PSP World

CID The Dummy Review

The plight of your average Crash Test Dummy is not a happy one: making sure cars can withstand an average impact by hurtling vehicles (and Crash Test Dummies) at concrete walls. CID isn't happy with this and, after expressing his displeasure at this career path to Professor Werken, he is given the opportunity to become something better. In this case a hero. A hero for what you may ask. Well, with a plot involving the Professors ex-colleague, Dr. D-Troit, a Bionic Suit and Werken's daughter we simply don't have enough time (or space) to explain the finer points but, trust us, all will be explained in the game.

Initially in fact, you may feel like you have purchased a UMD movie, such is the length of the FMV story sections scattered throughout the game to flesh out the plot. Unfortunately they're all fairly dull so you'll miss most of the story anyway, even worse is the incredibly low standard of animation along with some truly awful voice acting. The visuals in the game are a little better but nothing like what we know the PSP is capable of.

The game play fares a little better and during the first level you'll be able to get to grips with your new abilities thanks to the above mentioned Bionic Suit. The suit itself is a rather impressive piece of kit and CID can now pull off a whole host of moves which were previously out of the question. He can jump higher, run faster and smash through walls. There's even the ability to 'stealth walk' which allows our hero to creep past dormant robots or even cling to walls to avoid surveillance cameras. You are also armed with a firearm that changes depending on the ammunition you pick up, so it could be an ice gun (which is great for freezing enemies and then smashing them to pieces) or the more self-explanatory flamethrower. This is all essential stuff because CID's combat skills aren't all they could be and the weapons become even more important when dealing with one of the many end of level bosses.

This is a 3D side scroller taking its inspiration from old-school platformers which is no bad thing since the PSP isn't exactly overflowing with games of this genre. However there's little that's new here and it's certainly not as polished as Dexter or Ratchet and Clank. What it does offer is simple, enjoyable gameplay and while it's not exactly going to win any awards it may be just what some younger gamers have been looking for.