The Warriors takes an old movie and an old game genre and adds new life to both of them, much to the pleasure of adolescent boys who enjoy a bit of sadism and carnage.
The game takes a loose adaptation of the 1979 film of the same name about the Native-American-influenced Warriors gang fight to make it to their home turf after being framed for the assassination of the messianic leader of a prominent gang.
The storytelling ability of this game is the strongest aspect, allowing the player to flashback to how the Warriors were formed through bonus missions. The game provides an extensive backstory to the gang members that can't be found in the film.
The score, which borders on surreal creepiness, is one of this year's best. Even the voice acting is good, which makes lines such as "I don't care who I have to bop through" believable, as opposed to corny.
The graphics, though, are unfortunately N64-impressive. Beating your enemy down with a half-fist that looks like it belongs on a crippled dog can sometimes inspire laughter in the most gruesome of moments.
Luckily, the game's amazing gameplay neutralizes the poor graphics. The gang fights are brutal and realistic. Whether humiliating your rival with a sledgehammer or jumping on his ribcage in a fit of rage, it will make any diehard gamer cringe with delight.
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