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Home >
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Video Games
> Results: Death By Degrees
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by Cary Woodham
July 17, 2005
X-Ray bone breaking action characterizes the first solo game starring Nina Williams of Tekken fame.
Reviewed for PS2.
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The Tekken series of 3D fighting games has a vast and varied group of interesting characters for you to play as with their own backgrounds and motives. Perhaps one of the most fleshed out characters is Nina Williams. Originally an assassin hired to kill the villainous Heihachi, in subsequent games Ms. Williams has done everything from having amnesia to seeking revenge. So it only seems natural that she would eventually get her own game.
The story and action of Death by Degrees plays out like a summer action movie with a kick-butt female lead. Nina Williams has been hired by the CIA to investigate a shadowy organization and a mysterious super-weapon. While going undercover, fighting in an underground tournament on a private enemy cruise ship, Nina's teammates get captured and are left to die. Tough as nails and meaner than a rattlesnake, Nina will stop this evil organization and uncover secrets to her mysterious past in the process.
The game plays mostly like a 3D brawler, except you want to sneak by guards and thugs as much as you can. You pick up weapons like guns and swords to even the odds and other items will help you solve puzzles and reach new areas. Sometimes you even get to play mini-game challenges, like a sniper shootout similar to Namco's light-gun shooter, Time Crisis.
Probably the most unique aspect of the game is the control scheme. You use both the left and right analog sticks, like Katamari Damacy or Ape Escape. Move around with the left stick and attack enemies in all directions with the right stick. Use every single other button on the PS2 to switch from hand-to-hand combat to melee, or to long-distance weapons. Throws and strangle moves are also at your disposal, as well as a special move that lets you see an X-ray of your victim as you attack weak spots to break bones and other organs (eww). Trying to remember which buttons do what is tricky. Plus, in order to do certain moves, you have to flick the analog sticks with your thumb like a slingshot. The instructions in the game don't explain this very well, and it can be hard to do. Needless to say, the overall play control takes a while to get used to, and many people might get frustrated because of it.
Graphics are excellent and so is the music and sound effects, such as Nina's footsteps walking on surfaces like plush carpet or metal rafter stairs. The game is challenging, but luckily if you die a lot, it gives you an option to continue in ‘beginner' mode. More places to save would be nice, though. People who are used to playing these kinds of games may question the enemy A.I. sometimes. Flooded by a crowd of thugs? Just walk into another room, they won't follow you. If you can get past this and the tough play control, grown-ups might find some enjoyment in Death By Degrees.
Definitely not a kid's game. It's not as controversial as Grand Theft Auto, but Death By Degrees is still certainly a mature game. There's cursing and Nina's outfits are rather revealing and then there's the violence. Guns, fists, and plenty of blood flies if you're using a melee weapon like the katana. And don't forget the X-ray mode where you can see what bones and organs you can break. Death By Degrees is definitely a game for grown-ups only.
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