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Xena: Warrior Princess
Score: 82%
ESRB: Teen
Publisher: EA Games
Developer: Universal Interactive
Media: CD/1
Players: 1
Genre: Action/ Adventure

Graphics & Sound:
Pretty fly for a white girl. I thought the graphics were the best that they could be on a 32-bit system. The only complaint that I could have is that vision is limited. The background is just a blur; no detail. The foreground and Xena herself looks great, but everything in the background just blurs together. The sound is excellent. The clank of metal on metal and the girlish grunt work wonders for me. All in all, I felt EA once again brought out it's full graphical potential with Xena. The detail in the characters and the immediate environment is excellent. And for once, Xena looks like Xena. What a concept - make the title character look like she really looks. Thumbs up on the graphics.

Gameplay:
Tomb Raider with a sword, only this time, there's plenty of action. No running around shooting bears and solving puzzles. It's running around, slashing up bad guys, and solving a mystery.

There is a training mode included to help you get used to the layout; however, in the beginning of the game, there are notes that help you learn the controls and such. Each kick and swing can be positioned high, mid, or low. I also found a way to change the intensity of the attacks. And throwing that disc is just cool. There are items to pick up that will increase you health, as well as your endurance and strength. It seems that almost everything in the game is interactive. You can chop at just about anything you want.

No one can complain about camera angles in this one. Using the right analog or the L and R buttons, you can rotate the camera. Mystery, Combat, and a chick with a sword, what more could one want? Yes, I admit, the story is weak, but it's still a good game. I also found that it gets old after a while, some parts being very repetitious. These few negatives aside, it's a good game. This one has no replay value, but it's fun the first time around.


Difficulty:
I felt that the game was a bit too easy. Not a walkthrough, but not a particular challenge either. The controls are easy to learn, the interface is simple, and the enemies, on an average, are weak. It's not a beat it in one night game; it might take two or three. Unfortunately, there is no difficulty setting, so you get what you get.

Game Mechanics:
The game handles great. The left analog controls the action, and the right, the camera. The buttons are block, jump, kick, and strike. L and R rotate the camera and throw the disc. The vibration lets you know when you hit something, or when something hits you. I felt that the response to the key presses were quick and accurate. No chop, no lag, just good design. The loading time could have been improved, but it's not too bad. Solid mechanics and good graphics help out the lack of difficulty and story for EA's Xena.

-Storm, GameVortex Communications
AKA Jeremy Kelso

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