Review: Headhunter (SDC)

The game finally arrives in the last few months of the consoles life and for those in America, importing is the only possibility and yes a 60hz option is included. But has Headhunter been worth the wait? Headhunter is set in the future Los Angeles and as you expect everything is not picture perfect, I hate to admit it but think Robocop, Mad Max, Blade Runner, Fifth Element and you have your setting.

Crime is the number one problem in this society and committing one means you that you owe a debt to the government resulting in a financial penalty. If you do not have enough to cover the fine then body organs are disturbingly an accepted form of currency. Developments in surgical procedures allow the rich and famous to live even longer and look younger through the use of new body parts. Demand is high and unsurprisingly the black market in body organs is big business. You are Jake Wade former top Headhunter for the Anti Crime Network (ACN) this government-funded organisation pays for the capture or killing of criminals. Of course capturing criminals alive is preferred, resulting in fresher body parts and to help this firearms involving bullets (which can harm the body) are considered illegal.

Instead a whole new range of weaponry has been designed to kill the target with an electrical pulse and is standard issue, that won't stop you or criminals from using the old fashioned methods! Criminals as well as Headhunter's have their own ratings, depending on their success or wanted rating. News bulletins keep you informed of the latest movements and if a criminal pulls off a big job, the bounty will increase as will his place on the wanted chart. As you achieve more success you will have the opportunity to improve your rating (C being lowest, AAA highest) and each level brings new weaponry, items and access to previously denied areas and information.

The story begins as you awake in a testing facility and soon after making your escape you collapse, suffering from severe amnesia. Visitors come to you hospital bed and slowly the story begins to unfold. It seems you were working on a secret case for Mr Stern (Head of ACN) who has since died in mysterious circumstances and now his daughter (Angela) hires you to find his killer. By taking on this mission you hope to regain your lost memories and discover your last movements before the onslaught of amnesia. Your old police boss will also help you when he can and communication is done during your missions through an advanced Casio wristwatch. You soon realise that the rot runs to the very core of society and apart from bringing wanted felons to justice you have to solve Project Millennium and capture crime lord Don Fulci.

A tough enough assignment is made even harder as you have been removed of your Headhunter rating and have to begin again at the bottom, working your way up freelance. Apart from capturing criminals this is done by building up skill points achieved by fast and safe driving on your motorbike, not an easy skill and one of the main problems with the game, but more of that later. Once you have achieved the necessary points rating you will have to visit the LELIA facility where all independent Headhunter's train. To reach the next Headhunter rating you have to pass a series of tests, which involve skills required to progress in the game. Stealth and weaponry tests are very reminiscent of the Metal Gear Solid Missions and require the same level of thought and planning. The other main test is of your driving skills, passing through a series of checkpoints on a map, as you would expect each new level brings tougher challenges.

If you cannot pass these then unfortunately you will not progress further, given the toughness of some tests this is a fault in an otherwise excellently put together and orchestrated game. The presentation of the game is first class and great deal of time and effort has been spent on bringing you realistic newscasts with real actors in a cheesy American style. These form an important part of the story moving it along, providing information, feedback, current affairs and humorous stories. Rather than have a demo at the beginning of the Headhunter, you will instead be taken to the latest news, setting the backdrop and showing just how messed up society has become. A nice touch is that advertising slogans and billboards compliment brief loading times.

After enduring some terrible voice-overs on recent games its good to know that someone can put together a realistic cast of characters, although Jack Wade is bordering on Clint Eastwood! Phillip Lawrence who was responsible for several X-file scripts has produced the script and his professional experience is evident. As an adventure game it is certainly one of best I have played recently and is immerses the player in a fantastic cinematic videogame world. As with most good games the little touches show how much thought has gone into the game. The levels are detailed and moments such as working through the car park only to set off a car alarm remain with you sometime after putting down the controller.

The developer has spent a great deal of time creating a realistic sounding world complete with cinematic soundtrack but it's a shame that you are often so deeply involved that their efforts go unnoticed. As mentioned previously the motorbike driving sections form an important part of the game, allowing you to drive around the large levels, accessing new areas when you rating allows but tracking down wanted criminals. Skill points are given the faster you drive but for any crashes or bumps you will be penalised.

Gamestyle team members made comments about the motorbike handling back in September when we played a demo. To say it handles badly is unfair, it handles more like a Space Shuttle on wheels and not a motorbike, exceptionally fast yes, but it takes too long to turn and spoils the driving experience. Braking from a distance and laying off the accelerator are recommended; thank goodness no one seems to walk on the streets in the future. In the driving stages there is noticeable pop-up in the distance during daytime stages but the speed and amount of traffic is impressive. I am pleased to say that controlling Jack Wade is far more pleasing and rewarding. The D-pad gives access to your weaponry and items if you prefer not to go via the main menu. By pressing up you can immediately reload your weapon, rather than wait till you reach the end of a clip.

Do not underestimate the importance of decoy shells, proximity mines and grenades - use them correctly and your rating will shoot up. The shoulder buttons are used to crouch (left) and draw your weapon (right). The Y button puts Jack into a stealth mode, hugging any wall or crate. With this button still pressed you can look around corners, or use the wall for immediate cover while firing. The B button performs a roll, useful for avoiding fire or my own favourite, rolling into a room immediately taking out the enemy. The X button is used to centre the camera behind Jack and the A button performs select or fire. The start button will take you to your Casio wristwatch where you can access information, messages, maps, and items or just save the game. It may sound like a complicated system but using the LELIA missions it soon becomes natural and very rewarding.

The target system is straightforward and offers a primary and secondary target, switching is useful when your main target dives for cover. This allows you to take on several criminals at the same time while diving around and seeking cover, fantastic stuff. The action stages are cleverly designed and the mall level is one of the most enjoyable I've played through in recent times. Accessing the mall car park via the sewers, you slowly work your way up into the staff section of the mall then the shop area itself. The AI of your common enemy is predictable and you can use this to your advantage, major criminals pose a different problem. I am pleased to say that not major criminal is the same; some prefer different tactics and weaponry. Thinking can only capture later bosses rather than all out warfare, if you approach the game trigger happy, you will surely die quickly.

Camera issues are common in games and with Headhunter this is no different. At times the camera will prove problematic, normally when you are creeping around, easily rectified by pressing B but a fault nevertheless. Saving seems easy enough via the Casio Wristwatch but be warned rather than saving your exact situation it often takes the nearest key development. So if you save after capturing a major criminal and then die soon after without moving onto the next segment, your save will take you back to the battle. Not so good if you have spent ages only trying to apprehend a suspect, then have to repeat the battle once more.

There is so much to enjoy about the world Headhunter has created and with the game being on two disks, durability and a true challenge are guaranteed. I would have liked to have seen more criminals, perhaps not central to the story, which you could track down and capture. This would improve your skills, allow you to explore more of the city and offer an alternative to increasing skill points other than driving. Headhunter does not suffer from aimless wondering or straightforward puzzles like many other adventure games, the design is honed and tight.

Given the epic nature of the project when the game was first announced, we seem to have a scaled down version of what should have been. VMU games, multiplayer options and Internet plans all seem to have been reduced or completely removed. What does remain of Headhunter is an impressive game that should keep Dreamcast owners or those waiting on Metal Gear Solid 2 happy for sometime to come. Playstation 2 owners can experience Headhunter for themselves in January 2002.

Rating: 8 / 10

Words by Jason Julier