Slick sci-fi action
Sci-fi shooter fans in need of a fix should enjoy this slick retro effort which mixes some intense blasting action with a neat line in humour and an unusual plot to create a unique and inventive experience. The story here revolves the usual alien invasion, with the hostile xenos intent on stripping the Earth of all its mineral wealth, which will of course leave it a lifeless husk. However, as ever, there is one lone hero who can save the day and who just happens to have been given a hi-tech set of powered armour by a mad scientist. The game thus charges players with entering the alien minecrawlers, the enormous mobile factories that are ravaging the planet, and then destroying them from within. The game takes a third-person perspective, similar to the likes of Tomb Raider, with the player exploring a nicely diverse set of environments, seeking out the alien invaders and destroying them with weapons that include a sniper rifle and chain-gun, while also engaging in some platforming shenanigans. In many ways, MDK is very much a standard third person-shooter, but it also features plenty of elements to help it stand out. Unusually for such a game, it possesses a bizarre sense of humour which certainly lends it some personality, while the graphics are also highly distinctive, with some well-designed levels and enemies that remain impressive today. The gameplay itself is certainly fast and furious, with heaps of action and adventure on display, although there are minor issues with the controls and the game's length which detract slightly from its appeal. However, these are minor niggles and while the ride lasts, it is highly enjoyable and should be on the list of games to play for any retro shooter fan, as should the follow-up MDK 2.
