Review: Heavy Weapon (PS3)

Having its roots in a flash-based PC game, Heavy Weapon is not pretty. From the intro to the action onscreen, the bright, simplistic graphics are a tad painful on the eye. In this world of high definition, it really is a shock to see a game that looks so dated. Heavy Weapon is, however, a lamb dressed as mutton, a Devil in disguise. Underneath the basic graphics is an entertaining, and highly addictive game, that will soon make you forget the visual onslaught that attacks your retinas.

The objective is simple: destroy everything. You control an atomic tank, and over the course of 19 increasingly difficult levels you must obliterate anything that crosses your path. The left analogue stick controls movement (left and right as the level scrolls in front of you) and the right stick controls the direction of your weapons. Each level has its own theme, from the expected (war-torn cities, icy tundras, and nuclear wastelands), to the bizarre (the spooky "Tanklvania" and the dinosaur filled "Triassic Park"). There is a distinct cold-war feel to the game, and this is echoed in the incredibly annoying music, which could have been picked directly from an 80s action flick. Enemies attack from above and below, and with the assistance of a helicopter dropping power-ups, you must make it to the end of the level and defeat its quirky boss.

It's a tried and tested format, and Heavy Weapon (quite rightly) doesn't mess with it. The screen becomes awash with explosions and laser-beams, and instinct takes over. The controls are intuitive, and you will soon be dodging bombs whilst delivering sucker-punches of nuclear proportions. You unlock new weapons and upgrades for your arsenal as the game progresses, and the enemies evolve, unleashing bigger, and more deadly payloads. The level-up system adds a degree of strategy, and the weapons available are impressively destructive. Your tank can wield lasers, homing missiles, lightning bolts, and flak cannons. Certain enemies drop components of THE MEGALASER when destroyed, and when this is complete, you can let loose an unstoppable death ray... for a limited period, at least.

The bosses are suitably challenging, and range from a crazy mechanical ape and a giant wrecking ball, to a metallic worm and a robot with a pogo-stick. They have their strengths and weaknesses, and there's enough variety to keep interest. There is no doubt that Heavy Weapon is a well-designed and entertaining game. Gamestyle cannot fault the gameplay; it's fun without fuss, and has an excellent difficulty curve. It's just nothing new.

The Playstation Network has no shortage of ever-so similar shooters, and Heavy Weapon falls short of many of these. Superstar Dust HD, for example, looks beautiful, and has more strategic gameplay. Like Heavy Weapon, Riff: Everyday Shooter manages to mix simple graphics with fun gameplay, but feels fresh and innovative, and at only £4.99 (a whole £2 cheaper than Heavy Weapon), represents excellent value for money. What Heavy Weapon has that many of its competitors have, however, is an excellent multiplayer mode.

The single-player campaign offers limited entertainment, and once you have completed the 19 levels, it's hard to see you returning. The game does get repetitive quickly, and this isn't helped by the latter levels being rehashes of the first nine environments. The multiplayer modes more than make up for this. Heavy Weapon offers online and offline multiplayer, although you may struggle to find a match if you want to play with others from around the globe. There are two game modes: War Party and Arms Race. Both are co-operative modes with up to four players, and this is where Heavy Weapon really is a blast. The action becomes even more manic, and there's a great balance of trying to work with your comrades to progress, and simultaneously trying to get the highest score. If anything, the events onscreen become a little too chaotic, and it's hard to determine who's who, and with so ammunition in the air, your eyes do need a rest after a while.

With trophy support and some decent game modes, Heavy Weapon is entertaining and fun. If you can get past the dated presentation, Gamestyle has no doubt that you'll become drawn into the addictive arcade action. The multiplayer side is a welcome addition, and the modes available are enjoyable. The appeal is limited, however, and there are other shooters on the Playstation Network that warrant your attention before you should set your sights on this one.

Rating: 6 / 10

Words by Chris Thornton