Game: "Loaded"
System: PlayStation
Genre: Action
Published by: Other

Reviewer: -RoG-
Posted: 3/25/2009

Review: Loaded is one of my all-time favorite games on the original Sony Playstation system (it was also released on the Sega Saturn, though I haven't tried that version). Imagine an overhead view classic like "Smash TV", only instead of a deadly game show, you play as bloodthirsty psychos trying to escape from prison. It's often been described as "Gauntlet" in a space penitentiary. To put it simply... if you want fun, violence and gore, Loaded should satisfy you like few old games can.

The 15 levels of the game are dark, dreary and filled with a variety of enemies and traps all looking to destroy you. Among my favorite enemies are the nutjobs in straitjackets who, despite being unable to use their arms, will chase after you, bite and kick you. Yep, the guards are your enemies as well as all the inmates in this giant asylum.

Another nice thing about the game is that you can choose from six different insane characters to play as, each of whom has their own special set of weapons to splatter the enemies all over the walls with. The characters are Fwank (the clown seen on the cover of the game), Mamma (a big man-child in diapers), Bounca (the classy guy in the tuxedo), Vox (a DJ who kills with music - don't they all?), Butch (the guy in the dress who packs a mean flamethrower) and Cap'n Hands (a crazy robo-pirate with pistols in each hand).

As you go through each level the job is simple: kill everything in sight and collect keycards which will give you access to other areas. There are usually a few walls on each level that can be blown up to reveal secret areas full of power-ups and other goodies. Upon completion of a level, you are graded on your performance in a variety of categories: greed, accuracy, body count, career prospects and score. None of these grades really matter much in the game, it's more for your own amusement, particularly when playing a co-op game with a friend (which I highly suggest).

Word to the wise: avoid the "Re-Loaded" sequel like the plague because it's nowhere nearly as good as the original.

Also extremely noteworthy is the excellent soundtrack that accompanies you during your gameplay. In addition to Neil Biggin's excellent tunes, Pop Will Eat Itself also provided some music as well. If you get a copy of the game, you can even put it in your CD player to listen to the entire soundtrack if you skip past track 1.

Loaded is an absolute must-have game for anybody who owns a Playstation. Fans of top-down shooters, this is definitely the game for you. Great lighting & atmosphere, a fantastic soundtrack, great characters and plenty o' gore. Pretty impressive considering this is one of the earliest titles released on the system. In Japan, Loaded went by another title: Blood Factory. If that doesn't sell you on it, nothing will.

Overall rating:
(Scored on a 0.5 - 5 pickles rating: 0.5 being the worst and 5 being the best)