The graphics are polished and fairly stunning for a PS2 (to this day). It doesn't take that much away from the overall experience, but it would have been nice to see more options available when taking on these bosses. This open ended approach tends to wain during boss fights though, as most bosses have a very distinct attack pattern and a very specific way in which to take them down. It really is completely left up to the player and it's the experimentation with these powers that makes this game such awesome fun. If you wish you can grab an enemy and throw him towards you, as he gets up Mind Drain him (causing his head to explode), set his corpse on fire, then pick him up and throw him at an approaching enemy.

The freedom with which the game gives you, when approaching each scenario is really quite innovative. The level design is also very impressive for a game that is essentially on a linear path. Add in the idea of being able to freely mix these powers together in a sort psi-combo/psi-strategy sort of way and you get a gameplay experience that is second to none. Everything from telekinesis (the ability to move things WITH YOUR MIND) to pyrokinesis (the ability to set things on fire WITH YOUR MIND) to Mind Control (the ability to take control of enemies WITH YOUR -ah you get it) are totally fresh and completely fleshed out in this game. The first things that makes this game feel truly special is, of course, the Psi-powers. Everything about this game feels like a big budget franchise. The presentation of this game is quite simply off the charts. It can be a fun sort of 'Plan 9 from Outer Space' kind of schlock, but it's best to be warned going in that this game is no MGS or Splinter Cell when it comes to story telling.

The voice talent and cut scenes are straight up cheeseball, B-movie, wince inducing, schlock. I list it first because the rest of the game is so far beyond superior that it truly does make up for the crap that is Psi-Ops storyline. If this game has one true weakness it is the storyline. This is the setup for Psi-Ops and it plays out by the numbers. As he regains his true identity of course he wants to seek out and stop the bad dudes who made him this way. He has great, untapped, psychic abilities that he is unaware of and as the game rolls out, these powers are regained and so too are his lost memories. You play the game as Nick Scryer, a psi-agent who has had his memory erased. It's a one of kind experience that really rewards creative play. Here it is in very few words: Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy is a must play game for ANY and ALL fans of action-adventure games.

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