15
This game is based on the anime series GITS:SAC, but as the PS2 old brother of this version it has many flaws and the FPS genre is looking very bad in the future....
Graphics
This game looks as if it was progammed for launch 2 days after the development, the enemies look horrible and move like cardboard cut outs. The scenarios are very tepid. The weapons look also bad! This is a very bad looking game.
Sound
Most of the weapons sound the same and with no deepness. The voice acting is good.
Gameplay
It's a FPS for the PSP, does someone remember Coded Arms? The control layoutis almost the same as Coded SArms but uncomfortable control on the weapon changing is a flaw. There are 4 control layouts. But it's repetitive and monotonous. There are some unlockables like a minigame very retro style like Spyhunter and movie viewer, but it's not worth your 4 hours of gameplay. And there are 50 weapons, but big part of the weapons are only the same weapon only that with different color (25 weapons and 25 extra colors)
Load times: 20 seconds
Overall, this is a very bad FPS that isn't worth a $5.00 rental.
80
The controls actually feel better then Coded Arms controls, and make the aiming easier. Customizing you own mech is fun as can be, but giving it commands are a little annoying. Overall this game is a must own for the PSP, even if you never saw the show (shame on you), but we will forgive you, this time.
82
The Game itself isn't a port of the PS2 version. The story, mechanics and details are for the most part, a unique experience. Set in the year 2030, GITS provides a unique story away from the series. There is no laughing man, but there is definitely a wider conspiracy to follow through. The story spans 20 years and revolves around documents which detail an uprising in the Far North long ago. The action begins when a terrorist group decide to steal the historic documents.
The controls are nearly identical to Coded Arms, although some things are made a bit more intuitive with this game. There is an auto lock in the targeting system, but it's not just *click and instant lock*. It gives it a form of time based, realistic adjustment that locks on to enemies, but takes time for one of the 4 playable characters. Once you target an enemy, you basically push a button (down on D-pad) and it adjusts to the enemy, running and the enemy moving do affect the aim of your character, so it's not always dead on. Movement itself is actually very easy, and as well, you have to ability to push in any direction twice and quick sidestep or hop forward.
Most, if not all of the levels have interactive environments, but in the limited sense of opening doors and placing bombs. You can actually hack hack the top of mechanized tanks by jumping on top and disabling them, while they are moving. Cut scenes are all made with the games engine, and the characters are faithfully re-produced to 3D for the game, but the voices don't sync up with lip movements. This may be due to the fact that the game was animated for Japanese voice actors.
Playable characters include Major Motoko, who is basically an android. Batou: a cybernetically enhanced human with ocular implants, Togusa: a human Ex-Cop now working with Section 9, and Saito: A member of Section 9 that wears an eye patch and looks like a pimp.
Tachikoma's are intelligent mobile tanks. There are 4 different Tachikomas (Balanced, Aggressive, Intelligent, Humorous), but you can only use one at a time. Each can be colored and configured independently so when the next mission comes up, you can select between 4 customized mini-tanks, with different voices and different personality traits, including Loyalty stats.
All characters, including the Tachikomas, have individual stats and abilities. Tachikomas have the same stats, and have even more in-depth numbers focusing on movement speed and things of that nature, as well as Changing to the color of the tank.
Eac character has an extremely wide and suprisingly versatile selection of weapons, ranging from dual Beretta type handguns, emp grenades, missle launchers, rocket launchers, various derivatives of assault rifles, sniper rifles, sub machine guns, ion based rifles and more. You can also find upgraded versions of each weapon with increased range, speed and damage. Tachikomas have their own line of weapon attachments, and can actually hold and use any variation of 5 weapon attachments at once, including 2 shields you can use instead of guns.
The graphics in GITS:SAC rarely dissapoint. However, some of the car models and characters look quite bad due to crappy textures, making certain parts of the game look neglected. The rest of the game is very crisp. Overall, the visuals are more than acceptable, but not mind blowing.
All voices are done in English, using the same voice actors that are in the series. All the dialog come with subtitles, but there is no option for Japanese dialog. It's comical to have your Tachikoma note plainly that an enemy has been spotted and then say plainly "oh yeah! Take that!" as she mows them down.
The music in the game is your typical electronic, futurist sci-fi sounding stuff. Alas, there is no trace of the music from the show. Sound effects are decent.
The multiplayer feels like an afterthought. There are 8 maps to play on taking place both indoors and outdoors, but with only 4 gametypes (FFA, team FFA, Tachikoma FFA and team Tachikoma), there probably won't be all that much variation when playing with friends. You can toggle the auto-lock function on or off as well and configure a few other options.
You can play with up to 6 gamers, which means with the team game types, you can only have 3 per team. GITS: SAC is Ad-Hoc only. You can choose from a list of 26 names, rather than inputting your own, so when using Xlink or XBC, you might frequently see 4 other Foxtrot users online. The games limited multiplayer is fun and does add tons of replay value.
In the end, the game is fairly interesting, with a well thought out story, something that cannot be said for the limited number of other FPS games for PSP. The ability to customize characters and your friendly mini-tank are a great addition, and the large weapon list will leave you fully satisfied. The game is limited by its lack of online multiplayer.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is recommended for many FPS gamers, even if you're not into the series.
74
The gameplay is very similar to that of Coded Arms. It has great playability because of the board and being able to see all the things you can discover throughtout your battles. The load times aren't too bad they could be better though. The graphics are nothing to complain about. The sound could be better. I would have liked to be able to hear shooting from far away so that I know better to go toward it.
While playing I didn't experience any type of lag with up to 6 people. I must say this is one of those games that appeals to both the anime and FPS fans. If you are an FPS player I suggest you rent this game or play Coded Arms first because the controls are the tricky part. If you are a fan of the anime and don't care what is wrong with the game as long as it has the words of the title that you love then go for it. You won't be dissapointed you have all the characters from the SAC show to use. So use them right.
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