Review: MDK2 is more than just eye candy

From...

	GALLERY

June 14, 2000
Web posted at: 11:17 a.m. EDT (1517 GMT)

by Brian Wright

(IDG) -- The developers at BioWare are most famous for creating the stunning RPG, Baldur's Gate, but now with MDK2 they've proven that they can make a kick-ass 3rd-person action/adventure, as well.

MDK2 picks up where the original left off, with our favorite janitor turned superhero, Kurt Hectic, relaxing aboard the spaceship Jim Dandy with his employer Dr. Fluke Hawkins and Max the six-legged dog, having just saved the world from invasion by the evil Streamriding Aliens. But just when everything seems peaceful, an alarm sounds, indicating that the aliens are back and it's up to Kurt and his buddies to once again save the day.

Throughout MDK2's ten huge levels, players will take control of Kurt, Max, and Dr. Hawkins, as they snipe, fly, or just blast their way through hordes of aliens. Kurt comes equipped with the technically advanced Coil Suit, which allows him to coast through the air with its ribbon chute and target enemies from afar with the built-in Sniper mode. The Doctor's levels are more puzzle-oriented and have him combining items that he finds lying about to solve puzzles or create weapons. Max can hold up to 4 firearms thanks to his extra appendages, so his levels consist mostly of run-n-gun action with some flying thrown in via his jetpack.

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Some of the jumping puzzles threaten to bog down the game, but the three styles of gameplay balance each other nicely. While players will surely differ over which character's levels are the most fun to play, each has their own appeal and gamers are sure to have a blast playing them all.

MDK2 is a treat for the eyes, from the 50's-style comic book art of the loading screens to the brightly colored space-age bachelor pad look of the Jim Dandy. The soundtrack, meanwhile, includes great ambient space noise during the slower moments and some rockin' beats that drive the action sequences along at a brisk pace. The voice acting, though not perfect, is compensated for with some of the most hilarious dialogue ever heard in a computer game.

The mouse and keyboard combination works great for controlling your characters, though the hotkeys for selecting items and weapons can be a bit confusing at first. There is also a problem running the game through Windows 98 that occasionally causes the framerate to drop to slideshow speeds. It happens rarely, but when it does, it can be a quite a nuisance and you may find yourself getting turned around in certain corridors.

Another minor complaint is that a few of the puzzles are mind-numbingly difficult and the solutions are not always intuitive. On one level you may find yourself literally running around in circles with no apparent exit in sight (Hint: Look for the wall with a crack in it.). Fortunately, Interplay has posted a walkthrough on its site and the MDK2 forum offers plenty of advice from other gamers. The quicksave option is also very useful for getting past some of the more difficult jumping puzzles.

MDK2's style of gameplay doesn't lend itself well to multiplay, so the replay value is slim, but the single-player experience is guaranteed to suck hours away from your life. BioWare has definitely captured the look, feel, and humor of the original and have made MDK2 one of the best 3rd person action games to date.

MDK2 tips:

• When you're controlling the fish on level 3, although the instructions don't mention this, you can get a burst of speed by clicking the mouse button.



• In the theater on level 4, there is an alien that will continue to get up after he's been knocked down. To get rid of him permanently, snipe his head.



• Having trouble using the Bouncing Sniper Bullets on Level 4? Stand on the little ledge and look for a tiny purple dot on the opposite wall. Zooming in while in Sniper mode will reveal a clearly painted target.

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MDK2: Official site

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