Overall Rating

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Gun Valkyrie (Xbox) - 3Anyone who has kept an eye on "GunValkyrie" since its early 2001 unveiling knew that this would be a promising Sega release, and one that displayed the company's potential to develop for a non-Sega console. Its sleek look, sexy female lead, and futuristic presentation even led journalists to describe "GunValkyrie" as (gasp!) "The next 'Metroid'." Yet as the game came closer to its release date, word went around that the game's controls were complicated and unmanageable.

In this week's episode of "Extended Play," we find out that "GunValkyrie's" final version still presents a highly complex control configuration. But the good news is that it's not as difficult to master as the media made it out to be.

The storyline
"GunValkyrie" is based in an alternate reality where the British Empire (circa 1906) has long since made gigantic strides in space exploration and colonization. The man behind these technological advances, Dr. Hubble Gate, has been missing for the past four years during which time he was experimenting with genetic manipulation. Recently, the fruits of his experiments have affected the British planetary colony of Tir na Nog, where humans have been transformed into insect-like creatures. You play as either Kelly O'Lenmey or Saburouta Mishima, members of the Dolphin Team, a special operations group headed by Meridian Poe, Dr. Gate's only daughter. Your latest mission is to investigate Tir na Hog and possibly learn more about the doctor's experiments and his disappearance.

Control: Not exactly simple
"GunValkyrie," played in the third-person perspective, presents a unique gameplay setup. Much of the character movements are meant to be performed in mid-air (by use of a boost), and at the same time you're expected to survive against all sorts of insects, monsters, sentries, and larger-than-life bosses. Of course some of the actions can be made while on the ground, but the game's level structure, which spans 15 stages, encourages you to play "GunValkyrie" on its own terms. Eventually you'll come across stages that require nothing but jumping and boosting -- stages that are loaded with platforms that are both stable and unstable, thick and thin. In addition, staying airborne and mastering the game's various boost techniques will be the only ways to defeat certain bosses.

Gun Valkyrie (Xbox) - 2Yes, the controls aren't exactly simple, but it also is because "GunValkyrie" has a very different control scheme than your standard third-person platformer/shooter. Your primary movements are controlled by the left analog stick (boosts are engaged by pressing down on the same stick and moving in the direct you want). Aiming is done with the right analog stick and can be sensitive at times. Pressing down plus pointing in a direction on the right stick allows for quick turns. Finally, boost power needs to be refilled regularly (this is done by simply not using the boost), as uninterrupted use of the boost will drain your supply quickly. It might be an intimidating shopping list to manage, but with enough patience, you'll find yourself learning the moves out of necessity and even using them to your advantage.

Graphics: Best first-generation visuals
Throughout "GunValkyrie" you'll be greeted by some of the best first-generation visuals ever seen on the Xbox. Everything from the title screen to the uniform design to the weapon effects effectively convey the "steam-punk" look (see sidenote below). Moreover, the various organic and wilderness stages are well-designed, expansive zones that truly give the gamer the sense of being in an alien world. The Civilian Base stages are imaginative indoor areas filled with marble floors and lots of metal.

Sound: A distinct audio mix
Sega's primary sound design house, Wave Master, contributed to "GunValkyrie's" music, and it shows. The playlist is a melange of operatic drum and bass, cavalry charges, and twisted "Alice In Wonderland"-type soundscapes. While the music draws from such non-gaming influences, Wave Master has produced a collection of music that has a distinct videogame sound.

The sound effects hold their own as well. Everything from the running noises to the enemy death cries to ammo discharge are all pulled off with convincing consistency. The voice acting, though scant, is more than decent. Some might snicker at Meridian Poe's apathetic acting, but then again, she is a cyborg.

Gun Valkyrie (Xbox) - 1Low replay value
By today's standards, "GunValkyrie" presents a very small number of replay-inducing unlockables. After clearing the game once (which should take you less than eight hours), you'll be able to replay any stage you want. There are also a couple of skill levels that the Kelly O'Lenmey character can upgrade to, which can be done by retrieving sometimes hard-to-find items throughout the game.

"GunValkyrie" could be yet another Sega franchise in the making. Its original plot and setting, polished visuals, and overall high production value make this a must-have for any skilled console gamer. It's unfortunate that its seemingly complex control scheme will alienate most casual players. "GunValkyrie" is a solid ride that, once mastered, conveys that look of "cool" that only games like "Max Payne" and "Devil May Cry" have pulled off.

Sidenote: The term steam-punk is a form of fiction, influenced and pioneered by the works of Verne, Kipling, and Wells; stories set in the 19th and early 20th centuries where experimental high tech is usually a prevalent centerpiece. "GunValkyrie" is not the first game that's delved into the steam-punk genre. The first game to come out in this category was Hot-B's "Steel Empire" for the Genesis, a post WWI shooter where impractical, highly-retrofitted zeppelins fought for the skies. Exemplary forms of steam-punk in Japanese pop culture include anime such as "Nadia: The Mysterious Seas," the "Sakura Teisen" series, and "Steam Detectives." While most of this genre's technologies seemed far-fetched, it has nonetheless made for great science fiction with a twist.