Jaws Unleashed (Xbox)

JAWS Unleashed

Jeremy Dunham
Being at the top of the food chain can be awesome; glitchy code and camera problems... not so much.
May 26th, 2006 - There are two ways you can look at Majesco's oft-delayed underwater actioner, JAWS Unleashed... You can either (A) Swim away in disappointment from a project that had more than two years of production time (with an experienced developer) and yet still finds itself full of problems and bugs, or (B) stop being such a pretentious conch and enjoy the open-ended "Grand Shark Auto" for what it is -- mindless fun.

Of course, if we're being fair, it's actually hard to accept one of those final conclusions without accepting the other. Truth be told, Appaloosa's JAWS Unleashed embraces both of those justifications rather symbiotically (much like barberfish and hammerheads do in real life). Though it's correct that JAWS does suffer from a number of bothersome glitches, numerous camera issues, and sometimes-infuriating lock-ups, it also benefits from a number of gruesomely satisfying missions, a large environment to play around with, and unique combat maneuvers that you just can't do in any other game. Of those, which sounds more tolerable?

The magic eight ball says,"you won't see these guys alive again."
But let's start with the basics: what is JAWS Unleashed anyway? In the simplest of terms it's yet another entry in the increasingly popular line of genre-blending "sandbox" games. In other words, the development team has given you an entire world to explore and now it's your job to go out and play in it. And play in it you can! There are three major coasts around Amity Island with multiple environment types in each area (swampland canals, ship graveyards, traditional beaches, etc), and a number of destructible objects can be found in all of them (harbors, boats, jet skis, animals, you name it). Moreover, players can also opt to take part in story-based missions or unrelated sidequests whenever they want and continue to go on with things even after they've finished they game.

But what's that I said? "Story-based missions?" Believe it or not, JAWS Unleashed does try to tell one... painfully generic and short as it may be (the abbreviated plot: everyone wants to kill the shark... surprise!). Uninspired yarn aside, the narrative does provide the means for our friend Bruce (that's the shark) to get into some pretty interesting situations. A rampage through a Sea World-like theme park, the destruction of a pollution-causing chemical plant, and cool boss battles against things we only wish we'd see on Animal Planet (Great White vs. Orca baby!) are just a few of the circumstances you'll find yourself in.

Internet community, this is Bruce... and he has an eating disorder.
In addition to the main story mode that can be started or stopped at any time after the second level, there are also 32 sidequests with three difficulty levels apiece. While not as long as the main stages, these side-missions are arguably the more entertaining ways to pass the time. Hidden collectibles, timed races, and a number of neat challenges involving eating, destroying, or a combination thereof are surprisingly addictive. Stealth killing a hapless swimmer, only to launch them into the air like a lawn dart towards a beach-based sun tent is a lot more fun than it sounds (and it already does sound like a lot of fun doesn't it?).

Keeping things interesting, JAWS also has a number of cool moves at his disposal. Besides his obvious "weapon mouth," Bruce also employs a number of secondary attacks like the tail whip, the nose ram, a covert victim grab, and supplementary "advanced "moves that are unlocked via experience points (dive bomb splashes, corkscrew attacks, and jumping 'one-bite kills' are just a few of them). Put it all together and you have the true heart of what JAWS is: having a blast via destruction and uncontrolled consumption. Next >>


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