Graphics: The graphics in Flesh Feast are below average. There are some positive points to them, but there are too many problems with them to garner a higher score. First, without 3D acceleration the graphics are very blocky and show little detail. But when you use a card like the 3Dfx they get cleaner but are still not up to speed. The characters walk funny and they look like they don’t know how to take steps backwards. The different scenes are the best part of the graphics, with each area being distinctively different from the next one. Graphically, this is probably the highlight of the game. Although, watching limbs go flying when you use things like axes and chainsaws is a sight to be seen. Gore is one thing the graphics do not lack!




Interface: The interface takes some getting used to. What I did not like about it is that there are a lot of things happening on the screen in real time and it is easy to get lost with the different controls and buttons. In hairy situations it can be very costly to find yourself trying to switch weapons or use a keycard. The other problem with the interface is in the fact that your characters don’t seem to do two things at once very well. It is difficult to take swings at enemies while stepping backwards (a slight problem with the animations as well). The menus in the game are easy to navigate and there is not that much to them. This is helped by being limited to basically choosing single or multiplayer, and then a level to play on. I did like the ability to quickly change in and out of strategic and action modes and quickly change characters with the click of a button. Some people may find the interface easy to use, but there are just a few things that could have been planned better to make the game easier to play in certain situations, such as accessing the inventory.




Gameplay: The different characters, combined with the variety of levels and weapons, make the gameplay interesting on all accounts. The first time you hack someone’s arms off with a chainsaw is something to see, but after a while it becomes a little repetitive. You find yourself constantly hacking, shooting, and chopping your way through the different areas. The game has a positive thing going for it in that there are different locations that offer their own unique challenges. For example, in the graveyard you are running around trying to find a key to open the gate, while on other levels you may need to blow your way through an opening to escape. This lends itself to more interesting tactics, but that might not be enough to cover the repetition.




Sound FX: To say the least, Flesh Feast has some interesting sounds. There are sounds of zombies slurping your blood, chainsaws sawing off limbs, chains bludgeoning people, and many other gory effects. There are also a lot of environmental sounds in the game; for example, when you are on the docks you can hear fog horns in the distance and water lapping up against the pier. For the most part all the sounds in the game are done well, even the comments like “Go back to hell!” being yelled out when you take enemies down!




Musical Score: The musical score definitely sets a mood of evil. It is more subdued sounding than hardcore. Like most games these days, the music is more for background and possibly some atmosphere, but in this game it does not add anything towards gameplay.




Intelligence & Difficulty: The enemies in Flesh Feast lack any AI except the intelligence to try and limp towards you. It is easy on all skill levels to simply run circles around the enemies. Difficulty on the higher skill levels is achieved by making the puzzles a little harder to find and solve, along with starting the levels with every character in danger. The object is to keep as many people alive as possible. When playing on all levels you will see monsters get stuck on walls or other items on the levels without having the sense to step back and walk around them. You have to kind of laugh about this while playing the game. The harder levels do offer some challenge and make it interesting to finish each sector.




Overall: Flesh Feast as a whole is just below an average game. There are times that the game is exciting to play, but for the most part you find yourself running around beating up the flesh-eating enemies. The challenge of keeping your teams together is a highlight of the game, along with the ability to move in and out of strategic and action modes. Where the game breaks down is in its repetitiveness of fighting zombie after zombie. The other problem with the title is its lackluster graphics. Even with a 3Dfx card the game still does not look that good on its highest resolutions. The animations of your characters running around needs a light fixing. If you are looking for a title with a lot of gore and hack ‘em up flavor then Flesh Feast will be right up your alley, but if you’re looking for a game with depth and stellar graphics then you should shy away from purchasing this title.