Rating

C

Specific Ratings

GameplayC
GraphicsD+
Learning CurveC
Replay ValueF
SoundB-

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It's a lot like the move Die Hard
  • Gameplay is fast paced
  • The game is really cheap, I paid $5
Cons
  • Touchy collision detection
  • Potential graphics issues, patches available
  • Sub-par graphics, though they do look clean
  • Some bad voice acting
  • Most weapons are pretty much useless
  • Die Hard knowledge is kinda required

Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza (PC)

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Summary

It's only worth playing if you're a Die Hard fan.

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Description

Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza is a PC game by Fox Interactive and Sierra. It was released in 2002 (I think). It’s rated “M” because of the blood, and also the gregarious use of swears, mostly "fudge". It will run on Windows 95 all the way up to XP. If I remember correctly, it only used up about 800 MB of hard drive space, but there was also a lower MB install on the disc as well.

As the name suggests the game is based on the movie. Certain things had to be changed such as the amount of terrorists in the building (not much of a game if it followed the movie in that regard). However, there are several lines straight out of the movie and some of the locations look at least a little bit like the movie. Whoever did John McClanes voice for the game did a very good job imitating him, and I believe the guy who voiced the cop in the movie also does it for the game.

The graphics are basically what you'd expect from a three year old budget title. Character animations are sub-par and there are definitely graphical issues unless you tweak the settings and download the newest patches.

The game play is not that great. This is the main reason why the game is for Die Hard fans only. The shooting is a lot like Half Life, where a shot to the head doesn't really do anything and you just fire at the enemy until they die. There’s a pistol which isn't effective at all. There’s no reason to use it, ever. There’s a MP5 machine gun that you’ll use almost the entire time. Also, a few other assorted rifles, and one machine gun. There are flash grenades that you can use but there’s no point they don’t seem to work. However, they work damn well on you when the terrorists use them.

There are some situations in the game that require you to have some knowledge of the movie. For example, in the beginning of the game you’re in the bathroom with your pistol and you have to get to the exit. If you don’t know the movie, you’ll probably try and fight the terrorists or just wait for them to come after you but you won’t stand a chance. Game Over. It doesn’t happen a lot, but again the only reason to play this is because you happened to fancy the movie so it should be OK.

The collision detection is touchy but I never got stuck on anything permanently. There’s another place in the game where a SWAT team comes and if you shoot them it’s game over instantly. It took me awhile to gather that it wasn’t their bullets that killed me. I played it on easy and I only had a few tough spots but once you know what’s going on it was fairly easy. I found that the best way to kill the terrorists was just to charge at them.

Basically, you should only play it if you like the movie. While it does play similar to Half Life, the shooting and movement speed is just too unrefined to be acceptable to most people. It's definitely playable, but it takes a certain degree of commitment to finish it.

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