Cel Damage (Xbox)
	Developer Pseudo Interactive Publisher Electronic Arts Reviewed by Joe Brehler [Feedback] [Author Bio] Review Date January 30, 2002

Rating (out of 5.0) 4.5 out of 5.0*

Judge for yourself

Strengths Graphics/Frame rate Character Development Animations Great Multiplayer fun! Weaknesses Unforgiving AI at times A bit short

Screenshots MORE SCREENSHOTS

* Notes Gaming Voice ratings are based on the technical and/or gameplay merits of a given product as well as the developer's choice of features and delivery of same. Our rating is not an endorsement of the thematic content of a given title. Gamers and parents are cautioned to determine if such content conflicts or coincides with their values and beliefs.

Cel Damage is definitely a sleeper hit.

Cel Damage cannot be summed up in one catch phrase, but the closest genre descriptor would be “vehicular combat”. No, not in the Twisted Metal dark and gritty vein -- but in a Warner Bros. ACME Supply infomercial sort of way. Remember the old school cartoons, where an anvil dropped on the head of an adversary left him flat as a pancake -- only to waddle away with his feet at his neck? Well, if that memory brings a smile to your face, then Cel Damage is just the game for you. The graphics and character animations are top notch, the voice acting is humorously appropriate and the frame rate is so consistent you would swear you are watching a cartoon -- not just playing a game! Hence the use of ‘Cel’ in the game’s title.

Cel Damage is not just a simple vehicular combat game. There are three gameplay modes: Smack Attack (free-for-all battle), Battle Race (a 'cart race' with weapons) and Flag Rally (capture the flags - that's right -- plural). All three modes are playable in over ten different levels, which take place in four separate themes. The themes are a mix of Desert, Jungle, Transylvania, and Space. In all there are 10 playable characters (six which are available from the beginning and four that are unlocked as you play - one fitting for each theme. There are 36 great and humorous weapons involved -- ranging from giant axes (which disable your adversaries in one hit) to shrinking and freezing rays. The weapons also have a unique feature in that they are unlocked as well as you progress through the game. The animations associated with the use of each weapon will keep you smiling!

The opposing AI is at times downright brutal.

Much has been said about the questionable balance of the game involving the weaponry. However, those who are most critical and vocal of this game in that regard have obviously not played the game past the first level and through the various themes. For example, in Smack Attack, the first player to accumulate 500 points wins. While it is true that weapons such as the giant axe and the portable holes may destroy your opponent in one hit, the points assessed to your player are not as great as if you used the giant boxing gloves to pummel your opponent and put them out of commission. The game in this respect rewards the player for risking their safety in using "up close and personal" weaponry versus the "sure thing". This system is what clearly balances out the gameplay rather than making one weapon more valuable than another.

It is clear that the developers at Pseudo Interactive spent a lot of time analyzing this aspect of the game. However, the opposing AI is at times downright brutal and you will be frustrated at times with their relentless efforts to keep you respawning into the game. While not undefeatable, the game could have used a less steep AI curve as you progress.

The graphics and character animations are top notch.

The fact that there are only 10 levels and four themes makes the game rather short. The only saving grace for this lack of depth is the variant in gameplay modes and the multiplayer draw this game has. Why is it that every game that is strong in multiplayer appeal is shallow when in comes to solo play? Can someone please come up with a quality product to satisfy both ends? One should not be sacrificed for the other. With that being said, Cel Damage would have been a stellar hit if it was able to take advantage of online play. It is a hoot with four people around the TV, but this game would have been phenomenal with the Xbox broadband capability! Just a hunch, but it wouldn't surprise me to see this and other multiplayer games be re-released with added online modes upon the launch of the Xbox online gaming forum.

Cel Damage is definitely a sleeper hit and was vastly overlooked by most -- just try it for yourself and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a large mallet just itching to be broken in on someone's head!