Another day in the world of computer game characters where yet again the lead role has been touched by the memory loss stick. That’s right, our hero has limited recall for his past and as a mighty soldier of war along with his unit is captured and thrown into a cell. Our Hero’s captors want him to join their army in this so called “Movement”. However our hero has a tough resolve, hence why he has been incarcerated. Like all good heroes he manages to escape with the help from someone familiar yet unknown. In this case, a leggy blonde is willing to help yet in the back of our hero’s mind is the question, can she be trusted?

Players assume the role of Nick Scryer, ultimate badass soldier and master of the mind as he breaks out of his cell to discover the hidden agenda of “The Movement” and its leaders with the aim of stopping them at all costs. Welcome to Psi-Ops The Mind gate Conspiracy.

Gameplay:

Psi Ops is a 3rd person action game with a unique twist. Yes there are guns such as shotguns, silenced pistols, sniper rifles, machine guns and assault rifles as seen in pretty much every 3rd person action game. Also stealth attacks are available as well as some basic hand to hand fighting moves. However these only serve as a mere fraction of your arsenal of weaponry against the hoards of heavily armed guards (Mind Puppets) that stand in your way throughout. Nick is blessed with the abilities of the mind as seen in the countless Star Wars movies (Jedi).

Telekinesis: This ability allows Nick to use the surroundings to his advantage. This means that Nick can pick up nearby objects such as crates, barrels, boxes, explosive cylinders and of course the guards. With an object in his control Nick is able to move the object at will perhaps using a box for a shield against gunfire. He is also able to use an object as a weapon where he can throw it at any guard that gets in the way. If you really want to be cool then Nick is able to surf objects that he has control over giving him a height advantage whilst he shoots at the same time. When Nick uses his telekinesis skills against the guards he is able to pluck them from the ground and either toss them through the air so they suffer a heavy landing or into each other. There are plenty of explosive crates lying around and a flying guard that hits one of these gets blown up for an instant kill. Nick is also able to shoot at any guard that he has under his control or perhaps shoot others at the same time. The possibilities are quite vast as you unleash your almighty power on the unsuspecting.

Mind Control: This ability allows Nick to take control of a guards body whereby the action switches to the person he is controlling. This has many uses for solving certain puzzle like moments but is also rather handy for some subterfuge. Killing the opposition from within is sweet but the icing on the cake is when you are done with the host and so deliberately make him commit suicide by jumping off a high place or simply shooting an explosive barrel at close range.

Pyrokinesis: This ability means that Nick can cast a great fireball at guards and objects setting them on fire and causing a chain reaction with nearby objects or guards. Objects or guards that are on fire can then be thrown at other guards to create extra damage and possibly set them on fire as well.

Remote Viewing: Perfect for surveillance as this ability allows Nick to cast his mind and sight away from his body. An excellent tool for scouting ahead to observe enemy patrols routes. The bonus of using remote viewing is that it will go through most doors regardless of whether they are locked or not.

Mind Drain: This ability simply allows Nick to recharge his Psi energy which depletes each time he uses it. Any enemy whether dead or alive can have their mind drained however the amount recovered varies. If Nick can sneak up on a guard and mind drain them, then he can kill by making their head explode whilst recovering a full bar of Psi energy.

These abilities are there for the player to experiment with throughout the game and offer plenty of laughs and cool death sequences. The mastery of all of these skills is paramount to Nick’s success and offers players something extra compared to the regular gun/hand fighting. Once you become more accustomed to these abilities then the player can experiment with combos using the abilities wisely to outsmart guards.

The game is split into missions although they follow the story. Although the path is very linear the way to dispatch enemies isn’t and allows for different play styles. At the end of each mission is a breakdown of stats such as damaged caused, enemy kills, accuracy, preferred Psi ability etc which allows players to asses their performance and perhaps improve. The game also features a few boss battles against adversaries who have the same abilities as yourself, making for some intense moments as you both hurl items at each other.

Graphics:

The graphics is Psi Ops are adequate but not really pushing the boundaries in any way. However the game’s action and diverse nature is enough for anyone to overlook any graphics issues. The rag doll physics work really well in this game and make for some rather amusing death animations.

Sound:

Sound is rather minimal throughout with varied ambient sounds and the usual mix of gunfire etc. The Mind drain seems to be the loudest sound that you will encounter as this makes more noise than explosions but is amusing when you hear the mumblings of your victim before their head explodes. Music is kept upbeat and in the background yet remains uninspiring throughout but isn’t really the main emphasis of the game .Some reasonable but cheesy voice acting is used to breathe life into the characters during the cut scenes and does a good job in a cartoon way. Overall the game’s sound does an adequate job but rarely inspires.

Longevity:

Psi Ops is not the longest of games to complete and will take most gamers little time to finish on the default difficulty. However there are a number of “unlockables” which include mini games, character skins, and extra modes. There are four levels of difficulty to choose from for those looking for added challenge and missions can be replayed individually. Psi Ops also features a unique two player mode whereby one player controls movement and guns and the other Psi abilities. I personally found that the game does warrant multiple plays through as one can never tire of using those awesome abilities.

Overall:

Psi Ops is an interesting game that offers players that little bit extra compared to similar 3rd person games. The Psi abilities really do make the player feel powerful against the guards and the wide options for its use is great. Despite not looking quite as good as it could makes no difference to the overall play of the game as enjoyment is found elsewhere, in the game play. I would recommend this title to anyone who wishes to embark on a game which although simplistic in its objectives is broad enough to offer plenty of excitement within its world.