365//365: Day 360 – Winback (PS2) [PP]

"Cover mechanics don't help Winback escape blandness."

Well over a year ago I did a Retro Re-Review of the Nintendo 64 title Winback. Coming back after years of absence showed me that the experience I once enjoyed, wasn’t necessarily the most appealing title ever. Cloudy, overly simplistic visuals, anemic audio and repetitive gameplay mired what was a rather inviting concept for its time. The PlayStation 2 released its own version of Winback, and to no ones surprise, nothing was tended to. While at its roots, Winback is is a cover based shooter that focuses on a slower paced trek through each area, rather than guns ablazing. While not the first title to feature it, it was definitely a precursor to the “Gears of War cover mechanics”, and even the cover system from Kill Switch. The visual boost isn’t massive, but more subtle. The audio, while the quality has increased, still remains the same repeated mess of musical clips and annoying enemy sound bytes. The issue with lack of ammuntion pick ups returns, leaving you with your infinite round handgun as your main source of dispatching all that stand in your way. While the cover system does work, all the while helping pace the gameplay properly, it starts to feel more like a one trick pony, rather than one of several defining mechanics to Winback. While it’s a lot easier to find on the Nintendo 60, Winback isn’t something that should be sought after through the ends of the earth. If Metal Gear Solid sharted seeming a bit too redundant for some reason, give Winback a shot. Not the most blaphemous title, but not the most fulfilling.

While the graphics have been touched up somewhat, the monotonous gameplay was left unmolested.

Rating: 5.1