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Platform Filters:   All Platforms  Xbox   GameCube   PlayStation 2   PC   Game Boy Advance   Site Sections:   Updates  News   Games   Publishers   Developers   Reviews   Previews   Release Dates   Editorials   Glossary   Contact Us		Review:       20th November 2001: Airblade  Criterion’s latest title offers us a look at the extreme sport of the future! Posted by John Grothier - PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe Forget wheels, forget waves Airblade, from Criterion, is all about catching air – in fact riding on the air itself using an anti-gravity hoverboard. Airblade is far more than a ‘Tony Hawk meets Back to the Future’ style of game, for one it’s mission based and has an intricate story involving limitless energy, a scientific genius and a faceless corporation that flows throughout. Your best friend, Oscar, is the original scientific genius who was working on a top-secret research project for the GCP Corporation; creating limitless energy from gravitational fields. Unfortunately the oil companies aren’t too keen on the free energy becoming available to the general public, and so kidnap Oscar to keep it quiet. Fortunately your friend left the research project with a package tucked under his arm; a stolen prototype hoverboard which was constructed using the limitless energy technology, and guess what – they want it back! So it’s up to Ethan and his hacker friend, Kat, to try to rescue Oscar and pull off a few tricks in the process. Airblade features a completely interactive environment that we have come to expect with the versatile Renderware game platform. Cars and pedestrians populate the city, and the environment allows complete freedom of movement. You can knock down the GCP goons, swing from lamp posts and scaffolding and even catch a ride from passing cars by grabbing onto the their bumpers. The main story mode requires Ethan to complete a series of objectives within a short space of time. The first level sees our hero trying to take out the GCP agents by first knocking them down using the hoverboard, and then dislodging them from scaffolding. Next a limousine full of agents turns up, Ethan must find a way to destroy the limo and then take out some snipers by riding high over the rooftops before returning to safety. Once these objectives have been met you will be rewarded with ‘evolution points’ that will open up new areas of the city. The main problem with the mission-based objectives in Airblade is the short space of time in which to complete them. This means playing the same levels over and over until you work out the correct route to take. This can be frustrating due to the many different tricks you can pull off, especially when you’re hovering over the rooftops and in danger of falling to the ground. Controlling Ethan takes a little getting used to, I would strongly recommend using the training mode before you take on the story mode. Using the left analogue stick to control Ethan, and virtually all the other buttons will do various tricks and jumps. The controls are very responsive and with a little practice you will be pulling off some cunning stunts! As well as the Story mode, Airblade offers the player a training mode, freestyle and score attack. Multiplayer also has four game modes including a ‘party mode’ for those late night post-clubbing sessions. The DVD also features some extras including a ‘making of Airblade’ video. The graphics in Airblade are defiantly its strongest feature; the Renderware platform works perfectly with the style of gameplay. The city looks amazing and is incredibly detailed and completely interactive. A lot of fun can be had in freestyle mode, by just exploring the environment and pulling off tricks. If the graphics are Airblade’s strongest feature, the sound has to be it’s worst. The voice acting is best described as lame and the ‘hip-hop’ style of music really grates on your ears after just seconds. One nice feature is the included option of Dolby Surround sound The PAL conversion of Airblade has no 60htz mode, but thankfully the boarders have been kept to a minimum. There is a widescreen mode and also a screen calibration option if play is off centre on you television. Overall Airblade is an original take on a tired formula with a great looking cinematic presentation. The missions are a little too constricting, but loads of fun can be had with the freestyle and multiplayer modes. But is it a lot less bother with a hover? John Grothier             Latest Images:		Review Scores:    Graphics:   Sound:   Gameplay:   Length:   Overall: Click here for our Review Score Guidelines.  Review Summary:  More than Tony Hawk on a hoverboard. Loads of missions to complete, with a stunning cinematic presentation. Freesyle and multiplayer modes keep Airblade fresh.  Related Games:  Airblade for PlayStation 2  9  Screenshots  1  Review Click here for All Game Information.
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