Sin and Punishment Review

Price: 1,200 Wii Points
Release: N/A
System: Nintendo 64-i
Developer: Treasure
Publisher: Nintendo

As many of you already know, whenever a Nintendo 64 game is released, I become ecstatic. To me, Nintendo 64 games bring something to the table that no other console supported on the Virtual Console can do; 3D. No matter the title or price, I'll buy anything with 'Nintendo 64' slapped on it. I guess one can call me obsessed with Nintendo 64.

When Sin and Punishment was released though, I was overwhelmed with excitement. For one, a Nintendo 64 game was being released, a very rare commodity on Virtual Console, and two, the debut of imports. Personally, I think a lot of people were a little depressed when they saw the price of the game - 1,200 Wii Points for just one game. Underneath that disgusting price tag though is one of the best games on Nintendo 64 and Virtual Console.

For 1,200 points, gamers are getting a three hour adventure taking place in a futuristic Tokyo setting. Over the course of the game, players take control of Saki and Airan, two young Japanese teens. Mankind's population has increased dramatically, resulting in food shortages across the globe. Japanese scientists create a new organism for food, known as a Ruffian, and place a large herd of them in northern Japan. The species eventually evolves into a threat for mankind, launching an attack on the people of Japan. A peacekeeping organization referred to as Armed Volunteers try to stop the attack but fail.

Of course, that's only the beginning of this epic adventure. Over the course of the game, many dramatic events unfold. Seeing as I don't want to spoil the adventure, I thought I'd only mention some basic information about the game. Since the game is an import, all the text found within the game is in Japanese, with the exception of the menus. In order to truly understand what's happening, players will need to listen carefully as all of the story is voice acted in English.

Essentially, Sin and Punishment is a rail shooter in which the player's role is to aim and fire at enemies, sidestep, roll, and jump. The are two types of targeting - a purple targeting reticle allows lock-ons where the red reticle doesn't. Though the purple one is more accurate, it deals less damage. Besides shooting, Saki or Airan can use a powerful energy sword to slash enemies within range and to fire projectiles back at foes. To do this, the fire button must be pressed just as the enemy or projectile comes within close contact.

By no means should you assume that Sin and Punishment is a walk in the park. For starters, let me mention that the game is made by the legendary Treasure, the people that brought you games such as Dynamite Headdy and Gunstar Heroes. Secondly, as you're rampaging through clusters of enemies, a timer is ticking at the top of the screen. By completing various objectives, the timer will rise a little, but keep in mind though that it can't pass 99.

Just when you think the game can't get much better, it does. By using the game's multiplayer mode, two players can control Saki or Airan and save the world together. To do this, one player controls the character's movement while the other controls the reticle. Though the single player experience is a lot better for people wanting to actually complete the game, the mutliplayer mode will truly make you laugh.

Graphically, Sin and Punishment is one of the finest looking games on the Nintendo 64 and the frame-rate is very consistent throughout the game. From a sound perspective, Sin and Punishment boasts some amazing pieces. It's just so hard to explain how they sound because it's one of those things that you need to hear in order to believe.

At the end of the day though, Sin and Punishment will always be one of the best games released this decade, or at lease from my perspective. If the length has you worried, don't let it. The game boasts unlimited replay value because of the game's scoring system, so once you've completed the game once, you can go back and complete it on a higher level. On top of this there's also an extra difficulty mode. No matter who you are or what genres you like, this game should be owned. Did I forget to mention that I hate this genre yet adore this game?