Expendable tries on
numerous levels to become the 128-bit equivalent of Contra, but it seems to try
so hard, that it fails on almost every level. Right from the start, the hilarious
intro sets the wrong mood and the game tends to be very dark and surreal. The game features the been-done-before "shoot everything that moves" gameplaythat is extremely fast paced. Explosions are prevalent, but with so much going on at once, the screen gets cluttered hiding any graphical excellence. When things slow down, the game looks decent, even though the character models are small and lack a decent amount of detail. The backgrounds are dark and players can lose their way easily if they're not careful. Fogging can also be prevalent in some of the stages.
The control scheme is odd to say the least. With 4 buttons, the DC controller would've been perfect for the favorable SNES Smash TV scheme. Instead, strafing is the only way to stay in one position when firing, making the game more challenging than it should be. The sounds are drowned out when the explosions start going off, but the soundtrack gives techno fans something to be proud of.
The game still manages to provide some limited fun. With so much going on, the chaotic world you're thrust into might help some players become drawn into the game, but most will find the control issues and dark graphics enough to turn the game off.
