Nano Breaker

In the distant future nanotechnology goes awry and nanomachines start to harvest the blood of humans in an effort to construct an army of monster machines. To defend the world from this certain apocalypse players control a military cyborg who wields a powerful shape-shifting Plasma Blade. Using a variety of fighting techniques hack and slash through hordes of enemy units to save humanity!Features:Intense hack and slash 3D action with hordes of enemy unitsTransformable Plasma Blade offers a myriad of attacksCombo based fighting system with simple and expert techniquesMultiple gameplay modes including Story and Time AttackFormat: PS2 Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: M - Mature UPC: 083717200994 Manufacturer No: 20099

I rolled my eyes so much throughout the course of this miserable release that I should probably be fitted for contact lenses. Video games should never deliver the feeling that someone has run over your puppy with a truck. Thanks to Nano Breaker, I now know what that feels like. Castlevania: Lament of Innocence creator Koji Igarashi can be applauded for the conceptual idea of allowing players to customize their combos and build longer, more complex strings as the game progresses. At the same time, however, you have to wonder how a game that is riddled with so many flaws actually made it off of the development floor.

Even the thickest fogging that video games can provide can't hide the fact that the level designs are atrocious, the texturing resembles the smear on a baby's dirty diaper, and the Liquid (blood) effects that gush like geysers from enemies are just too ridiculous to be taken seriously. As painful as it is to look at, playing this game is like running naked through a thorn-infested briar. Not only will you find yourself combating the same foes for hours on end, the boss battles demand exhaustively repetitive techniques, the platforming exercises are incredibly sloppy, checkpoints are too infrequent, and you'll even have to endure some of the most asinine box puzzles to date.

Descending to the bottom of the video game barrel, then busting through it and plummeting at great speeds toward Hell, Nano Breaker also falters in epic ways in the storytelling department. So let me get this straight, the government is working on top secret nanotechnology on Nanotechnology Island. This is really the setting of the game? You gotta be kidding me!

The combo system is definitely cool, and the controls are fashioned nicely, but the remainder of the game is just downright appalling.

Concept:
Customize your own combos in this mindless and poorly designed hack n' slash

Graphics:
Vast amounts of fog blanket the ugly texturing and bland level designs…but not enough. This game needs more fog!

Sound:
Decent, but quickly drowned out by your angst-filled agony

Playability:
Stringing together combos is enjoyable, but every other action leads to frustration

Entertainment:
Even the Stink Monster would think this game reeks. Misery on a disc

Replay:
Low

Rated: 5 out of 10
Editor: Andrew Reiner
Issue: March 2005

2nd Opinion:
Nano Breaker does two things right: the main character has a pretty neat selection of hack n' slash moves, and some of the FMV cutscenes look very good. Everything else sucks as hard as Star Jones inhaling a plate of hot dogs. Horrid level designs, boss battles that are as tedious as they are frustrating, and an inexcusable degree of fogging combine to form yet another generic, boring action title. Don't even get me started about the terrible platforming.

Rated: 5 out of 10
Editor: Matt Helgeson


Subscribe to Game Informer