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The Lowdown
Pros: Great graphics and a unique juggling system.
Cons: Relies too heavily on players bouncing enemies around and the
obvious lack of multiplayer in a team game.
 Purchase
at Play-Asia
 Purchase
at Lik-Sang
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Konami creators of classic action games like Contra and Castlevania
haven't had the same success in the 3D world. Look at the recently
released Nanobreaker and further back there's Castlevania: Lament of
Innocence that failed to improve over Symphony of the Night. On the
other hand Konami's Oz garnered lots of attention when it was featured
at last years Tokyo Game Show. Oz, which stands for Over Zenith and has
nothing to do with a yellow brick road, is a three player hack/slash
game. Think of it as Dynasty Warriors in a dystrophic sci-fi future and
you'll have an idea about Oz.Oz puts you in the role of Feel and
former Oz members Almira and Leon. Becoming part of Oz is one of the
ultimate challenges for Katena who have the ability to manipulate a
mystical energy called Eteria. Only the top three Katena are given the
title of Oz and the ability to morph into Rex, an armored form designed
for combat. As being part of Oz Almira and Leon were given a mission
from god to find the child of god. After failing this mission they are
stripped of their Oz title and replaced by new members. Even though the
aren't technically part of Oz the gods still communicate with the two
ex-members, instructing them to scout out the child of god. In a small
village, Almira discovers Feel, a human boy that can control Eteria.
Early on in the game you'll have access to Feel, Almira and Leon.
Individually Leon and Almira will slay foes, sort of like bodyguards in
the Shin Sangokou Musou series. Feel can do the same, he's got a couple
basic combos. Although, if you just button mash combos you won't make it
very far. Oz relies heavily on team combos. When you finish a combo with
Feel you can launch an enemy towards a partner who will do a combo and
throw the enemy back to you. Bouncing an enemy back and forth keeps it
out of commission, but more importantly it charges up your deathblow
gauge. When full, the deathblow meter allows you to perform an area
attack that can execute a bunch of lesser minions in one strike. The
system is novel and for the first few levels it's entertaining to bat
foes back and forth. Although later on it gets increasingly tedious, as
enemies have more life, which means more tossing around. The game also
gets rather reptitive since invisible walls force you to fight. There is
little variation in combat, whatever you're doing in chapter five will
be the same thing you'll do in chapter fifteen.
Besides the aerial combo system Oz introduces another new gameplay
element in how your character is revived. Instead of losing a life when
Feel's life bar is out, players need to mash buttons to refill Feel's
life meter. You won't get full health back for doing this, but you'll be
able to fight again. If you die a second time you need to mash more and
you recover less. The only way you get into a game over situation is
when all three of your characters are in recovery mode at the same time.
With all the attempts to innovate and a gameplay based on partner
interaction there is the obvious absence of multiplayer support. While
the AI controlled Almira and Leon are great, the game would be more
entertaining if you were playing with a pal. Nothing says fun like a
night battling robotic mutants in mid air. Multiplayer support would put
Oz over other team action games due to its intriguing story.
Oz has a killer look to it. Great character design is seen in the
hand drawn graphics during text scenes. Everything in the game's look
feels original. Instead of reusing mecha concepts the Rex idea pans out
with a unique atmosphere that attracts curiosity similar to Ico.
After beating Oz, which is about fifteen hours, players will be able
to check out an extended story on the second go around. Probably beating
it once is enough for most gamers. Unless you're the hardcore action
type that can't get enough air combos Oz won't win you over again. It's
best asset is the story and presentation, not it's gameplay.
Besides the characters names and the opening menu there isn't any
English in the game. The overall game can be played through if you take
some time to get used to the controls. Although it probably won't be
that enjoyable since you'll miss out on the story.
US Bound?
Konami has not announced any plans to release Oz in the US.
Overall
On paper this game sounds fairly decent, but it's a fundamentally
flawed brawler. It's main redeeming quality is it's presentation, which
is so excellent that it will compel gamers to at least pick the title
up.
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