I don’t know where all these 3DO revivals have been coming from, but I’m happy to see them. Imagine it – being able to play these neat, tucked-away little games with a better control set-up and improvements to visuals and sound. It almost makes me wish BattleSport would get such treatment. (It did come to the PlayStation and Saturn, don’t forget.)
For now, though, we have PO’ed: Definitive Edition, which started as a 3DO exclusive but has now been successfully revived by the folks at Nightdive Studios. You know, the team that brought back Star Wars: Dark Forces and the Turok trilogy to incredible heights? Welp, they’re at it again.
The game is…interesting, to say the least, as Nightdive has taken the core material and improved it every which way to Sunday. However, the original game doesn’t offer much, with a mere three-hour campaign and levels that make it difficult to find the exit – and even when you do, getting there is half the battle.
But even with that, some fans will find PO’ed to be worth it, an interesting gem consisting of a heroic cook, some sweet looking visuals (upgraded from the old days), and, of course, a handful of butt monsters farting projectiles at you. It’s a curiosity buy that will definitely bring back nostalgia for some.
Something’s Cooking In the Kitchen
The game puts you in the shoes of Ox, a chef who finds himself in the midst of an alien invasion. He’s aboard a vessel that’s been overrun with them, and he’ll have to use everything from a frying pan to other high-tech weapons to bring them down.
PO’ed is the work of Any Channel, a small team that hasn’t really produced much more relevance since this title. But it was a stand-out on the 3DO, at a time when first-person shooters took off like a rocket. And I’m happy to say that the weird feeling of the game is perfectly intact with this port.
Gameplay holds up well when it comes to using weapons and getting around the large, complex levels. And, yes, there’s something satisfying about killing bizarre monsters, like walking aliens that apparently look like they spit out of their asses. I’m not kidding.
That doesn’t mean everything’s perfect, however. The levels can be too big at times, making it a chore to try and navigate and figure things out. And what looks like an easily accessible exit is anything but, resulting in your scrambling around until you accidentally get to it. The jetpack accessory helps, but we could’ve used it much sooner in-game.
There are some great customization options to prove your experience, but the core game remains the same, weird experience it was before. That was Nightdive’s intention, of course, so fans that dug it way back when will enjoy it. Newbies will as well, though the incredibly short campaign (three hours!) and lack of multiplayer (you can’t even play as butt monsters?!) definitely hurt its long-term playability.
It’s a quick little jaunt, though, and another feather in the cap of Nightdive if you’re into this sort of thing. And if you grew up with the 3DO, $20 isn’t a bad price to pay for it. (Compared to the original, anyway.)
Another Polished Presentation From Nightdive
Considering the studio this game came from, PO’ed: Definitive Edition definitely lives up to their standard.
The visuals pop to life with a smooth frame rate and some fine details, making the game move much more vividly than the original 3DO counterpart. You can mess around with options as well, in case you need to make improvements here and there.
Just a word of warning, however. The monsters still look the same. Hope you like pixelated demonized ass aliens!
As for the audio, it’s true to the original game. The sound effects are trippy (the monsters growling as they “fart” at you are fun to listen to), and the 90s inspired rock soundtrack is pretty good, though brief in terms of offerings. And your weapons provide good ambience, especially the frying pan. WHONK!
It’s not next level like what Nightdive did with, say, Star Wars: Dark Forces Remastered, but it is the original game pushed up to a higher degree. For some, that’ll be enough.
Do You Smell What the Ox Is Cookin’?
Is PO’ed: Definitive Edition the game for you? Well, ask yourself these questions.
Do you remember the original game? If yes, sure thing. If not, it may still strike your curiosity, but watch some videos first.
Looking for an in-depth shooter with a lot of replay value? That’s, um, not this game. This is a quick, comedic romp through a neat-looking world at best. And it’s easy to get lost and not be able to find the exit, so remember that as well.
Overall, I like the work Nightdive did with PO’ed: Definitive Edition, giving a long-lost favorite another chance at life. But the core game wasn’t a shining example of perfection to begin with, so just don’t expect a game that transcends expectations.
If you do just go in for a romp and the ability to whip butt monsters into shape with throwable meat cleavers, however, this morsel should definitely suit your palette.
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Nightdive Studios for the review code!
