P.N.03 (cube: 2003): Reviews

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P.N.03


6.7

based on 35 reviews
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How did we calculate this?

based on 11 votes
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P.N.03 is an action game starring a female soldier named Vanessa Z.Schneider, a laser-gun wielding, mech killer with a grudge to settle. A colonial settlement turns into a killing field after a CAMS (Computer Arms Management System) goes haywire on a planet. Vanessa hires herself out as a freelance mercenary who killsrobots upon her client's request - no questions asked. But, she has a dark past: CAMS killed her family and her plan is to get even. Players must dodge and weave through the heavy barrage of firepower on the planet while trying to blast the technologicalterrors into scrap metal. [Capcom]

PUBLISHER:	Capcom Entertainment
DEVELOPER:	Capcom Entertainment
GENRE(S):	Action
PLAYERS:	1
ESRB RATING:	T (Teen)
RELEASE DATE:	September 9, 2003

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Play Magazine

Once you synch up with Vanessa and the rhythm of the game, it's impossible to put down and clearly meant to be assailed three times (or more), which is also the only path to unlocking every suit and the secrets within. [July 2003, p.16]

Gamezilla!

Might be a bit too streamlined and stylized for some, coming off as more simplistic than artistic, but I personally love it. P.N.03 makes you feel as if you’re in control of a laser-toting ballerina with death at her fingertips, and that’s all good in my book.

Ferrago

And amidst a rash of horrendously tedious stealth games, it really is a lot more fun to go somersaulting over a couple of incoming missiles, land among the enemy, pull off an outrageous dance move to mock/destroy everything around you, then to leap back and cartwheel off into cover again.

Nintendo Power

Although the stilted play control makes it frustratingly difficult to move at times, the overall playing experience is very engaging. [Oct 2003, p.137]

TotalGames.net

If you can look past this failing though, P. N. 03... is massively enjoyable game. Each room is another challenge, asking you to think on your feet while being attacked from all angles, and strangely, it never gets too frustrating.

GamePro

P.N.03's strong aesthetics add flavor to the repetitive gameplay...Sure, this may not be the deepest GameCube offering available, but for those who crave a shoot-em-up with old-school inflections, P.N.03 is A-OK.

NTSC-uk

Striking perhaps for all the wrong reasons. It surprises due to the simplicity and appears original because it bucks the current trend of excess. Yet this originality is indeed false, because it has been so heavily based upon the games of old. [JPN Import]

Nintendophiles

If you're not into the idea of constantly shooting and blowing stuff up, this may not be the game for you. Up to this point I have used the word shooting sixteen times in this review, and there's a reason for that. That is the bulk of the game.

Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

A super-stylish, dance-a-minute, well animated shooter. But the repetitiveness, uninspiring bosses and dull design don't do it any favours. [NGC]

GameCube Europe

Not a reason to leave the beach, but for anyone who likes a decent shooter this stylish game is a great choice.

GameShark

With an incredible sense of style and some great old fashioned shooter gameplay, P.N. 03 overcomes its weaknesses and delivers a solid, entertaining experience.

Gamestyle

Overall P.N.03 may not offer anything new, but the combination of old values, futuristic looks and game play has made this one of the most satisfying Gamecube releases of late. [Import]

eToychest

The game is mindless, shooting mayhem that is extremely evocative of sprite based shooting games of yesteryear.

Edge Magazine

You'll soon learn the groove: shoot, dodge, shoot, dodge. It should get tedious, but it doesn't. P.N.03 rewards skill above all else and mastery brings huge satisfaction. Grace under fire has rarely been done better. [June 2003, p.96]

Kombo

P.N.03 may easily turn off some gamers, whether it's because of the high difficulty level or the hard to pick up controls; but once you get past those issues, you'll get a feeling of nostalgia that few games this generation will inspire.

GameSpy

If you're partial to some good shooter action, then check out P.N.03 -- it's not the longest game ever made, but it's stylish and challenging nonetheless.

EuroGamer

Although P.N.03 is plainly flawed, with a little perseverance the gameplay still shines through as something relatively new and engaging.

Into Liquid Sky

Those expecting an action adventure game will be severely disappointed, however if you are looking for a great old school shooter in the vain of "Space Invaders," "Ikaruga" or "Raystorm," then P.N.03 is well worth buying.

Nintendojo

Another huge, glaring error on the controls in PN03 is that controlling Vanessa is like controlling an open jar of molasses through Omaha Beach.

NintendoWorldReport

Its core gameplay is initially attractive and mildly addictive, but the missions and enemies offer little variety or depth. You might enjoy playing with the different suits and upgrades, but unlocking any of the good stuff requires hours and hours of playing through the bland trial missions.

Games Radar

The sci-fi action found here is good while it lasts; it just never changes from the first level.

Adrenaline Vault

While P.N.03 does provide some solid shooting action, the incredibly repetitive levels and unintuitive controls significantly detract from the experience.

Gaming Age

A decent shooter and would have been great had the character been given enough speed to match her robotic peers.

GameZone

The style Vanessa adds with her dance moves is one of the biggest draws, but poor controls and overpowered enemies bog this title down. Maybe the enemies seem harder because the controls are bad, but something needs fixing.

Game Informer

If you don't die of boredom playing the game, you'll run headlong into the most disappointing aspect of P.N.03: It can be completed in a measly four hours. [Sept 2003, p.111]

Deeko

Visually dull, painfully boring and completely short of Capcom’s usual high standards.

IGN

A 3D action-shooter with a certain degree of style, sure. But it has no depth whatsoever. Worse, its control scheme, clunky and sluggish, perpetually clashes with the would-be fast-moving battles the game serves up continuously.

GameSpot

As you guide her through one identical-looking corridor after another, shooting one identical-looking robot after another, you'll almost certainly be unimpressed with the repetitive and cumbersome action at the heart of this game.

Yahoo! Games

Loaded with style, what could have easily been a top-tier game suffers from sluggish controls, repetitive gameplay and a hopelessly generic storyline.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Excitement wears thin when you realize you're fighting the same enemies and running down the same corridors over and over. There's not even a real story to cling to, so players are left with little more than a few hours of tedious button mashing. [Oct 2003, p.163]

GameNow

Tries to capture the excitement and intensity of old-school 2D shooters, but the end product is just a boring hodgepodge of gaming cliches. [Oct 2003, p.49]

Cheat Code Central

P.N. 03 won't keep anyone interested for more than a couple of hours. The longer you continue to enjoy the game after that is directly proportional to the time you spent watching reality TV shows.

G4 TV

There's no sense of continuity since you have to keep stopping and starting. And where are the puzzles or something other to do besides shooting at hard-to-see robots?

GMR Magazine

Boring and repetitive... The best part of the game is when Vanessa flaunts her futuristic T&A as the credits roll. That's right, it's more fun than playing the game. [Oct 2003, p.73]

Cinescape

Feels like it’s just a block of jello. It could have been molded into something new, but instead, Capcom just left it as is, a block. It’s uninspired, generic, and there is no reason to play it.

The average user rating for this game is 6.7 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Thomas K. gave it a10:
Its pretty damn good, nice moves nice controls good looking too.

Blue Falcon gave it a3:
1st thing I would say about this game is the character is awesome. She's stylish, deadly, graceful, unique, and even hot. The HUGE thing that ruins the game is the repetitiveness. Both the levels and enemies are all the same - it's ridiculous. Imagine playing Super Mario Bros level 1-1 with only koopas as enemies. As you advance you're still playing level 1-1 but with more koopas. That's what it's like.

Paul R. gave it a 10:
You either get it or you don't. If you're expecting something that handles and feels like all those generic 3rd person ps2 games out there, you'll feel v constricted and agree with the 40 ratings. If you're up for timing & sequences of moves and totally unique handing, you'll love it like I did.

Jimi R. gave it a 9:
This game rocks, for hardcore shooter fans.

Tim H. gave it a 6:
I was ready to give this game a fair shake and forgive some of its serious gameplay flaws. I was waiting to see what happened once I upgraded to better suits and such but you know what happened? The game was over and credits were rolling!!! Glad I just rented it! So here are my gripes: - Why can't the dumbass chick move and shoot at the same time? - Why does she do a stupid little piroette when you press back on the stick instead of hauling her ass outta trouble? - Why the music/dance theme when it has no gameplay elements at all? Shooting to the beat for extra points would at least have been novel.

Future Alien gave it an 8:
I was really looking forward to this game and I am quite satisfied now that it's here. The action is quite like old-skool shooters but instead of a spaceship you get to control a dancing one-girl-army named Vanessa, who has to progress through 10 or so levels, blasting various mechanical foes and dodging their fire. The gameplay is simple yet challenging enough, rewarding skill with extra points, which can be used to buy Vanessa new clothes... sorry, suits, each with its own characteristics and special moves. The graphics are very good - everything is clear despite the continuous blasting. The only gripe I have is the 30fps screen refresh - it would have been great to have the game run at 60fps, but alas! BTW the PAL version should only be played on the 60Hz setting, since on 50Hz things are a lot jerkier. The sound effects are mediocre but the music is great, if a bit repetitive. The gameplay is great for people who can appreciate it - get this game if you're an old-skool shoot 'em up fan, or if you're bored with all the by-the-book games and looking for something different, but don't expect to be playing it for months on end.