JAWS Unleashed (2006)

Jaws is one of my all-time favorite movies. So I knew as soon as I saw the game trailer that it was going to be a must play game. However a good game trailer doesn't always mean it's going to be a good game. Which can sometimes be the case with games that have outstanding graphics. They spend more time on game graphics then gameplay.

First let's start off with the controls which I was not really fond of. For me probably more than most people some of the tasks you're required to do as the shark were very difficult. In Jaws unleashed you have to be able to work all buttons on the controller. Meaning you have to use both analog sticks along with the X button, R 1 button, R 2 button, plus L1 and L2 buttons to be able to complete a few of the stages. Being that I have muscular dystrophy it severely limits the use in both of my hands which made some stages nearly impossible for me to complete. Even without the disability the controls seemed kind of difficult to me. With today's technology they usually allow you several different configurations of the buttons for the player to be able to configure to his liking. In Jaws unleashed there are two other controller configuration options besides the default but no diagram to explain how the buttons changed. I had to figure that out with experimentation and I think they made it more difficult than the default settings. So I definitely wasn't happy with the controls but the only time that really became a factor was during some of the boss fights and a few of the side challenges.

As for the gameplay it was kind of hit and miss. I love the open world feel it has to it but of course you can't travel throughout the whole ocean but you do get to travel through a large area surrounding Amity island. Like I was discussing earlier with the controls some of the task you're required to complete are extremely difficult whereas other tasks seem remedial and pointless. I also think there could've been more to the story part of it. I don't mind cut scenes during my gameplay I actually enjoy them. There's only a few seconds of cut scenes at the beginning and end of each stage though. The most annoying part of the gameplay is the glitches. The game freezes up quite a few times and there are several spots where I got my shark stuck. Although if you use the corkscrew attack sometimes it will free your shark from certain areas like boat wreckage on the ocean floor where I got his head stuck trying to explore. The three stages I had the most difficult time with were predator in the bay, a taste for blood, and the final chase. A taste for blood being the one I hate the worst because the beginning of the stage where you're surrounded by mines underwater and being that even when you're not touching the controller you're still slightly moving it makes it impossible not to die about billion times. I would say the final chase was the worst but once I figured out to use my tail whip while crossing in front of the boat it wasn't that difficult.

As for the graphics they were outstanding. I can't complain one bit about them. While attacking victims you can see body parts being severed and floating in the water. The blood in the water when you kill a victim was great to. There's also a wide variety of sea creatures to eat and it's very easy to recognize what they are. The sound effects are not that bad either but sometimes they get a little repetitive and the screaming gets a little annoying. If not for the outstanding graphics I don't think I would've finished this game.

The great thing about this game is you get to experience some of the scenes from the movie in a unique way by actually being in control of the shark. Although if you're a hard-core gamer and could care less about the movie then you would probably be wasting your time with this game. I'm a fan of everything horror so of course I appreciate this game but from an objective viewpoint it's just a mediocre game. I'm glad I played it but I wouldn't recommend buying it unless you're a huge fan of the movie this is a definitely rent first to see if you like it game.