Beverly Hills Cop - Playstation 2

[GrandAmChandler]

So, I just read about this on the web, but can't seem to find an American release date. It did get released overseas on 1/25/07. Anyone know anything else about this title? Is it going to come out here? Or am I going to have to import it? Anyone play it? Lots of questions, little info on the web (That I could find.) -GAC-

Info I know: http://www.blast-games.com/en/product.asp?pid=416

Screenshots:











-GAC-

[dethink]

So, I just read about this on the web, but can't seem to find an American release date. It did get released overseas on 1/25/07. Anyone know anything else about this title? Is it going to come out here? Or am I going to have to import it? Anyone play it? Lots of questions, little info on the web (That I could find.) -GAC-

Info I know: http://www.blast-games.com/en/product.asp?pid=416

Screenshots:











-GAC-

Judging by those screen shots, this is based on the movie where Axel Foley goes undercover as a white guy... :lol:

[Push Upstairs]

On the latest volume in the "Kids Bop" series...I think it's Kids Bop 8,000, they *sing* "Axel F".

Back to topic:

Why did "Beverly Hills Cop" come out like a generic FPS game?

[tonyvortex]

oh hell this company has made a little britain the game.i have got to play that mess.

[shoes23]

Why did "Beverly Hills Cop" come out like a generic FPS game?

Yeah I was wondering the same thing, seems like a perfect game for the GTA sandbox type gameplay.

Those screenshots don't look very impressive either.

[Garry Silljo]

If the banana is not a selectable weapon, this is garbage.

[Emuaust]

it is a budget titles here in australia, I have got it in stock in my shop so Ill give it a play and see what its like for you,
although going on the number ive sold, which is zero, I dont think its going to be anything great.

[Half Japanese]

oh hell this company has made a little britain the game.i have got to play that mess.

Computer says no.

[Oobgarm]

If the banana is not a selectable weapon, this is garbage.

I'd like to take this opportunity to second that statement.

" I had that dream again."

[Kid Ice]

Remember that part when Axel said "Damn he's going to get in that chopper"?

[kainemaxwell]

Judging by those screen shots, this is based on the movie where Axel Foley goes undercover as a white guy... :lol:

Well, they do have the money to do so over in Beverly Hills... lol

[Push Upstairs]

Michael Jackson.

[Daltone]

oh hell this company has made a little britain the game.i have got to play that mess.

When something from the Beano is the best review you have to show for yourself you know you're screwed.

What's with all the Eddie Murphy stuff seeming to have nothing really to do with the films? I'd love to play some of these games, but I'm not sure I could bring myself to buy them.

[agbulls]

Inserts Beverly Hills Cop Soundtrack.

New Attitude
Don't Get Stopped In Beverly hills
Do You Really (Want My Love?)
Emergency
Neutron Dance
The Heat Is On
Gratitude
Stir It Up
Rock 'N Roll Me Again
Axel F - <---plays on loop

What, you mean the game doesn't have the soundtrack...the only redeeming part of the original movie? Aw, forget it.

[The_4th_Survivor]

Okay, I am not embarrased to admit it..... I bought the game from a store in the UK, along with some other budget titles for the PS2.

Here's my review -


Graphics: 4 / 10

I don't know what the developers were thinking, but they seem to have been using a graphics engine which is along the lines of *older* PS2 technology. Imagine this; Remember when the PS2 first came out way back in 2000? Remember some of the first game titles like "Summoner"? Well, the graphics in Beverly Hills Cop (referred to as "BHC" hereafter) seem to be from that era. Last I checked, Axel Foley was a Black Male and not a White Male (just take a look at the loading screen, complete with some character meant to resemble Axel Foley, except that they were White.) and he also had some hair on his head instead of being completely bald.

Toss in the other atrocious graphical aspects such as major slowdown and you have an FPS game that will easily give seasoned gamers a headache. Whenever there's too much happening on screen, the framerate slows down bigtime.

All of the character models look very generic, including Axel Foley himself. On the loading screen, Axel is a White Guy. In the game, he's a Black Guy, but he's bald and he looks just as generic as the other characters. The only thing that seems to set him apart from the other characters would be that he's wearing his trademark 'Detroit Lions' jacket (colors only, no actual insignias), complete with the obligatory blue jeans and white running shoes he always seems to wear in the movies.


Controls: 4 / 10

Since the game's graphics are so important, meaning that once you notice the almost constant areas of slowdown, you'll be glad that BHC allows you to fully adjust the sensitivity of the analog sticks. If you go too high in terms of sensitivity, you'll literally be skipping frames, almost always missing your targets which you're haplessly aiming at.


Gameplay: 2 / 10

Right from the beginning of the game, you're thrust into an actual 'infiltration' type mission, with almost no kind of walkthrough help whatsoever. The story goes like this for the 1st level; You need to sneak into a chop shop which is being patrolled and guarded on the outside by a group of armed thugs. From the point where you get into the yard, you're on your own in terms of actually trying to get from one side of the junkyard area to the other, all without being seen or heard. After you manage to traverse the junkyard, you conveniently find a mechanic's coverall suit and climb a ladder inside to 'work' inside the chop shop. That's when things start to go downhill. After a bunch of tedious tasks which you have to perform, you're finally offered the chance to utilize the supposedly innovative 'ad-lib/improvisation' game feature.

It works like this - In the movies, if Axel Foley was ever scrutinized for being in an area he wasn't supposed to be in, he would improvise his dialogue and literally 'bull***t' his way out of trouble, whether it be making snide remarks or by just playing dumb. In the BHC game, you also get to 'ad-lib' just like Axel would, but the only problem is that you CANNOT choose your response, in a 'multiple choice' type of fashion. All of your correct or incorrect responses are based on your ability to press a single button to 'stop' a mark on a revolving pinwheel spinning styled, revolver cylinder (yes, from a revolver pistol). It would look like this; The cylinder is spinning clockwise....4 of the 6 cartridge chambers are red (signifying a 'bad' response) and the other 2 are green (obviously signifying a 'good' response). Press the button at the right time to make sure the cylinder stops on 'green' and you'll advance in the conversation, possibly talking your way out of trouble. There's also a yellow or gold colored mark, but since it's only 1 out of the 6 chambers, it's extremely difficult to stop at. I would safely assume that the yellow/gold button could signify a 'great' response that instantly gets you out of trouble.

If you keep messing up, it could be 'game over' for Det. Foley instantly, causing you to replay the ENTIRE level FROM THE BEGINNING. Yes, you read that right, there are no apparent 'check points' within the game. (Then again, I might be wrong, but I've never been able to pass the first level, so I wouldn't know)

To top things off, if you actually get to a part where you can start using Axel's trademark "Browning Hi-Power" handgun, you're in for an unpleasant surprise; a horrible aiming system, coupled with extremely bad hit/collision detection. This translates into the enemies being able to shoot at (and actually hit) you THROUGH WALLS.


Sound: 6 / 10

This is one of the higher points of the game, IMHO. Upon first popping in the disc, you're treated to an animated, scrolling palm tree backdrop with an "Axel F" inspired theme song. Although the song isn't the same one us BHC Fans are used to (the track composed by Harold Faltermeyer) the game makers probably weren't able to secure and license the actual music from the movies, so they went ahead and produced their own version, which at least emulates the feel of the original movie soundtrack score.

Even the tense parts of the game where you have to 'ad-lib' have their suspenseful sounding music pieces, similar to what you would have heard in one of the BHC movies. Overall, pretty good music production for a budget title.

Most of the time though, there's no music playing in the background, just the ambient noise, such as the wind blowing, sirens in the distance, footsteps, etc. . There's also no voiceovers whatsoever, just lots and lots of text and the occasional, generic 'uuumph' sounds of guys being hit by bullets. (Text is much, much cheaper than hiring a voice actor. lol)


Overall: 3 / 10

There are many reasons why this is a budget title and I mentioned a lot of those reasons in my review. I can see why this game would never see a US release, considering it's not too playable or even fun for that matter. Had the developers given the player an option to save at any time or even a checkpoint system, that would have been nice, but the designers obviously forgot what makes a game tolerable in terms of difficulty.


BUY or RENT?

Well, since the majority of US PS2 owners can only import the game, they can really only 'buy' the game, but I definitely would not recommend it, unless you are a really, really big fan of the Beverly Hills Cop movies and you want to find out more about the storyline (which supposedly takes place after BHC 3). Otherwise, you should avoid this game and spend your hard earned money on the other budget titles that are UK only exclusive games.

[Mianrtcv]

Okay, I am not embarrased to admit it..... I bought the game from a store in the UK, along with some other budget titles for the PS2.

The first step is admitting....

[Push Upstairs]

Axel F - <---plays on loop

Except in this game it would probably be the Kidz Bop version.

Spared no expense!

[GrandAmChandler]

Well, I contacted Blast Games and it looks like they are in the process of trying to get this ported over to the United States. They said "just keep checking the website for details"

We shall see. Price better be $9.99

[Push Upstairs]

$10 seems pretty steep for a game that looks (and sounds like it plays) like a beta.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I doubt Eddie Murphy will allow this to get released stateside.