Perhaps it was the large chested beauty drawn in anime style on the box art. Or it could have been the fact that after the disappointment of Mark of Kri I was in serious need of a beat 'em up for my PS2. Whatever the reason I sat down with Hidden Invasion and my expectations were high. Being only 29.99 and boasting 16 massive levels with two player non split-screen action my nipples were hard with excitement. Just like most things in life this game left me with blue balls, such a shame it had SOOO much potential!

We start off by booting up the game (duh this is standard issue nowadays) and are greeted with a...title screen LOL. All kidding aside the game really doesn't offer much in the way of presentation, though being of this genre it is somewhat forgiving. I am given the option of which character to choose. The buxom beauty or the testosterone driven male soldier. Hmmm lemme debate on that one for a minute, twenty seconds later me and my hottie were ready to go! I dove into the game with my hopes high and my controller steady as any game that comes from nowhere is bound to either impress or depress a game reviewer.

The first problem begin to arise once I get control of my character. The camera sucks, not only does it suck, but it blows beyond belief. Half of the time you are stuck with a view of a low textured building. I can not see the enemies therefore I cannot attack them ARGH! Then I found the follow button, ooooh that helped absolutely NONE! It still focuses the camera in awkward positions making it impossible to see where the hell I was going. The pain did not end there, my next issue came to the combat system. Sluggish and unresponsive controls frustrated my aging game fingers. I was trying to pull combos off that the game had not way of calculating. For only having two attack buttons, sans the gun attacks, this game has a very hard time figuring out what I am trying to make it do and it sure as hell takes it's sweet time executing them!

If the controls and camera were not bad enough did I mention that this entire game is timed?? Each level gives you a set amount of time to complete the goals. Granted the time limit is usually much longer than needed to complete said tasks it adds to the frustration and takes away from my exploration of those 16 massive levels (sarcasm highly suggested). Objectives continuously consist of things such as disarming bombs, finding keys, and making it to the exit before time runs out. Originality pours out of every crevice, (once again the sarcasm flows) this game reminds me more of a chore than an fun experience.

How can I bring this to an end? Easy do not rent this game, sure as hell do not buy it, and for god's sake put it as far from your mind as possible. The few things this game does well is completely overshadowed by the horrendous attributes of what could have been an excellent game. Perhaps this invasion should have remained hidden!