Exactly What You Thought it Would Be.
As an overall action/shooter/hack’n’slash fan, I knew I had to have this game the first time I saw the commercial. So far, I’m thoroughly enjoying it and would change very little about the Total Overdose experience. This does not mean that everyone will think as highly of this title as I do.
I find the tongue-in-cheek humor involved in the cheesy story that makes many Jean Claude Van Damme films seem Oscar-worthy to be very entertaining. Some gamers have described the storyline as wafer-thin, which is completely untrue. The plot involves a DEA agent’s convict twin brother having to take his place in an undercover mission to find their father’s killer.
Just because a plot is completely unbelievable does not mean it isn’t well connected and cleverly thought out. The game’s plot is meant to be taken as a spoof of many action films and was never meant to stand on its own as high art. C’mon, if you bought this game expecting a deep and emotional storyline, despite seeing the ads and box art, then you deserve any disappointment that results from your poor selection.
Technically speaking, the game does have some issues. The graphics aren’t as sharp as the GTA series it is modeled after, and vehicle controls are much less responsive. Players should notice that all basic character and vehicle controls are very similar to the console GTA series. The controls are not quite as polished or responsive, but the fact that they are based on a series of commands that are ingrained in many players’ muscle memory makes the game easy to pick up and play.
The music is done pretty well, and does a good job of setting the mood. While a lot of the NPC dialouge is repetetive, the sound effects are well-synched and more or less realistic. The graphics aren't bad, but there are numerous glitches. It's not uncommon for your character to magically phase through the roof or jump out of the passenger door when exiting a vehicle.
While the game is admittedly a copy of a legendary franchise, it does have a few good additions to the normal routine. First, there are many different and outrageous combos and techniques that your character can learn throughout the game. The over-the-top ragdoll physics, constant explosions, and bloodiness of headshots are completely unrealistic, but totally fun. Slow-motion effects add some flash to the on screen action and create a very cinematic feel.
Total Overdose has been criticized by some for being too easy. In it’s defense, the game offers three selectable difficulty levels. Those looking for an extreme challenge might want to look elsewhere. The bottom line is that almost all gamers should be able to finish this title with relative ease, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The game is short which, combined with the low level of difficulty, may leave fans of the 40+ hour free-roaming games unsatisfied. Due to my limited gaming time, I found the short length and reasonable difficulty to be perhaps the greatest aspect of the game.
This game is brilliant for fans like me who are looking to be entertained and want a game that they have a reasonable chance of finishing without having to dedicate the equivalent of a full workweek of their time. However, even I didn’t pay full price for this title.
I don't want people to be instantly turned off by my somewhat less than stellar total score. I love playing this game and am happy with my purchase, but I just wouldn't feel right giving a game with so many little flaws a perfect or near-perfect score. I'll give it a 10 for gameplay because I love that aspect, but I'm forced to be honest about the graphical glitches and poor mapping aspects.
I recommend it as a definite bargain bin purchase to anyone who likes action games, but it could be finished during an average rental period. The graphics, sound, and content are not as good as any of this generations GTA’s, but it is still a highly entertaining game. If you knew you wanted this game when you first saw it, you’ll love it. Go with your first impression.