Taking a departure from previous Lupin III games, the latest PS2 offering features an engaging 3D action-adventure that's peppered with quick one-button-press interaction challenges as well as more involved gaming sequences that last a few minutes each. The games are linked together by cut scenes between Lupin and crew as well as 3D exploration and discovery sessions. In an early level of the game, Lupin beats up a member of the police corps and takes his uniform. He may then skulk around the grounds partially disguised while collecting clues and hints. However, since Lupin's face and manner is so distinctive, the other cops are sharp enough to discern him from one of their own if they get close enough to examine him. Once the jig is up, Lupin will have to do some running and Dual Shock wagging to knock cops off his limber frame.

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» Intro to the game features Lupin straggling home and groaning while clutching his chest. Jigen and Goemon drive up and Lupin drops into the back seat of the convertible. Familiar Lupin music starts and a red screen appears where Lupin faces off against an adversary in a gun duel while grass wavers below. Lupin strikes a gun shooting action pose and is mimicked by Jigen and Goemon in similar poses. In the next sequence, the enemy is shown walking away whereas Lupin is shown lying face down on the grass. Next, Kasumi zooms in on a motorcycle and takes off her pink glasses while slowly unzipping her leather jacket to almost reveal her breasts. Cut to more scenes of Lupin and cohorts in action sequences followed with a scene of Lupin being blown back by a gunshot. His three friends are shown in front of a grave amidst the red grassy field.

After a short pause, Zenigata is shown skulking into a building and reaching for his identification which he shows to a woman behind curtains. When he sees her, he is taken aback by her beauty. Cut to a scene of Lupin vs Zenigata where Lupin getting the best of him and his men once again. Cut back to the original scene and the girl walks towards Zenigata but he pulls out hand cuffs. She levels a gun at him and shoots but it's for naught. In the next scene, Zenigata and the girl are tied together with handcuffs. He draws her closer is seemingly is about to kiss her when the screen fades to white and the title screen pops into view accompanied by jazzy Lupin music.

» Press START and the following selections appear:

NEW GAME
LOAD GAME
OPTIONS

» Start a NEW GAME and Fujiko is driving along in Lupin's classic red car. She steps out in a micro skirt and tight white top. She walks gratuitously for the viewers before she's interrupted by three menacing men.

» In the next scene, Lupin and friends are walking in an airport concourse with people milling about when they're approached by a woman - they see a beauty contest poster and they talk for a little bit. Voice actors provide their dialogue amidst the echoing atmospheric of the high-ceilinged inner area. There's a big circular rug on the floor. Goemon takes an escalator down and as Lupin and Jigen are standing around, they're approached by someone who throws a handkerchief at Lupin who catches it. The guy walks away and Lupin is about to put a hand on him but the guy spins and kicks which Lupin deftly avoids.

» Jigen and Lupin run down the escalator to give chase. When they reach their target, a baggage handler pushes a cart full of luggage in front of the dude. He kicks and sends the luggage flying. To help Lupin avoid the missiles, press the O button at opportune times as indicated on the screen to dodge the flying luggage. When Lupin runs outside, he sees Fujiko in a car which passes them with Fujiko looking up dolefully. Lupin immediately hops into his car which Fujiko left on the road and speeds to chase the car that Fujiko is in.

» As Lupin gives chase with Jigen by his side, a driving simulation starts up where the car is controlled by the L-analog and you'll have to swerve through three lanes of traffic to avoid cars. Do well and you'll reach the next part of the driving stage where black low-to-the-ground Hummer-like trucks try to ram you by swerving into your lane as you approach from behind. You're helped by a speed booster which is activated by pressing the SQUARE button to scurry up ahead of them before they can ram you. The booster is limited however and will need to recharge when it drops to zero. It's a herky-jerky driving action sequence that's not bad at all and enjoyable due to the quirkiness of the Lupin characters and the unlikely themes.

» Succeed through the Hummer action, and one of the thugs in the car ahead will lean out of the passenger side window and shoot. Jigen won't have any of that so he hikes himself up to return fire. In this portion of the game, Lupin drives while Jigen shoots (press the O button). To reload, press the TRIANGLE button. After shooting down 5 cars which have HP bars that drop with each hit, you'll face off against a massive truck that you'll have to blow out by shooting at the tires to weaken it. When it's damaged significantly, it'll belch out black smoke and careen around the highway which makes it difficult to finish off. Once it flips over, you'll have to press the O button to dodge it (by riding up against the wall) and then proceed to the next stage.

» After the action, you're ranked on your performance and handling with five letter grades.

» A cut scene plays later which moves the story along and offers some background. You'll be prompted to save your progress to memory card after the animation which requires 160KB,

» After the save, you'll be able to replay the entire first level if so desired or proceed to the second stage.

» The SECOND STAGE opens up with a busy highway where Lupin and Jigen motor along. In the next scene, two thugs drag Fujiko from a car and into a side street followed by the guy from the airport. Lupin and Jigen drive up in the nick of time to spot Fujiko's abductors. They run after them but there's no sign of the thugs or Fujiko. The two stand around and discuss their plan of attack. Jigen walks away to do some sleuthing and the player is able to guide Lupin through the streets to look for clues.

» Control is handled through the L-analog while the camera is controlled with the R-Analog. An overhead map of the local area is shown on the upper right corner of the screen. To enlarge the map so that key people on the street are viewable as blue arrows, press the R2 trigger. The movement of Lupin is stuttered but stylized. Talk to people on the street by walking up to them and then pressing the O button. You'll have to perform a little simple retrieval mission in this area to advance further. Talk to the old man to the SE portion of the map and then talk to the guy sitting in the north section of the map. Once you obtain the item, give it to the old man in the SE and he'll get up from his chair. Wander around talking to peole until your cellphone rings. Jigen has caught up to Fujiko and the three thugs and has them under the barrel of a gun. He's apparently gotten the upper hand until the master from the airport clicks a gun from behind him and tells him to drop his gun and cellphone. Now both Jigen and Fujiko have been caught. Lupin listens in on the bad news with wonderment and ponders his next move. To follow the trail of the thugs, head into the dank hallway to the west of the city and then spy Jigen's phone and gun on the ground. At this point, Lupin runs off into the distance and into an indoor arena where Jigen and Fujiko are standing on a plank platform with their necks held by nooses and their hands tied behind their backs. Lupin pulls his gun and is about to shoot when the thugs appear from behind him. The lead guy calls forth some chakra and runs towards Lupin, imparting a shiny-fisted blow at his chest which blows him backwards. At first Lupin jumps up none the worse for wear but then it hits him, His heart is hurting and he clutches his chest.
Lead thug walks to Fujiko and looks like he's about to do the same when Goemon cuts a hole from above and drops the wood which almost hits the lead instigator. Goemon also slices the ropes from Fujiko and Jigen as he descends. After some fancy footwork against the lead thug, Goemon's in a tight spot and about ot be hit with the lighted-fist when Lupin saves the day by throwing a flash bomb between them and the whole Lupin gang makes their escape.

» In the THIRD STAGE, Lupin is resting on a sofa while the crew is waiting in the room. Fujiko notices him waking up and she hands him a scroll that looks pretty old. Lupin goes to investigate a temple where he's chased by law enforcement. To break free of their clutches, wag the L-analog briskly left and right. Your target is the blinking door located on the southern portion of the map. Once you reach it while being pursued thisclose by officers, press the O button and Lupin will open the doors and then ditch the pursuers.

» Voice actors provide all of the dialogue in the game but note that there is no accompanying dialogue text to read. Tricky for readers who haven't quite mastered spoken Japanese.

» Lupin mixes genres for an engaging action-adventure game that is broken up into bite-sized episodes.

Jan Code: 4983164735826

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