Proving again that the mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Midway is slowly becoming a major player in the video game industry once again. In the past year we've seen some great titles like NBA Ballers and The Suffering, and with future goodies like MK Deception, NARC, MLB Slugfest Loaded, and Area 51, it looks as if there is no stopping this team. This holds true for their latest release entitled Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy. A third person, action/adventure shooter, with some twists and puzzles that fit the bill for this early summer slump in gaming.

You play as Nick Scryer, a solider whose memory has been wiped in order to allow him to help a secret organization call "the movement". Nick isn't going along with the rest of the herd of sheep so easily. He feels something stinks in Siberia and begins fighting his way to find out not only what "the movement" is about, but who he is. Along the way you meet a mysterious woman who speaks to you with her mind and helps you along. With her guidance you learn more about who you are, what to do, and how to succeed against the enemy. What's more, you begin to realize you have abilities unlike normal mortals. You mind begins to unlock powers that bend time, move objects, and control minds. It's these abilities, along with your kick ass military training that will get you through this mess and overthrow "the movement."

Psi-Ops on the surface looks like your everyday 3rd person action title. Lots of exploration levels, enemies, and weaponry is typical fodder. Once you notice that this game uses the Havoc 2.0 engine, things begin to get interesting and fun. This new engine allows you to pick up bodies, throw objects, rip off doors, and just plain bust up the joint. You'll never get enough of picking up a soldier, watching him flail around, followed by throwing him into a wall. The rag doll physics help add to the diabolical pleasure as limbs fly all over the place when tossed from one part of the room to the other. The game has a brilliant cinema atmosphere that pulls you into the story and will never let go. The CG sequences are action packed and wonderfully done. The game throws in some special effects that fit well with the situation at hand, whether you are having mind control issues, or you are making a person's mind drain, the overall effect of the specials are very cool and original. From a distance the game looks average, which may result in the title getting overlooked, but if a player decides to actually pick up the controller and see the game for themselves, they may enjoy the unique look that Psi-Ops offers.

Voice acting is Psi-Ops are done quite well. Sure that are those few moments of groaning one liners, but for the most part the game's acting ability is far from campy. The game has a rich orchestrated score both in the CG scenes and in game play. While not in total use of Dolby 5.1, Psi-Ops does a good job of simulated surround sound. The weapon effects and ambient sounds are spot on and as realistic as can be. Explosions are loud and blaring, which is nice considering you will hear plenty of them in this action romp. All in all, nothing real new or spectacular in the area of sound, but does an adequate job.

Gameplay has been tweaked considerably since the preview copy I enjoyed months ago. Now everything is tighter and more responsive, which adds to the fun of throwing stuff around. The controls are simple to use, and after all is said and done you will have used every button on your controller. The added fun comes in the form of the 6 Psychic abilities you control. Each has their own unique feel and technique, and you even get training levels that teach you not only how to use them, but give you more than enough time to become familiar with them as well. The enemy A.I. is as tough as the level of difficulty you select. Easy difficulty spouts off virtually mindless enemies, while Elite commands you are a master of your own domain. The only real bother to the game is some slight backtracking you must endure to complete objectives. This unfortunately breaks up some pacing and flow of this otherwise brilliant title. All in all, the utilization of the Psi powers gives a lot of freedom and freshness to the game.

Psi Ops is a well told story that will last you around 10-15 hours, depending on your skill level. With only a single player campaign, a few unlockable bonuses, and a forgettable co-op mode, playing through this game more than twice may be too much for some. This game is, on the other hand, one of those games you want to go through at least that second time. Thankfully the game's length is as long if not longer than most action games in the same genre, so no real disappointment should be met by any gamer.

Psi-Ops will end up being one of those sleeper hits that only a few will notice, let alone buy. Hopefully I'm wrong in this assumption, but I've followed this industry too long now to know when great games get swept under the rug. A majority of gamers want too much of the same thing (GTA, Tomb Raider, Dynasty Warriors, etc). The same thing happened with greats like Sly Cooper, Beyond Good and Evil, Eternal Darkness, ICO, and unfortunately, unless Midway pulls off some clever guerilla marketing, this may happen to Psi-Ops. Let's hope not, as the game is a worthy purchase for any and every action fan.