Review: Mace Griffin: Bounty Hunter (PS2)

The simple answer is why on earth such a comparison was made in the first place? Halo set the benchmark and the Playstation consoles have tried ever since to reach the summit, without success. Yeah go on, suggest Killzone 2 and we’ll just laugh in your face. However the desire and need for a first person game that good, burns fiercely, even today. As for Mace Griffin, PSW claimed ‘its Halo for the PlayStation 2. It’s that good.’ Honestly that’s far from the truth.

While Gamestyle reviewed the Xbox version, we never did get around to the PS2 edition. With the PS3 short of decent FPS experiences, those with backwards compatibility can take up the role of a bounty hunter seeking answers. Mace Griffin is very good at his job, but such expertise comes at a price. Set in the Vagner system, the Guild of Bounty Hunters performs a vital role, providing some protection for civilians. The only other law element are the Enforcers who are only interested in their mining interests and avoid hunting down criminals, which is where the need for bounty hunters arises. A religious element is also introduced via the Order of Virtual Light. These zealots are technologically advanced and do not take kindly to intruders, responding with deadly force. You’ll get to know them very well on your galactic travels.

As a bounty hunter you are expected to take up a series of missions that no sane individual would consider. The structure is laid out in a linear fashion so you lack any real choice. However it becomes apparent that these individual adventures add up to a bigger picture of what is actually going on in the Vagner system. Mace Griffin is voiced by Henry Rollins and it proves to be an excellent choice, with his delivery matching the moody and sarcastic personality of the lead character.

The game is for the most part a corridor first person shooter with space flying sections sprinkled throughout the missions. These flying elements remind Gamestyle of the G-Force series and while they break up the difficulty of the on foot sections, they are not very successful. The physics are too lightweight, with several of the aircraft proving highly manoeuvrable, arguably too much so. As seen recently on Killzone and Dead Space, these are merely cannon shooting sections; simply locate the high-speed target and fire.

The on foot sections form the bulk of Mace Griffin and do represent a challenge. This game was developed before the current vogue of cover systems as debuted successfully in Gears of War. However using scenery is essential for progress given the huge number of opponents you will face. Environments are particularly sparse and futuristic, with some nice graphical touches such as being able to see through windows or ceilings. Ok, today it’s a common inclusion, but back in 2003 Mace Griffin was a decent visual outing.

The combat is challenging as you face aggressive opponents in huge numbers and often you’ll be on your own without backup. The variety of weaponry is lacking and often ammunition is in short supply, forcing you to utilise less powerful options or backtrack to an area where you can call upon security gun. The health system is similar to that of Halo with a regenerating shield providing a barrier to your underlying health level. This lends itself well to the ducking and weaving style of engagement you’ll find yourself adopting. The main underlying problem is the save system, which just adds to the overall difficulty. Checkpoints are few and far between, and even when you are able to save it just takes its cue from the start of the section. In other words after clearing a few areas and saving, much to Gamestyle’s horror we found ourselves back at the beginning of the stage upon loading. Today thankfully it’s a redundant approach, but Mace Griffin should come with a prominent save warning.

Of all genres the first person market is the most technologically focused, so its no surprise that Mace Griffin has aged badly. Even today it represents a challenge and is propelled by a decent plot that tries to overcome the shortcomings in the game design. Shortly after release, Warthog were taken over by the company behind the Gizmondo device (remember that?) and soon after joined the growing list of independent developers who were no more. Joining the company in the black hole was Mace Griffin, a character who warrants resurrection but will need a major overhaul.

Rating: 5 / 10

Words by Jason Julier