Hybrid Heaven Review

[Sakaki]

(Global Rating)
Storyline - 18/20
Sound - 18/20
Gameplay - 20/20
Replay Value - 19/20
Graphics - 17/20

A little insight:

The game combines the elements of an RPG, Adventure, and Fighting game all in one. It works out very well.

Story:

The game starts you off in the house of Johnny Slater, where you then meet up with a mysterious man dressed in purple. After relaying to you what needs to be done and telling you to put some clothes on, you find yourself in the subway station of New York, where you encounter Mr. Diaz. Diaz starts to go a little insane, hearing voices inside his head telling him to kill Slater, as he proceeds to pull out his gun, firing at Slater, killing him. Needless to say his colleagues aren't too pleased. They grab Mr. Diaz, taking him down to an underground shelter, where he proceeds to escape. After falling down the elevator shaft and miraculously surviving, due to something breaking his fall near the end, keeping him afloat by two feet above the ground.

Minor Gameplay review:

After the cutscene you find yourself in control of Mr. Diaz, who is to find his way around the underground shelter. You are armed with only a diffuser, used to take out any electronically controlled enemies, and you'll find yourself evading them more than using the gun. It is also used to blast certain boxes and locks on certain doors so you can reach a new area. After awhile of running around you'll come to a computer of sorts, where you unleash the Hybrids, pissing everyone around you off. You'll find yourself in another cutscene where a scientist meets up with you, asking if you really could have done such a thing. After about ten seconds into this scene, the scientist is ambushed by one of the Hybrids you unleashed, needless to say he is killed, this is where you are introduced into the combat system.

Combat review:

The combat system is fairly hard to describe, as it's never been seen in any other game of this sort (at least not to my knowledge). The combat system works in a way in which you have a power bar, a stamina bar, and your hit points. After the power bar reaches a certain level, you are able to press the A button to execute an attack chosen from a list. The stamina bar is used for running, to evade enemy attack until your power bar reaches the level to attack again, while this is really not needed, some enemies move really fast and can unleash a deadly combo making it vital to move fast and quick.

After a certain level, about level thirteen, you gain the ability to make a two hit combo. You can either edit the combo, picking out moves you want to use and save after the combo is finished, or choose a pre-set combo to use. Until you reach level twenty-two, there is really no point in picking out moves.

During combat when your enemy is attacking, you get a sign that pops up on screen saying 'Warning' then you get three options, step, counter, and guard. Usually it is wise to just guard, counters don't work out so well until later levels, and stepping only gives you a minor step to whatever direction you chose.

Stepping, however is wise to use if you were to move the analog stick quickly twice in a certain direction, unless towards the enemy, as it will allow you to jump back, and step will succeed. Then there is grapple, if your enemy grapples you, you get three more options. Escape, reversal, and take fall. Take fall is essentially the same as guard, you will take less damage from an attack.

Reversal allows you to reverse the attack of the enemy, assuming your stamina gauge and power bar are sufficiently filled. Should you grapple your enemy, you can press the A button to unleash an attack such as Head-Butt, which after the finish will leave your enemy incapacitated for a short time, allowing you to charge up your power bar and deal extra damage to your enemy while he is on the ground. Such as Stomp, or you can do a technique such as Back Breaker.

Escape does just as it says, if your stamina is high enough, anyway. You will be able to escape the grapple and likely get far enough away to build up some power to finish your enemy off.

After battle, you will get a screen showing your current stats, and what raised in level. Example:

(I realize I failed to describe the stats, but they are pretty self-explanatory, so I saw no need)

Downfalls (what few there are) :

The only complaint I've ever had with this game is the fact you never know the hit points of your enemy, and there is never a way to find this out, just wail on him until he is down for good. Other than that, the game is perfect. Also fights can last a rather long time.


Over all this is a really great game with plenty of unlockable moves and an extra costume or two. Well worth picking up.


I recommend this if you still have your N64 around, though you may have some trouble finding a copy.

[Yoherz]

Very.....um.....long. ;
Very detailed, to say the least. *Rep +*

[chocobox25]

OW!!! its killing me not to have that game *rep+*

[Pacman]

woot... seems a nice game to tryout... if I had a n64... (guess I can find a way to... emulate that.... )

*reps+*