Reflections Ubisoft is a new name for a veteran development house. The company formerly known as Reflections Interactive created some acclaimed driving franchises, from Destruction Derby to Driver and Stuntman.
Recently, Ubisoft acquired the software maker and it has ever since been hard at work on a Wii-exclusive futuristic racer known as Emergency Heroes -- absolutely not to be confused with the Taxi Driver clone Emergency Mayhem. Reflections answers some common questions about its racer and clears up some common misconceptions.
The Escapist writes:
"That's the experience I imagine most adult gamers will have with Emergency Heroes - quickly bored with what the game has to offer, they'll start entertaining themselves within its decidedly bland open world. As a bargain bin title with simple objectives and solid mechanics, though, this wouldn't be a bad choice for a gamer dad or mom to pick up and play with their kid. They'll probably get a big kick out of the "Emergency Zero" line - I know I did."
Bottom line: A hollow open-world racer with solid motion controls but zero content. It's too shallow for adults, but the colorful characters, fun driving and easy objectives might make it decent entertainment for the younger set.
Recommendation: Rent it for your kid brother/sister/cousin/niece/nephew, or leave it to bargain bin perdition.
Gamers Universe writes: "There's a really great game waiting to be made about the emergency services. Think about it- a burning building decked with the latest destructible materials, a team of firefighters trapped in the basement. Or an ambulance crew trying to find the right house in a hostile neighbourhood. Or a bobby staking out an apartment, struggling to bring a human trafficking racket to light. There's perhaps the suggestion of a moral obligation here: if the industry must have such an obsession with grittily authentic violence, the men and women who walk the beat, take the calls and douse the blaze are due a stadium's worth of limelight.
But sadly it's not to be. When the industry does take an interest, it rarely manages to be more than sensationalistic, cue a range of hard-bitten, unshaven hotrods and ludicrous Lethal Weapon stunts."
Pros:
+The driving ain't so bad...
Cons:
-...but it comes in precisely one flavour
-Rudimentary graphics
-The boys in blue/white/red deserve better
GameSpot writes: "Emergency Heroes is Ubisoft's attempt at an open-world game for young gamers. But with an incredibly sterile city, repetitive missions, and an inconsequential plot, the game manages to make playing as a police officer, a firefighter, and a medic no fun whatsoever. The single-player game is a five-hour slog through dull missions, and the introduction of friends in multiplayer does little to alleviate the boredom. In the end, it's a game that's so generic and devoid of fun that it actively sucks the life out of you as you play it."
The Good:
-Simple control system
-Seven multiplayer games
The Bad:
-Boring, repetitive missions
-Bland characterisation and story
-Risible presentation
-Poor voice acting
