For the gamer who is looking for a breed of combination game, Bedlam 2: Absolute Bedlam may well be the answer. Designed mainly as a shooter, Absolute Bedlam also contains elements of puzzle solving and strategy. It was released in the late nineties by GT Interactive after development by Mirage and is the much improved direct sequel to Bedlam. It features the novel isometric viewpoint, which was unusual in its time, and a cool futuristic theme with mechanical warriors. It is not unlike Domark’s Total Mayhem or Crusader: No Remorse, but the AI is much more advanced and offers a better overall play.
Bedlam 2: Absolute Bedlam is a mission based game. As the gamer continues to complete the various missions he is assigned, he will be rewarded with cash, with which he can upgrade his mechanical robot warrior. Other ways of upgrading the warrior include finding power up items with the missions and sub-quests (there are many side missions for each proper, full-fledged mission). The power up items the user finds will award temporary bonuses to fire power, armor, etc., whereas those he purchases will remain constant. The user can outfit his robot with up to seven different types of unique weaponry, offering a great variety of ways to blow the proverbial snot out of the enemy. The animations (death throes) differ depending on if the enemy is shot or
blown up with a heat-seeking missile, for example. This adds great depth and entertainment to the game.
As mentioned above, there are elements of other games in Absolute Bedlam to add even further depth to it. The puzzle solving element is not so straightforward as a true puzzle game, such as Bejeweled, but instead features conundrums that are woven into the plot. A simplistic example would be navigating the user beyond an electrical barrier. He may have to back track and disable a generator that he saw several screens ago, or go find it if he has not run across it. Then he will return to the down barrier and can cross it. These kinds of puzzles are very common.
Overall, Absolute Bedlam is an interesting shooter with some other elements involved that add depth and make it a bit out of the ordinary. It is a much more entertaining play than the original, mostly due to improved graphics displays. It would make a great stress reliever, and a just plain fun play for fans of the shooter.
