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| Ewww, glowey spherey thing! | Underwater hack n’ slash approach |
While titles like Halo strive to give us a movie like quality to gaming, pumped up on plot twisty-ness and cool pimped out rides – there’s something to be said about the FPS days of yore. Start up and blast away is essentially the trialled and tested method and regardless of much higher expectations, they still ignite a passion.
Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Doom 3 are both examples of legendary games given a revamp. The same applies to Liquidator given its 1997 roots and much like the others it has been revived. However not all carry a success story, as just because it was great then and given a smarter suit to wear now doesn’t mean guaranteed thumbs up. I would like to point out that this is actually Liquidator 2, though its denomination seems to have been lost somewhere between marketing and the press.
The obvious graphical enhancements are big pluses and while it’s certainly no Doom 3 level of overhaul, it gives a nice smooth experience. Flames look gorgeous in Liquidator and the variety of explosions and other effects really do the engine justice. The environments can feel odd and don’t carry a natural feel to them but honestly this adds the nostalgic feel of what made these games in the first place.
Basically the Earth is connected to three other Worlds, all of which have had some trouble with those pesky aliens. Your job is to visit each, blow up the fuel source which feeds the teleportation systems thus saving Earth from a similar fate. Believe me when I say you’ll be glad the premise is so straight forward, having to endure the movie voice-overs here is no pleasure and barely understandable.
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| You’ll endure a lot of dark corridors | Come see swirley doom in hell! |
The tutorial is easy enough and even treats you to a museum section which shots of the original Liquidator circa 97. You’ll soon find yourself learning how to use pick up potions for health and armour, blue glowing crystal thingies which no old-skool FPS would be without and of course how to blow stuff up with an array of weaponry.
You’ll face a variety of enemies from skeletons to weird liquid mercury looking blobby men that explode. Levels to explore and key like items to collect to move on are all featured here. You do get a cool arsenal to use with the flamethrower as my personal favourite as the flame really does look fantastic. Second would be the old trusty shotgun which helps resolve a situation quickly and without prejudice.
Sound is alright but not really that great, and with such sucktastic voice-overs it lets it down tremendously. I found myself only satisfied with the noises of the weapons blasting away and enemies slain before me, otherwise there’s no real inspiration or enthusiasm here.
One thing I’ve got to mention is the menu, it is brilliant. Everything is made to come alive and interact so that enough could attract in even the most sceptical of FPS gamers out there.
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| Watch what you tread in | Buckshot situation resolver! |
LIQUIDATOR VERDICT
In comparison to other titles out there it’s not a threatening contender so for those looking for the next great thing, you won’t find it anywhere near here. Liquidator (2) is one for the nostalgic feel of gaming days past, perhaps that’s where it should have stayed? I really couldn’t decide on that so if you’re into the “old made anew” then perhaps you can, otherwise it’s doubtful you’ll even bother to find out.
TOP GAME MOMENT
Hardly a top moment but I really enjoyed cooking various foes with my pretty flamethrower.
