 In
Trap Gunner, a giant corporation known as "GAIN" is threatened by the
rebellion of its own agents. In an effort to eliminate any threat these agents may
pose, the leaders of GAIN conjure up a plan to manipulate the agents individually to get
them to turn on each other. The results are the one-on-one battles that make up the
main part of the game. It's the player's job to choose the character they want to
play and then start taking out the other agents one at a time while bits and pieces of the
story are brought to light.
The battles between agents are what make up the game. These consist of one-on-one
battles in enclosed multi-level arenas where players can use hand to hand combat, guns, or
a variety of bombs and traps. Designated spots inside the arenas will dispense bombs
and traps at regular intervals in order to keep the supply of weapons steady and
the pace of the battle fast. The traps include remote control bombs, timed gas
canisters, land mines, pitfalls, force panels which toss your opponent in the direction
you choose, and explosion enhancers that broaden the range of an explosion. It
doesn't end there, though. Power-ups such as speed, invincibility, homing cannons
called "units", and health rations are also dispensed regularly. All these
items keep battle varied and interesting.
Planting bombs and luring your opponent into them is the key to an easy victory.
That is easier said than done, however. Strategy is important in this game.
The whole time you are laying bombs in places you think your opponent will go, they
are going to be doing the same thing to you. So while you're busy planting bombs and
traps for your enemy, you have to be sure to check the area for bombs your enemy may have
laid. You'll also have to make sure the enemy isn't sneaking up behind you for a
sucker punch or an ambush.
Looking like a top-down shooter, Trap Gunner has a bit of an old school look to
it. However, the menus, character art, and anime shots are all very modern and look
great. The in-game graphics are crisp and clear. You can always see where you are
going and the walls of the arenas become transparent when you are next to them so you can
always see your character. That said, characters look a bit on the blocky side
during gameplay, but there really isn't room for improvement other than that. In a
game like Trap Gunner, there is only so much you can do with graphics. The
most important thing is that the game is functional. The developers knew this and
they did what they could for the graphics while keeping in mind that convenience and
gameplay are more important.
Learning how to play the game can, at first, seem a bit overwhelming, but that is only
because there isn't anything else like Trap Gunner readily available right now.
Once a player learns the general concept of the game, planting and defusing bombs
should be second nature. Each button on the controller has one function. There
is no "all-in-one" button here. The triangle button serves as a search
button to look for traps your opponent has laid, the square button is used to lay traps of
your own, the circle button is for using your gun or projectile weapon, the x button is
for detonating remote control bombs, and the shoulder buttons toggle between the traps you
want to lay. Overall, the control layout is well done and playing the game is easy.
You can't really ask for much more than that.
 Trap Gunner is also packed
with sounds. The characters let out appropriate screams when falling victim to
traps, the explosions boom and crackle, and the soundtrack is brilliant. Each stage
has a song that is perfectly suited for it. Its mostly techno/metal, and it works
really well. The soundtrack just rocks.
Overall, Trap Gunner is a solid purchase. The one-player game is like a
good two-player game and the two-player game is one of the best two-player games ever
made. You could waste days on end with a buddy just outsmarting each other and
blowing each other to high heaven. If you are looking for a game with lots of
replay, Trap Gunner is for you.Atlus has been credited with some original and memorable games in
the past and Trap Gunner is no exception. A hybrid of fighting, strategy,
and action, Trap Gunner is one of the most refreshingly original games to come
out in a long time. |
