Who said all film-to-game adaptations are bad? Well, Rockstar's Toronto division had more than 20 years to make the game, as opposed to some other game developers, but the bottom line is: The Warriors is what the games based on films ought to be like!

Sadly enough, I didn't see the movie, also entitled The Warriors, but it's a movie I must watch soon. From what I've been told, the movie is as brutal as the game itself (which should be pretty awesome then).

Rockstar once again achieved to make a very brutal game. With games such as the Grand Theft Auto series, or Manhunt, people should not expect less than an M-rated game because that is what the player will get. A few examples of how the game is violent: bashing bricks/glasses/balls one someone's face, taking bats, hammers, meat cleavers, knives and other objects to waste your enemy.

Almost everything in this game causes some controversy-whether it be robbing and wrecking stores, brutally wasting enemy gang members/cops/bums/random people, mugging, doing a few rumbles, doing drugs to gain back your health or causing havoc all over New York. The game is controversial, insane and very fun (obviously, I condemn all of these things in real life, but it's always fun in a videogame).

What I found interesting that about four fifths of the game takes place before the movie! For example, the game starts out as a new guy, Rembrant, gets recruited, months before the film. You got to take care of some drunk bums then a few Warriors before you get in. The Warriors are a smaller gang and are not noticed by Cyrus, a man trying to organize a ‘grand gang' that leads New York. In the missions leading up to the movie, you try to get into Cyrus' group of ‘big' gangs, which you obviously succeed in doing. I will not write down what exactly happens, as it is for you to find out.

The game works like this: after most missions, you return to the Warriors' place where you can do the bonus stuff, listen to the fellow gang members chat or go on to the next mission. You usually go with a few comrades and do your mission (not surprisingly often involving beating up someone). The gameplay is varied, ranging from running away from enemy gangs to beating up other gangs to robbing and to marking graffiti. You'll finish the story mode in about 10 hours or less, but the extras will keep you hooked for much, much longer. This is what I love about the game: unlike most movie-based games, which you usually finish at approximately the same rate, The Warriors calls you back for a second helping, with quite a lot of yummy desserts (and starters), and … you can share with your buddies! You guessed it! The game supports two-player co-op, as well as two-player rumble mode.

With some characters, such as Rembrant, you can do tags and graffiti, which are often bonus objectives, but sometimes main objectives. I personally liked this and was glad that it didn't get neither too little nor too much emphasis. Also, as you play the game, you get to unlock flashback missions, which are mainly about how some certain main gang members joined the gang or how the gang was created. These missions are quite fun too.

As you play the story, you unlock a lot of extra missions, bonus objectives and other cool stuff. Aside from the flashback missions, which I described above, you get to replay levels, punch the punching bag to gain combos, roam the streets of Coney for more missions and mayhem or play a very fun little bonus that many fans of fighter games will love (sorry, no spoilers!). Also, you should try causing a fight in the hangout and see what happens.

Sound is one of the best aspects of this game. The voice acting is some of the best I've heard and of typical Rockstar quality. The music is fantastic-the tunes are especially awesome when you are running away from another gang or a car (which are really exciting parts of the game).

The graphics are typical of Rockstar too. With this, I mean that they aren't the visual orgasm some games today provide, such as Resident Evil 4. But as Rockstar was never known for topnotch graphics, the game is nevertheless addictive and fun to play

Once again, Rockstar proved to be worthy of being in my top five list of favorite game companies. The Warriors is one of the best games of this holiday season and definitely one of the best movie adaptations ever. People, do yourselves a favor and go buy this game!

Jan 9, 2006 | 2 comments
Mate Bors