Game Title: "Rogue Galaxy"
Platform: PlayStation 2
Studio: Sony Computer Entertainment
Rating: T-for Teen
Score: 8.5 out of 10
THE REVIEWGAMEPLAY: Long, long ago. In a galaxy far, far away there lived a young man on a desert planet named Jaster. Um, wait. Is that right?
While the parallels between "Rogue Galaxy" and a certain popular space film series can't be helped, this game does have some entertaining qualities.
At a time when the Playstation 3 has upstaged its predecessor, games like "Rogue Galaxy" show that fresh and new games for the Playstation 2 are still possible.
While this sci-fi/fantasy role-player doesn't break any new ground, it still proves to be a fun game with a semi-quirky story line.
As with most role-playing games, you start out as a young, ambitious lad stuck on a back-water planet dreaming of the day adventure will sweep him off his feet. In a case of mistaken identity, Jaster gets plucked from his home planet by a rogue group of space pirates. Heck, even their ship is built like a sail boat. Through his adventures, Jaster learns the value of friendship and becomes a man — standard stuff.
Where this game stands out is its battle system. While some role-playing games have turn-based battles, this game opts for a real-time battle system that still allows for a bit of strategy. A time meter prevents you from being able to just dive into the fray, hacking and slashing, and forces you to think and plan your moves.
There were a few camera-angle glitches, especially with the larger enemies. At times I wound up facing the camera while the big baddie was behind it so I couldn't see the creature. The game comes with an auto-targeting system that does make it easier to focus on a given enemy among a pack of bad guys.
Souping up your characters is also fun. The system involves a map of various items, which are picked up on various planets. If you plug in enough items you are rewarded with a new ability. This feature kind of gives the game a scavenger hunt feel.
But while collecting items can be fun, the sheer amount of junk that adds up can become a little overwhelming and the game's item management system is not terribly efficient.
Traveling to distant planets would not be the same without getting some props for killing some of the galaxy's meanest monsters. The game allows you to lay claim to your conquests and climb the ranks of great hunters, collecting rewards along the way.
Other features, however, can prove kind of annoying, such as the Insectors mini-game. Lay traps and collect alien insects, which you then feed and train to compete in mini battles. Think of it as a crude attempt at Pokemon that takes up way too much time in the game and only proves distracting.
GRAPHICS: The game's graphics have 3-D cartoon feel that is appealing. Load times are spared for the beginning of each level so adventuring is not interrupted.
AUDIO: The music is pretty standard and the voice acting provided for the characters is decent but no performances will move you to tears or anything.
THE WRAP-UP
PARENT'S TAKE: While the game includes some blood, it is not very realistic. Crude jokes are peppered throughout, as are mild sexually-suggestive comments. Smoking and alcohol use are also present.
FINAL WORD: In all, if you're looking for a solid role-playing game and still like using your Playstation 2, "Rogue Galaxy" is a good pick.