Too Human

02.07.08

It is very important for the developers of the game that “Too Human” isn’t misunderstood. Anyone who sees "Too Human" on screen for the first time can’t help but think of "Hack&Slay". But be careful! We are dealing with a multi-faceted action RPG here, which gets down to business with an incredible, almost exaggerated seriousness. Amongst the gigantic, gothic-style buildings and numerous science fiction elements there is no place for humour.

His name is Baldur, champion of the light and the death of all evil-minded machines - vending machines on strike excluded. Blue, gleaming furrows cross his face, his physique is stocky and his gaze fearless. Anyone who dares to challenge his sword will experience pain as they feel the engraved runes on the blade. His father is no less than Odin, King of Gods in Nordic-Germanic mythology and religion. Woe betide anyone who takes on Baldur and his followers!

An old, long forgotten artificial superior race threatens to wipe out humanity. Baldur doesn’t find this an especially appealing prospect and confronts the threat, as you would expect from a god. No doubt Baldur has some tricks in store that melt even the hardest steel, and the cybernetic god impressively displays this. The machines themselves range from small flying objects endowed with saw blades to huge gorilla-like killer robots and get to business as violently and single-mindedly as only soulless creatures can. When it comes to a fight normally a gigantic mêlée develops with you in the middle, dealing out blows in the air and on the ground, shooting with laser beams and screaming battle cries that fill you with a terrible rage. What really stands out is the way that the blows are dealt. The, oh-so-brutal and destructive attacks look somewhat static and weak in their execution. Where is the divine power?!

You control proceedings using the two analogue sticks mainly. Interestingly, you don't have to string any wild combinations of buttons together. You manoeuvre your character through the levels with the left stick and let him dash towards the enemies by pressing the right stick in the corresponding direction. Dash, because after the order to attack the protagonist gracefully glides over the ground and starts to produce metal spare parts. Around five character classes await their assignment. The "Champion" gets to business with blade and gun and provides the pugnacious all-rounder. The "Commando" guy prefers everything that causes muzzle flashes and explosions and attacks mainly from a distance. The "Bio-Engineer" regenerates himself and his allies and utilizes worldly fighting techniques. The mighty "Defender" comes along in heavy armour, is the backbone of every troop and causes havoc with hammer and shield. Finally, there is the bloodthirsty "Berserker", who throws himself into every fight head over heels and with his two swords is a feared close combat fighter. Every class has a technology tree, where you can extend or activate different abilities. While the "Commando" fighter enhances all the explosive- and firearm attacks of his fellow fighter close by with a special ability, the Champion annihilates his opponent who is held in place by a laser beam from the "Defender", in mid-air. No wonder a teamwork mode for up to four players has been integrated into the game. The teamwork mode could become one of the great strengths of "Too Human" not least because it promises plenty of tactical finesse and a unique gaming experience, and for once does so without using a split screen.

"Too Human" is embedded in a huge, fantastic universe, where Nordic mythology and sagas, fur clad barbarians and ultramodern technology clash. The whole thing looks pretty good, the fusion really has worked. Furthermore, the game is not stingy with harmonious lighting effects, great production and a soundtrack that gets under the skin and underlines the seriousness of every event.