Without the movie license behind it, the video game version of the Bourne saga had some time to mature. The developers spent their time refining an excellent combat system, spot on shooting mechanics, and a driving level that probably should have been cut completely. While repetitive, Bourne Conspiracy is a solid experience during its brief play time.
Though it lacks a Matt Damon look alike, High Moon Studios still prove they did their homework. Cinematics, although abysmal in video quality, follow the film at times shot for shot. Each scene is instantly recognizable, and while the game’s story is pieced together loosely at best (you’ll need the movie to grasp everything), it nicely fills in blanks as to Jason Bourne’s past.
With only a few action sequences to pull from, Bourne Conspiracy only extends the actions scenes slightly. Venues and chase scenes have more shoot outs, and the sniper battle on the farm features a few more explosions. This is a game respectful to its source material.
When blasting away at foes, the over the shoulder third person viewpoint is obviously pulled from Resident Evil 4. Actually firing feels eerily similar to that Capcom great as well, though by default, sensitivity is set too low. Head shots deliver a gratifying crunching sound that never becomes old, and heavily destructible environments lead to interactive environments that allow for shattering someone’s cover or simply destroying things.
Hand-to-hand combat is mixed in equally. This is where Bourne takes off. There are no camera issues to deal with. The game automatically engages the player in the brawl when up close as Bourne lands the first shot indicating the fight it going to start. With an obvious nod to Fight Night, the camera typically sits slightly below the waist and to the side. This is a perfect viewpoint, though even if the camera becomes fidgety, it’s still easy to engage in the necessary fisticuffs.
While a few more combos wouldn’t have hurt, the easy to use melee moves deliver excellent impact and the right dose of style. Deformation of the enemies face becomes a life meter to determine how damaged they are (though this is useless when battling masked adversaries). Two strong kicks can be charged for a brutal hit, though most enemies react quickly enough that you won’t find the time.
An additional weapon is the environment. As punches land, a meter fills to the right of the health indicator. Split into three sections, when one of those is full, you can grab an enemy and throw them into the surroundings. Superb animation makes these throws look excessively violent, and the damage modeling only enhances the impact. When surrounded, you have the ability to take down multiple foes, assuming your meter is filled enough.
While it’s a break from the beat-em-up aspects, a London driving sequence would have been better off eliminated from the game entirely. The controls are clunky, AI cars stupid, and the roads closed off into a small path. It looks superb, with jaw dropping building detail, but the chase itself is yawn inducing.
Fans of the film will be thrilled with the flashback sequences inserted into the story to bring this up to standard video game length. They’ll also appreciate the level of care taken to bring the film versions to the interactive format, even without the proper licenses. Aside from its abrupt length and repetition, Bourne Conspiracy is hard to fault with.
4/5
Tags: matt damon, review, robert ludlum, sarah silverman, sierra entertainment, the bourne conspiracy, where can i play mille bourne online, will there be a third bourne movie, xbox 360
