Playstation 2 - Disaster Report

Format
Playstation 2
Publisher
Agetec
Developer
Irem
Country of origin
Japan
Release date
2003
Genre
Survival

Disaster Report

By David Rasmussen
4th Nov 04

Platform - PS2
Publisher - Agetec/Irem
Age - Teen (13+)
Released in America 2003
Genre - Action
Sub Genre - Survival

Ah. There's nothing that brings abit of dread to me than the yearly coming of the Disaster genre movies.
Nothing worse than that genre by far. Disaster movies, which pits nature against man in a variety of ways.
Movies like Twister, Volcano, Dante's Peak and the recent Day After Tomorrow.
But did you know that you can, in fact, split the disaster genre into categories (the more severe the disaster movie the higher the number).

Category 1 Disaster Movie - Basically it's a disaster movie where, despite all the odds, humans somehow get one up on nature and win out. Huh? Some movies with a worse Category rating had humans overcome in the end, so why aren't they Category 1 movies?? Yeah. True some movies seem to fit this category, but the damage in those movies was way worse than in this category so it got a more severe rating.

Volcano (Tommy Lee Jones) is a good example of a Category 1 Disaster Movie. Despite the fact a major volcano pops up in Los Angeles and brings lots of destruction, somehow Tommy Lee Jones and everyone else manages to overcome the volcano and make it submit in the end. Also the damage doesn't come near the damage inflicted in movies like Deep Impact or The Core where humans worked towards intervention.

Category 2 Disaster Movie - While it looks like humans are NOT going to overcome nature, they do however survive it and make it out for the most part intact. Additionally the damage is localized, so while it can't be stopped it doesn't go widespread either so it's not so bad.
Movies like Twister and Dante's Peak fit into this category. While there's lots of chaos the damage is localized, and people manage to survive it (not everyone but that's expected).

Category 3 Disaster Movie - Humans have a hard time of it, and the damage doesn't stay localized.
It's not the end of the world, but it's not good either. Deep Impact falls into Category 3.

Category 4 Disaster Movie - Basically what is darn near end of the world movie without the world coming to an end. The Core and The Day After Tomorrow fall into this severe disaster movie category.

Category 5 Disaster Movie - The worse case scenario. The darkest moment in movies.
If you're a major motion picture studio that is.

Category 5 Disaster Movie is basically a blockbuster movie that bombs in theaters and dies a horrible death by box office... Gigli, Ishtar and a load of other movies falls into this worse case scenario.

Ok. For a true Category 5 Disaster Movie it'll have to be the end of the world.
Combine the devastation of The Core, Day After Tomorrow and Deep Impact with the humanity wiping out levels of Dawn of the Dead or 28 Days Later and you might have a Category 5 movie.

But, to date, I have not seen a Category 5 movie.... Yet.
Oh, wait, Waterworld is a Category 5... Because it sucks. That's a terrible movie! Horrible!
Basically, for now, the only people who fear Category 5 movies are those who make bad films.

But how does this synch with Disaster Report?
Because the game may be the first interesting disaster video game I've seen.
You are a reporter reporting to your first day of work on this artificial island city called Capitol City.
But the day you report to work a massive quake devastates the island and turns it into a death trap.

It all starts off on the island bridge your on which is collapsing. First order of the day is to get off this bridge before it collapses, and on the way off you find a female survivor who turns out to be part of a major conspiracy involved in the "Disaster Report" surrounding this island and what happened.

Then you reach the city which is falling apart. Giant sections of building come falling down at a moment's notice, buildings rumble near collapse, highways fall and it's a high tension walk as you constantly stay alert to quakes and falling giant chunks of building (since the surgeon general has deemed that giant falling sections of highrise buildings dropping on you is hazardous to your health).

All the while you have to find a way off before the damage worsens, which it does, but while you're fighting for survival you become involved in a conspiracy concerning the island and it's "creators". A long story of vengeance, betrayal and death. So as you go along just surviving isn't enough, finding out why you are fighting for your life also becomes a priority.

The gameplay is straightforward, yet it's unique as well. Like a good RPG there's lots to do, and lots to explore (and if you pay attention you'll find a few hidden areas). Your health depends on what you find, but also on what you do... mainly the drinking of water.

The only way to save this game is between chapters, and at water spigots which is an important thing. Why? Apparently the one vital thing you need in this game (past all the gear you find) is water. As you travel the island, and exert energy to do tasks, you need to drink to rehydrate yourself and keep your "thirst" meter high (so you don't become thirsty and lose health).

Another supposed "vital" thing is the ability to combine things into new things. However I beat this game and barely touched that option so it's not as vital as the game says it is. My biggest invention to date playing this game? I created "juice" by combining a packet of Kool-Aid type powder juice and a large bottle of water... yeah, big deal.

Another vital thing is space management (in the backpack you have). As you go along you'll find bigger backpacks so you can carry more, which is vital, but the proper management of space (and of your water supplies) is vital if your going to get through this game.

One thing that is NOT vital is compasses. Why? Because you'll find lots of them... apparently it's some bonus thing and if you find all of them you'll unlock something, but to date I haven't done that.

The only bonuses of the game is a picture gallery, but there might be more... I just haven't dug in deep enough to this game to root out other extras. GameFaq might have more on that.

Through most of the game the only "enemy" you have is the city itself as it falls apart around you. However near the end you'll have a real enemy as mercenaries hired by the villains behind the chaos are sent to kill you... that, by the way, is a major pain. Apparently it's far easier to survive the collapse of giant buildings, flooding and falling 100 ton things than it is to avoid one giant slow beefy guy with a rocket launcher.
You'll find a way to kill them off eventually, so you'll get your revenge soon enough.

It's abit of a sleeper game. I found it in the bargain section at Blockbusters, but it's good nevertheless.
It's also short. I managed to beat this in about 6-8 hours of continuous play so it's not too hard.
But I didn't get a perfect score, nor did I unlock any characters so I still have lots to do.
Ok. Breakdown time.

Disaster Report Breakdown
What's Hot? - For a disaster video game it's actually playable. It's not a runaway hit gameplay wise, but it's going to occupy you for awhile and give your reflexes abit of a workout as you explore the dying city.
It's not great, but it's not bad. Middle of the road for me, but I have no regrets buying it.

What's Not? - It has it's flaws. While the gameplay is unique there is also a few errors.
I didn't like the create mode because while there's lots of options of things to build? I'm always short one piece that I need to invent things so for the most part I have lots of ideas, but little chance to actually make the stuff I have ideas for... frustrating!

The voice acting is not the best. It's abit flat at times and could have been far better than this. It's not the dull flat voice acting of David Duchovny, but it's not excellent either.

Finally the game is short, and there doesn't seem to be very much in terms of extras to keep you playing... though I could be wrong.

Moments to Remember?
Despite the not so hot voice acting the scenes between you and the girl might have been memorable... oh, wait, they're not all that memorable. Love story this isn't.

I guess all the destruction! The falling buildings and the stuff that gets your blood pumping as the city falls apart around you. That's memorable. Ah, the claustrophobic inducing narrow streets and tight corridors, the danger of falling buildings, the heights, the fires, the flooding and the other dangers. That seems to be the most memorable about this game. Weird.

What to Ignore?
Somehow I can't seem to get too excited about the characters. I wished the game gave me more reason to get into it and the characters, but the voice acting kind of didn't do it for me.

Overall?
You've survived the disaster genre movies, now try a disaster genre video game.
After all if it works for the survival horror genre (to have survival horror video games), it might work for the disaster genre! It's not perfection, but it's got enough quirks and interesting things going for it that it warrants at least a rental (of which you'll probably beat long before your time is up and you have to return it to the rental place). Try it, it's interesting enough to warrant sampling in my opinion.

-- David Rasmussen 4th Nov 04

Playstation 2 Disaster Report Images