Homemademech - Xbox Splashdown reviews

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Splashdown

By Marq Mosier
31st May 05

Well, seeing as how all of my reviews so far have been for games that were on systems that are no longer being supported, I decided to write one for a current generation system. I looked at the review section and said to myself, “damn, there is only one X-Box review, maybe I should write one”? Well, seeing as how it is the least played of all my systems, I thought this would also give me a good excuse to rediscover a game that I really enjoyed on the system. Now I should state up front that Splashdown was not a game originally released for the X-Box, it is a port of a PS2 game, but I actually like the X-Box version much better, so I opted to go with this. I also figured that most gamers probably dismissed this title as just another “throw away” racing game of some sort. Hopefully this review will change your mind a bit, as the game is actually really solid, and a very fun experience overall. This is compounded by the fact that you can get the game for $20.00 bucks brand new here in the States, and probably even cheaper on-line. A good deal and a great game, what more could you ask for?

Graphics: 7.0

Well, even though this game is on X-Box, it is, as I stated before, a port of a PS2 game. I think that you can really see the technical limitations of the oldest of the three current generation systems in this game. The draw-in distance is terrible here, sometimes reminding me of games on the N64, where one second there is nothing on screen, and then bam, something appears out of nowhere. While this rarely affects the game play, it is glaringly noticeable, and not what you expect from a game on the X-Box. The character models are pretty blocky at times, and lack any real distinctive features other than maybe a pair of sunglasses or an interesting hairstyle, and most characters don’t even posses those minor traits. The water craft the characters in the game ride all pretty much look the same, and they are nothing special.

One area this game really shines in though is the environments. While the draw distance is shameful overall, when you can see background objects they look really nice. All of the boats, trees, platforms, obstacles, and other various screen fillers look great.

The shifting times of day in certain levels look absolutely stunning. Daylight effects shimmer on the waves and lens flares populate most levels, while night scenes are filled with fireflies, a huge moon, and wonderful reflections of both on the mirror-like water. Torches light the way in dense swamps, while buoys flicker to signal riders through hazards that jut into the track. Water effects are amazingly realistic and very well captured here in Splashdown. Natural environments are a real highlight throughout the game. Cliff faces tower over riders as they navigate treacherous waterways, trees create cavernous pathways through deep forests, crashed airplanes float amidst wreckage and debris that mar otherwise serene landscapes and placid lakes, and so much more. The man-made environments mesh very well with the natural ones too, sometimes creating an almost industrial-organic feel that makes for some remarkable experiences. Indoor water parks lend a new aspect to the many outdoor levels, and change the pace and feel of the game intermittently.

So while overall the game is somewhat lacking graphically amongst this current generations other titles, it certainly excels in some important areas. Water effects are quite realistic, and the environments are amazing to behold, especially when they incorporate the monuments and nuances from their real-life counterpart locations throughout the world.

Sound: 10.0

This is the selling point for me over the PS2 original right here. With the X-Box version of this game comes the ability to use your own customized soundtrack taken directly from your X-Box! When I originally played Splashdown on the PS2 I thought it was a great game, but I hated all of the in-game music that you were forced to listen to. Well, that problem exists no more. Just boot up the game and select to use your personalized soundtrack and BAM, aural perfection in videogameland! While the voices in the game are pretty annoying, you can just turn them down in the sound options menu and turn the music all the way up. The sound effects in the game are not bad, but you won’t even notice that since you will be paying more attention to your favourite tunes blasting out of your television/stereo.

Game play: 8.5

I have played this game on and off for the last couple of years, and I never get sick of it. I start on easy, then go to normal, and finally to hard, finishing all tracks and unlocking all the wetsuits over and over again. I can’t get tired of the solid game play present here in Splashdown.

This is a pretty straight forward game in essence. You choose a racer, and then proceed to finish each stage in a certain place ranking (which ranking exactly depends on your overall ranking at the time) to advance to the next stage. Your water craft is controlled using the analog stick to turn, and the A button to accelerate. You can perform tricks/stunts off of ramps using combinations of the stick and the L/R triggers or the B button. Simple tricks are performed by moving the stick in one direction and pressing one button/trigger, while more advanced tricks utilize more complex combinations of the stick and multiple button presses. These tricks add to your performance meter, allowing your water craft to move faster and more efficiently as it increases. When tricks are not performed consistently your meter decreases, and so does your crafts performance. There are also many techniques to be learned such as hydroplaning, bunny-hopping your craft, submarining it, and back flipping it. Some of these increase the performance meter, while some help you to avoid obstacles in the track or find new shortcuts to speed you to victory!

After certain races you will have the option to challenge new racers on specific indoor tracks around the world. If you beat them they will join your team and become selectable in the ensuing races. Each rider has different stats, and is stronger or weaker in certain areas, sometimes selecting the right rider for the stage is the difference between first place and last.

Overall: 7.0

While I would like to give this game a much higher overall score, I realize that it is probably not everyone’s cup of tea. For me personally, the game play score I gave it above is more indicative of my opinion of the game, but that might not be the case for a lot of people. I’m not a huge fan of racing games, but I do happen to really enjoy racing games that take place on water for some reason, and this is one of the best of that ilk in my eyes. If you are looking for a nice, cheap game to give you some decent entertainment, without a ton of originality, then this would be a good buy for you.

-- Marq Mosier 31st May 05

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