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Review of Defcon 5 on PlayStation

by Tanya Krane Tanya Krane photo Jan 1996
Cover image of Defcon 5 on PlayStation
Gamefings Score: 7
Platform: PlayStation PlayStation logo
Released: 01 Jan 1996
Genre: Action-Adventure
Developer: Millennium Interactive
Publisher: Psygnosis

Introduction

Imagine you just docked on a deep-space mining facility after a three-day bumpy starship ride with all the perks of space travel like zero gravity slime and pungent astronaut food. As the new "Cyberneer" of Tyron Corporation, you're stoked to install some defense software. Sounds like a regular 9 to 5 job? Wrong! Welcome to Defcon 5, where mundane maintenance escalates to a galaxy-threatening fiasco faster than you can say, 'Please, not another alien invasion!'

Gameplay

In Defcon 5, players cast themselves as the courageous, albeit slightly confused, protagonist, parachuting into chaos at MRP-6F, a rather unfortunate space station under siege. Forget about defeating the evil corporation-here, you have to save your skin from various enemy forces while pretending to be an IT guy with a penchant for shooting things. The complex design integrates elements reminiscent of classics like System Shock with a generous dash of first-person shooter vibes, so don't be surprised if you spend an hour fiddling with terminals instead of blasting away foes. The art of survival involves assembling the ultimate defense while operating hassle-prone terminals, positioning turrets, and managing unavoidable pollution that will creep up like your mother asking when you'll finally settle down. It's a juggling act, and unfortunately, you can't put your responsibilities on hold even when aliens start squatting in your munitions storage. You whip out your guns and prepare to shoot! But wait, that's discouraged. Shooting not only attracts more enemies than a space disco but also comes with severe air quality consequences. Nothing says stealthy assassin like accidentally polluting the air supply by vanquishing an intruder! Instead, you lock them in rooms like an intergalactic game of hide-and-seek. This Macauley Culkin-level strategy aims to outwit enemy invaders while navigating series of transport hubs that work better if they were actually designed for humans instead of their interstellar counterparts.

Graphics

Let's talk visuals. If you're expecting global warming levels of cutting-edge graphics, you might want to recalibrate your expectations. Defcon 5 boasts a mix of pleasant and somewhat outdated graphics characteristic of '90s games. Picture a time when polygons were the talk of the town. The overall design feels like a retro sci-fi movie set-think cheesy laser guns and poorly-rendered aliens who'd fit right into the cast of a low-budget B-movie. Yet, there's a certain charm in this nostalgia, especially when you ride the LIMO through appallingly pixelated tunnels reminiscent of your great-grandma's wallpaper. It's like diving into a VHS tape but without the annoying tracking problems!

Conclusion

In summary, Defcon 5 isn't going to be on next year's Game Awards shortlist, but it offers a quirky mix of challenge, strategy, and retro sci-fi goodness that can be entertaining, especially if you enjoy puzzles mingled with your action and aren't discouraged by the thought of inadequate air quality. Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Just come prepared: snacks, patience, and a bottle of air freshener might be handy as repelling intruders by trailing behind their noxious fumes adds a new layer of difficulty. Overall, if you seek to rise above your mortal limitations and go on a space quest filled with unconventional challenges, then grab your PlayStation controller, strap in, and prepare for the unintentionally humorous ride that is Defcon 5. Just remember, out there in the cosmos, no one can hear you say, "Can I get a little help here?"

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