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Looks like we have a winner!!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: August 05, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Well gamers can rejoice now. No longer will gamers need consider "Mace Griffin: Bounty Hunter," the largest upset from a game that was in development for over three years. Now that a title has come and take that crown.

The name of the game is "Malice." Sure, we first saw clips of the title back in 2001 when it was introduced as an entirely new and innovative platformer. Then suddenly, the title was put on tentative hold. Three years to be exact (not in development as some speculate). Argonaunt moved onto other projects, thus placing the "Malice Project" on internal hold.

Then, around early 2004 after Argonaunts finally finished promoting their current projects, they glance over at the dust-filled "Malice Project." They figure "Hey ya' know, this game doesn't look so outdated, let's just rush up some last minute game elements, not update the graphics, and toss it on the shelves. Yeah, we'll for sure make a quick buck."

I'll admit that Malice isn't all that great. I'll take that back, it's horrible. Graphics are horrendous, sound is cheesy, missions are plain to the core (just your standard find & return the key type missions). Now, lets just be conservative for a moment. Let's pretend that Malice was released in late 01'. With titles like Blinx, Rayman, Jak & Daxter etc compared to it, they easily blow Malice out of the water.

Gameplaywise, Malice is unforgivably sluggish. The movements are lackluster (your character cannot move and attack at the same time), numerous glitches, terrible character models, etc. Just seems as though if Malice would have made a for a good 32bit title.

Playing Malice will make some gamers feelas though their time's being wasted. In a game era where we're surrounded by action-platformers such as Voodo Vince, Kya: Dark Lineage, Beyond Good & Evil, and a new Jak title in the works (Jak 3 to be exact), Malice just approaches gamers as an alternative. Perhaps a buy for about ten bucks, nothing more. If you're considering investing in Malice for an innovating gaming experience, you WILL be left woefully disappointed.

Once innovative, Now Embarrassing

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: September 26, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Originally touted as a highly innovative and breathtaking platformer and exclusive title for then upstart Xbox, Malice suffered some serious pitfalls and now arrives on store shelves as painfully mediocre multiplatform er, platformer.

As the main character Malice you are a funky sassy Goddess who had been killed by the almight Dog. It si your mission to uncover clues to your demise and and defeat the bad guys, all in pure valley girl fashion.

The game overall is still graphically an OK looking game. Had it been released as an Xbox launch title I am certian the game could have become a classic and possible franchise title. The delays and setbacks have seen better games released while Malice was in limbo that have rendered the game looking just OK.

Gameoplay on the otherhand is terribly clunky. The controls arent that smooth and you will find yourself having to press buttons approximately 2 seconds before enemies come in range to ensure the game gets the command. Yes, its that bad. Jumpy is also a pain which may be tolerable in other genres but in platformers its downright unacceptable. I believe alot of the moves Malice has were borrowed and vastly improved upon in Voodoo Vince.

Overall Malice is really just for die-hard platformers or thye curious. It is at best a cheap budget title or a borrow from a friend title. Just don't spend too much time or money while there are better platforming titles out there. (Recommended instead: Voodoo Vince (Xbox), Beyond Good & Evil (XB, PS2, GC)

Best for younger gamers

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 28, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Malice was supposed to be released back in 2001, as a platformer in the style of Ratchet and Clank. When it finally came out in 2004, it had become dated, but still fun.

Much like other games of its style, you go around collecting objects. You collect heart-pieces to gain more health, and mana crystals to build up your magic power. You roam through various worlds, smashing minions with your club and hammer, saving the universe from destruction.

It's hard to fairly review this game as a late-2004 release. If you look back at the state of games in 2001, this game is fairly similar. The grass has little details but does not move as you run through it. The backgrounds are fairly simple with static, painted on textures. THe sounds are straight forward - "hup! hup!" as you jump from spot to spot, and relatively straightforward voice acting.

The heroine, a young girl in t-shirt and jeans, is refreshing in a world that usually involves male characters. She has a spunky attitude and is a goddess that has come back from the dead to set things right. So I really wanted this game to succeed, and to be able to give it a great review.

The issue is that they did NOT release this back in 2001 when it should have come out. Instead it appears they simply sat on it for 3 years, and then rushed it out to make some money off of it. They didn't get the graphics, sound or gameplay up to current standards. So when you play this, you compare it against other modern games and it just falls short.

Again, take the graphics. You get a sense that you're in an old Link adventure, and yes the different worlds have their own looks and feels, but they are very clunky. The backround music is nice enough, but we've come to expect something more from our gaming. The gameplay itself is a simple platformer that is quite linear.

On the good side, this game can often be found for only half the price of other similar games, and is very easy to learn. So this is a great game for kids to learn on. It's simple, straightforward, without a lot of blood and adult topics. And again, the fact that it's a teen girl heroine going around and saving the day is a nice thing.

Recommended for kids as an inexpensive game that might keep them occupied for a while.

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