Description
Based on Steven Spielberg's sci-fi thriller, Minority Report
lets players assume the role of the movie's hero, precrime officer John
Anderton, the head of an elite police squad that predicts murder and
apprehends the would-be killers before the crimes can be committed. When
Anderton is accused of a precrime murder, he's forced to elude the law to
prove his innocence, while attempting to uncover an insidious conspiracy.
Relive The Movie Experience
Take a thrill ride into an explosive cinematic action/adventure gaming
experience as all of the non-stop action of Steven Spielberg's upcoming film
comes to life on the GameCube. Minority Report features an immersive sci-fi
thriller storyline that unfolds as players progress through the game, and
environments realistically created from the movie sets including Pre-Crime
HQ, Mall City and more.
Cinematic Action/Adventure
Journey through 15 levels of Minority Report's future world, battling human
and robotic enemies with hand-to-hand combat moves and an explosive arsenal
of weapons including riot shotguns and electro-pulse grenades. An Intuitive
Combat System allows for a full range of cinematic combat abilities - vault
over barricades and throw enemies through plate glass windows! An Intuitive
Clue System enables you to recognize and access special scripted events.
Futuristic Gadgets Straight Out of the Movie
Unique devices assist you in your mission: PDAs - replete with cellular
technology, enable you to log mission objectives, receive crucial game info
and hints. Jetpacks - allow you to defy gravity and fly through
environments. Sick Sticks - Stun batons used to incapacitate enemies. Other
gadgets realistically created from movie reference photos and models include
Mag-lev Cars, Pre-Crime Hoverships, MR Lexus and Spyderbots - remote
controlled robots used to seek out and "Eyedentiscan" criminals.
Review
You are unlikely to find much to enjoy in this game, even if
you liked the movie. The elements that made the movie worthwhile--a
compelling narrative wrapped in a bow of futuristic high-tech--are glossed
over or absent from the game. What’s more, the gameplay is as redundant and
simplistic as the graphics are uneven. Worse yet, the game does not allow
you to save midlevel (some levels are long), and the instruction manual
contains no information on how to play the game, forcing you to play through
the training course.
You play the game as John Anderton, an officer in the elite Precrime unit
responsible for apprehending would-be murderers before they can commit the
deed. Given these parameters, it’s not surprising that not a lot of
characters die in this game. But there's still plenty of violence. Anderton
himself is quite adept at pummeling other officers, guards, robots, or
anyone else who gets in his way. With a decent selection of kicks, punches,
and combinations (you can purchase additional combos when you collect enough
dollar signs), Anderton can beat his way through at least the beginning
levels. But even with the ability to purchase additional moves, this
slugfest soon becomes tiresome.
Minority Report does successfully represent parts of the movie, such as the
concussion gun, the jet pack, and the spider bots. The first time you fire
the concussion gun, for example, you’ll be impressed with the way the space
around Anderton ripples with the force of the weapon. (Unfortunately this
rippling effect will also severely limit your ability to see what’s going on
in front of you.) Otherwise, the game levels are unimpressive. Character
animation is poor--some characters have slotlike mouths and limbs that look
like noodles. Minority Report is not great at re-creating the movie, and is
even less successful when it breaks with it. --Bill Hummel
Pro:
