding you tips and a neat little viral gun that zaps any trace of the virus dead, you have to make your way through the city, one area at a time, and destroy all that are infected. Simple, to the point, end of story.
It's not just about going and shooting everyone with a viral gun, though. See, these zombies have strength, and need to be worn down with conventional weapons, be it a shotgun, a handgun, or a rocket launcher. Once they shift in power, you'll see them glow from yellow to red. Once they hit red, the viral gun will make short work of them. It's shoot, shoot, shoot, and while the gameplay never really evolves, the challenge more than keeps up, and the game remains quite an entertainment.
One big feature about the game is being able to customize your character with cool gear and good looks. There's quite a few models in here, including a familiar blood-sucking female named Bloodrayne that you can choose from (sadly, you can't use her powers here...sigh). Once you've made your character into a complete badass, you can hit the streets and show 'em who's boss.
The gameplay, like I said, remains mostly the same, although there is the occasional protection mission or boss fight that comes into play that really perks things up. Sometimes this can be a little frustrating, as you try to make your way across a massive level to save innocents before they get plagued by the super-fast zombies, but after you get used to it for a bit, you'll do just fine. There's moments of humor throughout, including the official video game debut of the Mad Cow. HAHA! The fact there's so many levels to take on adds to the replayability, as does the multiplayer.
The multiplayer Ad-Hoc and online options are a bit limited, with only two players competing at a time, but it's quite serviceable, especially when you're out to take on Infect the World, where you can hit your opponent with a virus of their own and then wear them out to the point that they're defeated. The play worked fine here, and it's an addition that may not be everyone's cup of beer, but will find its fans.
The graphics look very good for the PSP. You won't find 60 frames per second visuals here, but you will find massive levels, enjoyable zombie animation, lots of blood n' guts, and an interface that never falls victim to a bad camera or glitching. The game looks good, and the in-between cinemas are nice and clear. Sound-wise, the game blares in your ear with a selection of great death metal-esque tunes, keeping the action purely intense. Sound effects and voicework also manage to fit the bill.
Infected seems to be deemed the anti-Christmas game for the holiday season, which is odd. But then, Planet Moon really wouldn't have it any other way, and I'll give them kudos for producing a fun, if somewhat short-lived, blaster for the PSP. Hey, this definitely beats getting a fruitcake for Christmas, so enjoy it.
