24: The Game

Not remotely as long as its title. Rather, it winds down after about 12 hours or so, with no multiplayer options. Nor is it the most original. But the story is above par for a game or a TV show, and the sum of its parts equals a good, old fashioned, popcorn gaming experience.

The game features a number of scenarios and a gripping storyline that will suit fans of the series rather nicely. It still comes to an end way too soon, follows a bit of the basics at times, and doesn't really offer anything for the casual fans in terms of innovation, but it could've been a lot worse.

Despite of its flaws, it still works.

24: The Game manages to duplicate the shows frantic pace and distinct look while providing an interesting story fans will want to experience. Unfortunately it also features some bad control and terrible driving missions. But who said Jack's day was going to be perfect?

Newcomers to the trials and tribulations of Jack Bauer are unlikely to be impressed by this game's generic shooting and driving action. But fans of 24 will be quaking, thanks to the authentic atmosphere and gripping story, set between season two and three of the TV series.

Being able to play as Jack Bauer and do all the stuff they've seen him do in the show is the most important thing to them, and on those basic terms, 24: The Game is an unqualified success.

If you love 24, you’ll get a kick out of the game. If you don’t know 24 from 10, then you’d better drop a couple of points from the score, start from series one, then decide if it’s your thing.

The game’s story and presentation are good. Really good. And we’d like to be able to see what happens. But the gameplay is just “okay”, and you get the feeling you’re just playing through it for the story.

As a game, 24 is not that strong of an entry into the PS2 library, but as a videogame treatment of a TV show, it does a remarkable job of nailing the presentation and style of the original content.

With a stellar script from the show's writers and outstanding cinematography and voice acting, it really feels like you're playing through a season of 24. Good show. [Apr 2006, p.100]

If you're not a fan of the show then you're probably not interested in feeling like a CTU member. [Apr 2006, p.98]

While there's real potential in the source material for an outstanding game, the gameplay here just doesn't quite deliver.

The look and feel of the show is there, and the story is compelling enough to keep you trudging through the amateur gaming parts. [Apr 2006, p.68]

Be prepared for a odd mixture of other games with the 24 presentation and story.

Like the show's action, 24's gameplay tries to throw in everything but the kitchen sink, but in this case, it couldn't make any one of these attempts work well enough to be fun.

With design lifts from here, there and everywhere peppered throughout, it’s safe to say that the developer has rather appropriately played things by the numbers. [Mar 2006, p.88]

24 isn't the ambitious action opus it should've been, but its engaging quirks and variety of gaming experiences still raise it above the cash-in gutter.

If you're a gamer wondering what all the fuss over 24 is about, the game is not the right place to find out. Without the connection to the characters and the twisting, turning style of 24, you're left with an average third-person action game with simple gadget puzzles and bad driving.

24: The Game isn't a bad game, but it isn't a new, interesting or exciting one either. It's one of those depressing tie-in games where the proposal came before the creativity - as, I suspect from the banality of all the interactive sequences, did the script.

For all its faults, 24 is strangely compelling largely due to the snappy story-telling, but non-fans of the show may well disagree.

In terms of TV series adaptations, it's incredibly faithful, nailing the look and feel of the series, and big fans of the series will want to add the game to their collections pretty sharpish. Gamers, on the other hand, would be better suited to renting the title, as (aside from the annoyingly stupid driving sections) it's not that hard, and the replay value is suspect.

The story is brilliantly told and it's great to see some of the gap between season 2 and 3 being filled in. Sure, it should have been a better game, and it's not exactly a challenging game to play through, but if you're a fan of the show it'll keep you hooked from start to finish.

The gameplay experience is a little too ho-hum, even with the many different mini-games. It’s a nice effort, but a fairly average experience.

Bottom line is that when you’re in the game you’ll be angry and want your money back but as soon as the cutscenes roll around fans will be pleased. It’s amazing how one side of this game got so polished while the other was all but neglected.

The game will only take you about eight hours to complete and with no multi-player modes or unlockables, there is no actual replay value. If you want to get 24 hours out of it, play it three times.

The developers were a bit too ambitious with the project and crammed in far too many gameplay styles, none of which are terribly exciting. This game is an injustice to the phenomenal TV series.

Calling 24: The Game a disappointment is a bit of an understatement. Its uninspired third-person shooter gameplay and sluggishly dull driving sections really do fail to capture the brilliance of the TV show, with the mini-game puzzles and the rare idea representing the only spark of creativity in the entire game.

If Sony Cambridge had placed as much emphasis on the gameplay mechanics as it had recreating the show’s style, then 24: The Game would have been an excellent action title. [Apr 2006, p.102]

Nothing comes across as 24 except for the plot and the cut scenes which is only a small part of it. I’m now off to get a Happy Meal and to watch Judy Garland sing with a bunch of midgets with funny hats.

For once, you'll wish you could skip the action to get to the cutscenes.

The controls are just too unpolished to make it worthwhile, though. Movements are flaky, and aiming is far too loose. Sometimes, I got into a tight firefight where I couldn't hit a terrorist a few feet in front of me. And the driving missions are worse.

So take our irritable advice, and leave this half-cooked “kernel” unpopped.