Under the Skin - PS2

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Under the Skin (PS2)
Viewed: 3D Third-person, floating camera Genre:
Adventure
Media: DVD Arcade origin:No
Developer: Capcom Soft. Co.: Capcom
Publishers: Capcom (GB)
Released: 22 Oct 2004 (GB)
Ratings: PEGI 7+
Accessories: Memory Card

Summary

Given that there are around three times the number of games released in Japan as there are in the UK and US almost every year, us western gamers sometimes have to wonder what it is we're missing out on. But on occasion, Capcom makes the effort to give us a taste of what these Japanese developers get up to when they're not churning out mainstream products a la Resident Evil or Street Fighter. And as 2004 draws to a close, Capcom has brought us its latest foray into the world of the weird and wonderful, Under the Skin.

Assuming the role of mischievous alien Cosmi, players embark on a mission to the apparently barbaric planet Earth in an attempt to wreak havoc on the human race and return home branded a hero. But the local 'barbarians' seen in this PS2 adventure are none too fond of alien inhabitants, so your mission will be an undercover one that begins with Cosmi possessing a nearby local in order to achieve his goals.

And this is where you begin. Moving from host to host, your goal is to negotiate a variety of fictional Earth locales and trigger a number of pranks in order to coax gold coins from your targets. Each possessed human boasts five available pranks selected at random, which include spring-loaded boxing gloves, drawing pins and giant bowling balls. The more humans you strike, the more coins are revealed, but once your arsenal of tricks is depleted, players must move to another host and start the process over.

Collecting coins and beating time limits is the order of the day in Under the Skin. It's a straightforward affair, but things will be made a little more complicated should Cosmi and his host take damage. If you receive enough hits, your alien self will be exposed, putting both you and your hard-earned profit at risk.

As simple as Under the Skin is as a game, its unique visual style and witty narrative will spark many gamers' curiosity. Approach this one with caution - it's utterly bonkers, but well worth a look.

Artwork

Under the Skin - PS2 Artwork

Under the Skin - PS2 Artwork

Under the Skin - PS2 Artwork