Underrated. Very solid action/platform game.
-Gameplay-
Well, the gameplay is really good.
If you played Daxter, then you probably know how is the gameplay in this game.
But, IMO, the gameplay of this game is a bit better than the Daxter. The camera angle is better than the one in Daxter.
It has pretty much the same controls...well, a bit different: -L and R to turn left and right, hold both for free look or tap both to switch between strafe and turn control.
-Analog stick is for movement...forward, backward and turn(or strafe when tap L and R)
-One button for melee attack, one to fire weapon, one for jump and one for dash.
-You change weapons on the digital pad.
IMO, this is a really solid setup for any 3D platform game. Why?
Because you can alternate between strafe and turn control....strafe for fire precision and turn for quick melee around you. It might take you some time to get used to it, but it adds some nice action when you face ranged and melee enemies at the same time.
For the ranged weapons, it has a auto aim, but it's not an instant target like Star Wars Lethal Alliance, where you just cycle targets. You actually have to to aim near the enemy for auto lock, so the strafe mode is really a plus here.
This game has some combos that you can buy and then perfom it while you play. It doesn't cost anything to do the combos, so once you buy it, you can use it at your will.
There are a lot of different weapon types: machine gun, shotgun, flamethrower, freeze gun, lightning gun, bombs, and more. You acquire each weapon by collection weapon parts over the levels. Once you are about to finish a level, it shows you how many parts are in the level and how many you collected, but don't worry, once you finished a level, you can do it again at your will.
It doesn't have a lot of puzzles, and most of them are really simple. But, some weapon parts are well hidden, so you have to look around you carefully.
There are plenty of ammo to collect while you play, so you don't really have to keep saving ammo for boss fight or tough encounters. You can use your weapons to kill anything and have a lot of fun(at some point of the game I was using only the weapons).
This game uses the checkpoint mechanism, but unlike in Daxter, you will be noticed when you reach a checkpoint. :P
-Graphics-
The graphics are very good. I'm not a fan of cartoon artwork in the games, but this one really impressed me. The textures are really good, unlike most cartoon games that has all low detailed textures. Well, it has some low detailed textures, but it is not the majority in this game.
There are some nice light effects, fogs, heat distortion, etc.
Some levels are colorfully and some darker. It has a nice ambience diversification, so you won't see just dark places or colorfully places. It has ambience levels for all tastes.
There are some nice CG cut-scenes between some levels, and not just two like most games(one for opening and one for ending).
-Sound-
The music is good, but not something that you might really enjoy.
It fits really good for the levels, but that is it. But don't worry, it's not that kind of music that will make you turn it off.
The voices act, be in CGs or in the gameplay, are really really nice. It's cool because in some parts of the game, the characters starts to "chit-chat" between them, saying something funny or so.
-Replay value/bug-
Well, expect do a level more than once, because you might do it again just to get a weapon part, but anyway, it's a game that worth playing again. Played with DJ? Then play with Pandora! I already played it 2 times and might play it again soon.
I didn't find any bug in this game, expect for a camera glitch where you can see through a door/wall if you get near it and rotate it.
-Overall-
It's a pretty solid game that really worth $40 bucks.
GS gave it a low score, but trust me, this game deserves more than that 6.4.
If you really like adventure/action/platform games then you must play this game.
Pandora is cute.