80%PlayStation

Galerians is a very interesting take on the Resident Evil formula that leans a lot more into sci-fi. The gameplay is what you would expect from a game like this, you navigate through different levels, gather keys to unlock doors and solve puzzles along the way.

What makes this game unique is the powers and Anger mechanic. His powers include a force push, a way to set enemies on fire, as well as another. The main character Rion needs a drug called Delmetor to lower his anger level so he can still function and utilize his attacks. Without it, when you try attacking he'll get a massive headache and you'll turn into the strongest thing in the game one hit killing most enemies at the cost of having your health drain pretty quickly and movement being VERY slow. This anger mechanic alone makes the game very engaging for me, as it's almost like an alternative time limit, different from something like Dead Rising or Pikmin.

While I do like this anger mechanic, it does cause an issue that can be very annoying/stressful for people who aren't good at these types of games. Since the anger meter fills up the more you move and use attacks, trying to figure things out becomes a bit more stressful since you have to worry about your anger meter filling up. It also makes navigating a bit tricky as the game wants you to be fully alert at all times as to where you want to go. I personally really loved this as it made the game feel different from other games in its style and gave me a similar eustressful rush similar to Majora's Mask or the original Pikmin.

The game also has limited inventory but the game is pretty generous with the collectibles so running out of a particular drug is ALMOST never a problem. I only say almost because I did actually have to restart the game near the end of Disc 2 due to that disc alone having only 1 pickup for lowing your anger level at a certain point. This did detract from my expierence a little, as they should have made sure this never happens, especially with how that particular part of the game is structured.

With major items you have a very cool scanning ability. With this, you can scan a door or lock and it will show you the area where you can find the item needed to unlock it. I thought this was a very clever and unique way of guiding the player without holding their hand and I absolutely loved it!

The story was surprisingly topical for today's evolving world of A.I. and Rion is an easy character to root and care for as he tries to find his sister. The game's atmosphere is also fairly grungy and always has a unsettling vibe to it. Music fits the game as well and lends to its overall feel.

I really liked this game, the combat is fun, the story is interesting and easy to understand, and using the different powers never failed to be fun. If I hadn't expierenced that problem with Disc 2 and if some of the bosses weren't as annoying to deal with, I would have enjoyed it even more.

70%PlayStation

Alternative
12/02/2005
6h00min
72%

60%PlayStation

---
+ dichte Atmosphaere
+ tolle Musikbegleitung
+ strategische Inventar-Nutzung
+ interessante Story
+ passabler Schwierigkeitsgrad

- etwas zu kurz
- grottige Sprachausgabe
- ueber weite Strecken monoton
- kein Wiederspielwert

Wertung: 62% (befriedigend)

60%PlayStation

Story 6/10
Level Design 6/10
Characters 6/10
Gameplay 5/10
Graphics 6/10
Music/Sound 6/10
Voice Acting 4/10

Difficulty MEDIUM

Overall 60%

80%PlayStation

Gameplay: 4
Story: 5
Graphics: 4
Sound: 5
Replayability: 3

Dark story taking part in a weird steampunk world. Great atmosphere, soundtrack and CGI movies. Graphics are a bit outdated, controls are clunky at times, but unique item mechanics and unrepetitive locations with great bossfights save it all. PS1 must-play.

75%No Platform Specified

In the thick of things, Galerians is a minor let-down in terms of gameplay. It's a lesser Resident Evil, with fewer options and more restrictive gaming rules (Rion even has a limited pouch for his drugs, meaning he may not have enough stock for a battle with a boss, even though the supply is plenty). The control ends up in a more minimal game than could be desired, with a linear adventure, patterned bosses, and frustrating simplicity. This is a very calculated game, and it's not for everyone.

But if you're having withdrawal symptoms from weak stories, cliched characters, and copped-out, mass-market pulp, Galerians is pure snow. Give credit to Crave for an adult game that really is for adults. Bored, hyperactive kids have no place here, and while I would have loved more layered gameplay, this mature quality is much appreciated.

When I play Quake, I laugh whenever a zombie explodes or has his head popped off. Galerians, for once, took everything seriously, like an old horror movie mixed with modern sensibilities. Skewering religion, government, technology, abuse, drug culture, and much more, Galerians made me afraid again. And that is a good thing.