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Information Updated: 10/19/2005

"Oh no, not another generic first-person shooter," I thought upon booting the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex preview code Bandai just sent over. Now, I know the PSP hasn't seen that many first-person shooters, but the formula for a first-person shooter based on a license is pretty well-refined, requiring only a franchise's distinctive weaponry and setting to pull off. And honestly, the first mission didn't do much to change my mind. Fighting with the controls, I mindlessly ran around, tapping the right trigger whenever I saw a bad guy. Skipping through the in-game cinematics to the next mission, I didn't expect much of a change.

But then something weird happened. This mission had an actual objective that went beyond killing every bad guy in sight, and even more, I actually failed it because I wasn't stealthy enough. Eventually I made my way further in the level, and that's when something really cool happened.

But first, you need to know about Tachikomas. In the world of Ghost in the Shell, there are these walking, talking, spider-like tanks known as Tachikomas. And in the game, a Tachikoma accompanies you throughout most missions, generally providing backup. You can even assume direct control of them if you'd like, a great course of action if you're running low on health.

Anyways, I walk into this warehouse and I'm ambushed from all sides. I go up to the balcony and start slaughtering bad guys, and as I'm coming down the stairs, a group rushes me from my right. That's when my Tachikoma casually walks up to them and repeatedly blasts them all with the shotgun I equipped it with before the mission. Bam, no more bad guys to my right.

Okay, that might not sound quite as awesome to you, but this incident was enough to show me that Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex might be more than just another generic shooter. So I decided to give it another chance.

Starting the game over again, I first spent a bit of time playing with the various control options. A total of eight control schemes are available, but really, there's only four, each offering a choice between the D-Pad or Analog stick for character control. I ultimately decided on the D-Pad version of Control Scheme A, which maps the D-Pad for character movement, the analog stick for weapon selection, locking on, and the generic "action" command, the face buttons for aiming, the left trigger for jumping and the right for shooting.

With a better idea of the controls and what my character was capable of, I no longer had much difficulty controlling or aiming. I went back and started playing through the other missions, discovering most to have a unique goal apart from slaughtering everyone I saw, such as hunting through trash cans, finding and disarming bombs, or stunning a suspect for questioning. Completing a mission not only furthers the story, but also unlocks some weaponry for your character and Tachikoma to equip.

Each mission allows you to play as one of four characters from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex : "Major" Motoko Kusanagi, Batou, Togusa or Saito. Each has their advantages, such as temporary use of the Major's optical camouflage or Saito's sniper skills. Before a mission begins, you can customize the starting equipment for both your character and your Tachikoma, providing a slightly strategic twist. A multiplayer mode, complete with Deathmatch, Team Battle, Tachikoma Deathmatch, and Tachikoma Team Battle modes, is also available, but unfortunately, I was unable to test this out.

Before, during, and after a mission, in-game cinematics further the story. Impressively, all the dialog in these cutscenes is full voiced. As the story unravels, it ends up playing out like an episode of the show, which is perhaps one of the greatest compliments one can give a licensed game.

Thus far, Ghost in the Show: Stand Alone Complex seems to be shaping up rather nicely. Despite my initial cynicism, I'm currently enjoying my time with this title, especially now that I've got a good grasp on the controls. There's still some nagging issues, mostly stiff animation and some lengthy loading times before cutscenes, but it's nothing major. Right now, my biggest fear is that the game will end up a bit on the short side, but with four characters and a multiplayer mode, there's likely to be a good chunk of replay value.

According to EBGames, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is slated to ship on October 25th. Be sure to check back with us in the coming weeks for an in-depth review.

“Cutting edge technology is one of the main themes in the 'Ghost in the Shell ' series,” said Rika Maruya, Co-Producer of Bandai Games Inc. “We naturally wanted to take advantage of the wireless capabilities of the PSP to truly immerse gamers into an edgy, futuristic world of hackers and cybernetic entities.’”

In the futuristic world of “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex,” crime knows no limits. Gamers can face off against cyber-criminals as members of Section 9, an elite group of secret intelligence operatives tasked to keep technological terrorists at bay. Players must use “Major” Motoko Kusanagi’s agility, her partner Batou’s strength, the rookie Togusa’s stealth, or Saito’s sniper skills to unravel the mysteries of Berutarube.

Features:

• Issue precise commands and orders to the sentient Think Tank, Tachikoma, to gain an advantage during heated battles
• Customize Tachikoma with unique accessories and change the personality of the tanks with different commands
• Choose from 51 different weapons; from hand guns to rocket launchers and sub-machine guns
• Play wirelessly in head-to-head battles
• Hack into enemies or surveillance systems to break down the terrorist cells

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is scheduled to ship this summer.