Colony Wars - PlayStation Review - Coming Soon Magazine

Colony Wars continues down the road that Psygnosis paved with the WipeOut and Destruction Derby series, providing one of the best gaming experiences on the PlayStation this year. The company obviously saw the potential in advance, pumping $2.5 million dollars into the marketing campaign for the game. There may be a few minor problems that prevent it from reaching perfection, but Colony Wars remains one of the top titles that gamers will see this holiday season.

From sketch...

The graphics are by far the most outstanding part of Colony Wars. Who would have thought anyone could push the limits of the PlayStation this far? The engine moves multiple aircraft through outer space, from tiny fighters to huge capital ships, in true glory. Nearby stars blind the player as he tries to track an enemy fighter moving towards it, and the wormhole backdrop just has to be seen to be believed. The different weapons all have amazing effects, and space dust helps give a real feeling of movement to flying through space. Add in top of the line sound and music, and gamers are in for a real feast. Colony Wars just blows away any skeptics that say the PlayStation has been pushed to its limits.

...to rendered object

Colony Wars sports over 70 missions in all, but only a maximum of about 30 will be played each time through the game. This is because of a branching mission system that makes the game easier or more difficult for the player in leading up to one of the multiple endings. The success in each of the 18 possible acts determines where the player will go next, and the plot reacts accordingly. This plot is brought along by nicely rendered cut scenes, with a booming narrator throughout.

Missions consist of immobilizing or taking out certain targets, providing escorts for friendly craft, clearing the area of enemy fighters, and the like. Gameplay is fairly straightforward, and very smooth. A definite emphasis is placed on the action elements above the strategy, so don't go in expecting missions as involved as X-Wing for the PC. There is a certain charm to the speed and simplicity of the missions, mainly because they remain varied throughout. It is, however, within the missions that a few minor problems with the game develop. First off, the player's craft is rarely in any real danger of being destroyed. Enemy fighters don't pose much of a threat to the actual player, just the targets he tries to protect. It can also be observed on certain missions that new enemy fighters appear as soon as old ones are destroyed. Usually there are two enemy fighters (plus larger ships) to be dealt with in battle, no more, no less. Also, failed missions often result from the radar not picking up certain craft or misunderstood objectives, rather than more obvious player mistakes. Other than these small troubles, however, Colony Wars is near perfect in its presentation.

Conclusion:

Overall, Colony Wars is one of the best space action shooters to ever grace the face of gaming. There may be a few minor problems within the missions, but these can easily be overlooked in such an outstanding title. With its amazing graphics, sounds, and story line, Colony Wars is a true space epic. The branching mission structure and multiple endings add greatly to the game's replay value as well. For PlayStation gamers looking for the perfect shooter this holiday season, Colony Wars should be at the top of their list. Once again, Psygnosis has truly delivered.

Written by Andrew Phelan

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