STAFF REVIEW of Crimson Sea (Xbox)


Monday, March 17, 2003.
by VAN

Crimson Sea Box art Crimson Sea, by Koei Games Corporation, offers fans of epic space battles a large helping of intergalactic carnage with a side order of crappy controls and crude camera work. If you want to show off the graphical powers of the Xbox system, invite your friends over and slide this disc in?just don?t let them attempt to play the game.


Tragic. Absolutely tragic. After being treated to a spectacular opening cinematic which preps you for battle and sets the tone of the game, you quickly realize that this game is a looker and not a player. Think of a Ferrari with square tires and a three inch steering wheel. Gorgeous to behold, but an absolute nightmare to control.

While walking in a straight line is a relatively simple task, it is unfortunate that 99% of the games battles require you to move laterally or?heaven forbid?turn around.

Couple the dodgy player controls with some of the most horrendous camera work ever to be given a gold seal for inclusion into a game, and you have a recipe for an extremely frustrating game with an extraordinarily steep learning curve. Besides, how lame is it that the most frequently used defensive maneuver is called ?shuffling?-- a term typically reserved to describe your fat co-worker scurrying to retrieve the last remaining donut.



If there is to be a saving grace for Crimson Sea, it would have to be the graphics. Spanning the gamut from the truly awe inspiring, to the downright hokey, Crimson Sea?s visuals are anything but consistent, but at least they are nice to look at. Character models are reminiscent of those found in a game like Final Fantasy, and they work well here. Environments are well-crafted and tremendously expansive, though features such as foliage and water would seem more at home on a console like the PS1 or N64.

Stage bosses are easily the most visually stunning aspect of the game, as their sheer size and complexity of design makes you sit back and say ?Wow.? Just don?t sit there with mouth agape for too long, or you will quickly find yourself being handed a severe beating.



The ladies and gentlemen of Koei?s audio department deserve kudos for providing gamers with an outstanding orchestral soundtrack. Effects are top notch, and while the voice acting can become a little over-the-top at times, in no way does it detract (or add) to the overall enjoyment of the game.


Suggestions:
If a sequel is planned, please work on the dodgy controls and incredibly unforgiving camera work. You have created a visual masterpiece with Crimson Sea?unfortunately the control and camera issues render it nearly unplayable, and definitely unmemorable.


Overall: 6.0 / 10
Gameplay: 4.0 / 10
Visuals: 9.0 / 10
Sound: 8.0 / 10

Comments

Site Statistics

Registered Members: 79,612
Forum Posts: 725,965
Xbox One Titles: 6,132
Xbox 360 Titles: 1,086
Xbox 360 Kinect Titles: 95
Xbox 360 Arcade Titles: 586
Original Xbox Titles: 987
Staff Reviews: 2,555
Member Reviews: 10,339
News Articles: 16,539
Screenshots: 38,876
Xbox 360 Achievements: 45,112
Xbox 360 Faceplates: 2,016
Cheat Codes: 1,706

Latest News








See News Archives

Community Forum Activity

KeyWe Giveaway!
Post by Variation-XBA
0 Replies, 23940 Views

2021: XBA is still here
Post by shrew king
38 Replies, 198031 Views

Watch Dogs: Legion
Post by Nato King
0 Replies, 122727 Views

Xbox Series X or S
Post by Nato King
5 Replies, 139642 Views

Spellbreak Grand Magus Pack (3) and Starter Pack (7) Giveaway!
Post by Variation-XBA
0 Replies, 129955 Views

I pay $ 1000! I search the Element 54 Canadian launch Team signaturen Faceplate
Post by Smill
0 Replies, 151284 Views

Xbox one no signal
Post by debrartin
0 Replies, 141591 Views

do you remember?
Post by SnoochyBoochy
3 Replies, 209870 Views

i haz xbox
Post by SnoochyBoochy
0 Replies, 164286 Views

Claiming the first thread of 2020
Post by Kraft
7 Replies, 259639 Views

Important! I pay $ 1000! I search the Sweden launch and the Element 54 Faceplate
Post by Smill
3 Replies, 147549 Views

Squad Up
Post by samslophead
0 Replies, 250295 Views

TERA Skinned Xbox One X Giveaway!
Post by Variation-XBA
0 Replies, 177385 Views

Starfield Release expectations?
Post by DJ tx
4 Replies, 306482 Views

Issue with Xbox live on Xbox home
Post by rcmpayne
0 Replies, 165719 Views

© 2000-2024 XboxAddict.com - All rights reserved. All trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
Xbox is a registered trademark of Microsoft. XboxAddict.com is not affiliated with Microsoft.

Made in Canada
Site Design by Cameron Graphics