10 Levels, 3 Heroes, 1 Great Game (MDK 2 (PC))

Member Name: 3rd Rock Satan

Product:	MDK 2 (PC)
Date:	29/03/01 (116 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent graphics, sound and gameplay. Worthy sequel

Disadvantages: Jumping

There is no justice in the world, really there isn't. The original MDK should have sold bucket loads, it had action, humour and superb graphics all rolled into one very nice game. However the PC owners decided it was too different to them and avoided it like a person with arachnophobia would avoid spiders. Also First Person Shooters owe quite a bit to the original MDK because it came up with the first Sniper Scope, which has now spawned itself into nearly every FPS game out on the market today.

Despite not making much money a sequel was made, this time not by Shiny but Bioware. So does it improve on the original or does it shame itself into the ground? Well I'm happy to say this is a very, very well produced sequel.

The original MDK stood for Murder Death Kill, it had some clever advertisements playing around with those names. Now it has a different meaning, Max Dr Fluke Hawkins and Kurt, the three characters you will play along the way.

After a few minutes relaxation after their first successful mission the intrepid heroes are called back to their duty to defend the planet earth from some nasty space alien type things.

Lucking Bioware have changed things to make it that bit interesting and you can play with all three heroes, the level style will differ with each one.

KURT: The guy from the original game don’s his Coil Suit, chanigun and sniper gun and fly’s down to earth. His levels are of the shooting and jumping variety. There is plenty of firepower to be had but there will also be a lot of use with the helping parachute type thing adorning his Coil Suit.

DR HAWKINS: The mad scientist, and Kurt's boss, has a playable role this time round. Obviously he is not as strong or active as Kurt so he has a more puzzle-solving element, although nothing taxing. He also comes equipped with some nice weapons, like the Atomic Toaster.

MAX: The robotic, six legged, gun toting dog.
With four arms he can carry four guns and this means some intense, mad shooting fun. His levels will not be without the jumping task’s either - this time aided with his nice little jetpack.


Luckily not only will you have fun playing the levels but also looking at them. Each level is absolutely beautifully done with some very impressive alien architecture. There are some great details and lighting effects to be had here. There are some imaginative and welcome bits, shooting the helmets of the Grunts will make them die and a puff of green smoke billows from their head it's these little things which make you realize this is not a game that was rushed. Also the levels are massive, so this game will last longer than you first imagine. And also the sound is very impressive as well, the voice acting is suitably done and there is some impressive music too. Luckily the control system is refreshingly easy to get to grips with, which is useful with some many jumps to do around the game.


Between each level there is a cut scene and like the first game they are funny. Yes humour has not left this game one bit, which is very nice to hear indeed. Some of the characters are very funny, especially the alien with the big green head that challenges Dr Hawkins. Also a nice touch are the loading screens which act like a comic book cover showing the latest level.

There are a few niggles with this game though. The dreaded jumping bits. There are quite a few and they can be very frustrating. You'll no doubt here yourself say 'Stupid* game' or something like that (*replace word with something stronger). Also getting the right graphical setting will take a bit of time but it will work itself out, incidentally my system is a PII 450, 12MB RAM and a Voodoo2 card and I had no major problems.

MDK 2 is pure console. From the wicked humour to the fast paced action it’s all there and more. There's the wel
come addition of the end of level bosses; there's the humour and the lovely polished look. Yes it can be hard at times but hard work will pay off. It’s just a shame that, once again, it didn’t storm the charts.

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