MDK2 has just been released, and I've been diving head-first into this merciless, alien-blasting adventure. If you remember MDK, then you know the drill: bizarre aliens are trying to turn Earth into their timeshare, and our planet is certainly not rolling out the welcome mat for them.
Floating above it all is The Jim Dandy, home to the eccentric Dr. Fluke Hawkins, his ever-loyal-but-slightly-bemused cleaner, Kurt, and Max the six-legged, cigar-chomping robotic hound. They're saving the world again after having done it once before-from even larger and badder alien minecrawlers.
The in-game cutscenes are a trip. Their tales tell of the really funny interactions between this misfit trio. Some of the voice acting was iffy at best; for the most part, it worked. Now, the humor... a bit different this time. The original MDK had this really cool, sharp sarcasm. Bioware, which is running the show this time around with MDK2, has a slightly different kind of humor. Some jokes hit it right squarely, while others seemed good in the intention but missed it. But honestly, with the few odd bits of humor, Bioware has done a great job keeping the MDK spirit alive. It feels good to be back.
Crawling into Action
If you sank hours into the original MDK like I did, putting your feet into MDK2 feels like a nice, comfortable pair of very heavily armed shoes. However, do not grow too complacent. There are definitely new tricks to be learned. I made the typical mistake of skipping Professor Hawkins' initial tutorial babbling and found myself stumped on a later puzzle. So, moral of the story: he's the Doc, so listen.
In terms of graphics, Bioware really captured the MDK atmosphere. Textures, details on Kurt's iconic suit-these all just feel right. With them, you are right back into that very unique universe. And what about graphics. Wow. They were given a very generous update. If you were to launch the original MDK today, you'd be welcomed to a charmingly blocky environment. MDK2 is a whole different matter.
Here this game is, flexing hard with the graphics, pulling in all the new fun stuff including hardware accelerated Transform & Lighting. The colors explode, lighting creates heavy atmosphere, and the real-time reflections while Kurt glides through the massive levels-just gorgeous. An eye candy parade.
Meet the Heroes (Already and For the First Time)
Everybody remembers those thrilling free-fall parachute sequences in the original MDK-great to see those make a comeback in this second chapter. Get closer to those huge minecrawlers while avoiding laser fire and homing missiles. Fun, though I can see being a bit repetitive towards the end.
And then, of course, there's the historically glorious sniper scope. Zooming in never gets old, especially with all the different ammo types like the mortars. Picking enemies off so far away lends some really great dimensions to these levels. But it isn't always going to be your best asset...
Because you can now play as Dr. Hawkins and Max. That changes everything. They control much like Kurt, but the absence of the sniper scope pushes the gameplay in a completely different direction. It brings in great variety. With the Doctor, you get to run around as a walking, talking (and slightly insane) demolition expert, combining items and causing all kinds of mayhem. And Max. He can use four weapons at a time, all while keeping that ever-present cigar going. He’s a furry, four-armed wrecking machine.
Puzzles, Platforms, and Just Pure Fun
At its heart, MDK2 applies the same formula that made the first one so addictive: you're wandering through these enormous, sprawling arenas, each of which is cleverly disguised as a puzzle or challenge, all linked by tight corridors and tunnels.
And you know what. It works. The game is so terribly fun. Figuring out the way to solve these puzzles, which more often than not require some creatively unorthodox thinking, is really rewarding. It has a beautiful balance of mind-bending challenges, adrenaline-pumping action, and wise use of the inventory. Of course, new gadgets have made it into the game along with some old favorites, and there is a whole new range of craziness to look forward to with Max and Dr.Hawkins, so that hidden good answer can never be missed. Yes, it is still highly linear, but who really minds when it is just that much fun.
Oh, and what about the soundtrack. It suited the whole on-screen carnage perfectly. It's not necessarily pumping you up, but it sets the moods really well. And the music roaring through the menu system. Totally epic. It puts the icing on an already delicious cake.
First Impressions: A Must-Play
MDK2 has so many of the activities crammed inside that are tremendously entertaining for all puzzle lovers, and thus the question of linearity hardly matters anymore. If ever you've fantasized about walking into an uproariously action/fun-oriented cartoon universe, then you _must_ think of grabbing MDK2. As for now, I can't think of anything better available in this genre.
My Early Score: 9/10 (and it already has me wanting to jump in again)