Fantavision User Reviews

Son of Zhang Fei
from , , United States

Oct 14, 2002

get ready...it's long

Fantavision

Ooo...pretty fireworks..oh, hey uhh *clears throat* Fantavision review, right. Anyways, Fantavision is a gme from a while ago that now only costs $25. Because it's a greatest hit? No, because nobody wanted to buy it so the people at EB and other electronics stores thought a lower price would make people want to buy it, but really that just makes them think that the game is bad. But I feel the need to review awesome games and sucky games alike. That and some of us spent $50 on the wrong game *whoops*. Well, from what I've said you probably think this game from Sony really sucks. Actually, it's decent. But you'll have to read through this review to get my final take on this.

Graphics- The game has some pretty decent graphics, but you're going to be too absorbed in the game to really notice them. The skylines look pretty nice, but they didn't go into too much detail 'cause it'd be a waste of time, because, well, you won't really be paying attention to them. Warning: Do not play this game if you can get seizures from flashing lights. This game is all about fireworks, and I don't want any of you to die. The fireworks look really nice, and other people would probably like to watch them while you're playing (and there isn't any pollution!), but you probably will be too absorbed in the game to really be able to stand back and notice. What would have been nice is being able to watch a stage again, 'cause they're some pretty nice camera views spinning along that would have made the makers of The Matrix proud (well, maybe not, but anyways...). Heck, there might be and I just haven't found it, but if you somehow find the funding for a Fantavision 2 *yeah right* put that little thing in there. And I'm getting off track, so sound...

Sound- Just like the graphics, you can't really notice the sound. I mean, you'll hear the "master chain!" and "very good!" and be like "yeah, I rock!" when it happens, and you'll hear the flares exploding and getting launched, but I seriously cannot remember the music in this game. Anyways, I think it's kinda futuristic, but you won't really notice it, you'll be too wrapped up in the game.

Gameplay- Okay, the point of this game is to set off fire works. You use your analog control stick to select a flare, and then you have to hook it up with other flares with X then hit O to detonate them. There has to be at least 3 flares, and they have to be the same color. You can link flares of different colors together with a "wild flare" that can also just be any color. If you get 3 green, then a wild, then 3 red, and detonate them you'll be more points, and you can continue on. Sounds easy, but it isn't. The flares will only be in the sky for so long, and then they'll leave and your energy bar will go down a bit. When you link different colors sometimes you'll get stars or something that you can add in to your link as a wild one. Es will replenish your energy bar, stars will give you a star, and Bs will give you bonus points. Once you collect 8 stars, a star mine will appear and if you detonate it you will get a [insert Matrix turn] Starmine. Here, a whole bunch of stars that are usually the same color (sometime two different colors will appear) and you can link them and get a #$%&load of points. That is...if you're fast enough. So, basically a little bonus stage. The game probably sounds really easy, but they through you some real curves as the stages progress, and you'll find yourself mashing the X and O buttons like a maniac. There are 7 stages, I think, all of which have decent length. There are two difficulties, and there are some things you can unlock if you get high scores and stuff. Not really too much to talk about. Not the best replay value in the world, but better than a few games (very few games).

Control- I kinda stated the basic controls above. Anyways, left analog control stick rotates the little seeker thing to highlight a flare, X will select a flare, and O will detonate the flare. Start pauses it, and if any of the buttons do anything I don't think they're really that useful (check the instruction booklet your own friggin self). Not that hard to learn, pretty good and stuff.

***Recap***

Graphics- Decent, but you won't really be paying attention. 8.5/10
Sound- " " (yes, I'm that lazy) 8.5/10
Gameply- Addictive, not much replay value, blah blah blah, read it yourself. 8.5/10
Control- Easy to learn, not really revolutionary, but blah blah blah. 8.0/10

Fan of genre- Puzzle is probably this genre. You'll probably like it, but Ms. Pac-Man World is a bit better 9.0/10

Average gamer- I doubt that you'll like it too much, it's decent, but it's probably only worth a rental, you'll beat it in the 5, or 3, 2 or probably even 1 day you have it. 7.7/10