Released: 20000822 Publisher: SEGA Developer: Warp Genre: Adventure

Review by: Ken Vance

D2 as most gamers know has been in constant flux for over three years. Initially thought of as a genre defining (in the vein of Shenmue for Dreamcast) Sega Saturn game. Its 32-bit development roots were axed early on in favor of M2 technology - 3DO's doomed next generation vaporware. Old timers might remember Laura the sexy, but often-silent, heroin in D. D was Warp's 1995 multi format CG Horror game that gathered cult status. Warp continued to drift into the weird with the lesser-known Enemy Zero for the Sega Saturn/PC that implemented CG and FPS type gameplay. Warp has managed to roll facets of both those previous titles into D2. Warp saw fit to leave Laura as the main character in D2, while increasing the visual and sound standards by leaps and bounds as some of the best ever on the Dreamcast.

D2 is a very intense game from a graphic standpoint. Showing off the power of the Dreamcast with high quality CG and FMV graphical techniques never before witnessed in the 128-bit era. Equally impressive are the background and other various environmental structures. Details contained within these elements are marvelously depicted with gorgeous textures. D2's character faces are all realistically modeled, although their bodies still have a first generation polygon outer shell appearance to them. D2 continues its assault on the gamer's senses by implementing a mixture of FPS and real-time third-person adventure gameplay. As shown in earlier titles, Warp has strived to fuse these gaming methods (except for Trip'd & Real Sound). D2 however takes it to the 128-bit level that Kenji Eno has always envisioned.

While D2's graphics are timeless, the gameplay drags D2 down to mediocrity. Maneuvering Laura is awkward, employing a Resident Evil style of control. While many have become accustomed to this method of control, this just bogs down D2. Instead of trying to emulate Capcom's horror series, Warp should have dropped a much simpler "arcade" like control for D2. D2 requires Laura to walk to various locations. That is fine and dandy, but the issue is that there is a lot of slow paced walking to one point only to have to turn around and walk back to where you started. Oh sure there is adventure, exploring, and of course, tons of long FMV/CG cut scenes while all this walking is occurring. The bottom line is that this mode of transportation wears thin very quickly. Other than walking or running (walking fast) there's a snowmobile that you get to use. Unfortunately, I was only able to use the snowmobile on disc two of four, and it only increased the haphazard battles I had to fight as I made my way to certain points. So Laura is on foot for a majority of the game, close to 30 virtual miles of snow-covered Canadian landscape.

D2's battle sequences are of the random nature and played out in a first person mode. Almost as bad as some of the "old school" RPGs, D2 has you thrust into a fight about every ten steps Laura takes. Lunging out of the snowy landscapes are multiple plant like creatures who attack from any angle. Laura's experience meter increases, as more and more monsters are defeated and her experience level escalates for greater hit points. While I did not mind the random battle sequences at first, the further I got into the game these clashes became a responsibility that I loathed doing.

D2 could have been so much more. For a game that was in devolvement for three plus years it seems almost generic. D2's adult driven story line will have the over 18-crowd hanging on to each and every word. The games inspired soundtrack that was composed by Kenji Eno himself; gives D2 strength too. Add an awe-inspiring D2 atmosphere and you've got the makings of a winning formula, right? Wrong. A death sentence has been registered for parts of D2; action sequences that go on forever; FMV so bountiful you'll be wondering if D2 is a movie instead of a game and battle segments that are far to tedious and frequent, continuously driving nails into D2's coffin. The final nail though D2's coffin is the gameplay's simplicity, it's just not challenging. A game of D2s magnitude should offer more gameplay complexity. As it is, any snot nosed brat could blow through D2 in a matter of a few days.

In the end D2 has too many ideas trying to make their way into the game. There is not enough attention paid to just one game play element, and that is where D2 fails miserably. Any reason to play D2 a second time? Nope. The replay value is zero, as D2 is totally linear. You're not going to find any new rooms or overlooked landscapes.

D2 was without a doubt the best movie I played this year. However the gaming value is just about nonexistent. Rent if you must.

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