Developer : Namco
Release date : June 18, 2004
Synopsis :
Breakdown (ブレイクダウン, Bureikudaun) is a first-person action game produced in 2003 and released by Namco in 2004 for the Microsoft Xbox console. The game was praised for its use of the first-person perspective for storytelling. In 2018, Microsoft announced it would be available via backwards compatibility on the Xbox One via the physical disc and a digital download on the Xbox Live Store.
An underground complex, known to humanity as Site Zero, has been discovered in Japan and seems to be the cause of increased earthquake activity. It was built by mysterious forces and is controlled by a being known as Nexus. A research facility is established to study the complex and its inhabitants, the T’lan. As the game begins, there have been minor skirmishes between humans and the seemingly invincible T’lan.
Protagonist Derrick Cole has developed amnesia from an injection of T’langen, a fluid recovered from Site Zero which was intended to create supersoldiers with T’lan abilities. He is in a recovery facility near Site Zero at the beginning of the war between the humans and Nexus, which overflows into the facility. Derrick is rescued by a mysterious woman named Alex Hendrickson, who seems to know him and is dismayed about his amnesia. As they make their escape, they are separated by an earthquake during an encounter with T’lan warriors. As they go their separate ways, Derrick’s new abilities manifest and he is able to break through the T’lan energy shields, much as Alex can. The two eventually reunite and encounter Solus, a human-like T’lan who defeats both Derrick and Alex with ease before running off to complete a different objective.
Derrick and Alex learn of an evacuation helicopter on the roof of the building and plan to use it to escape the hostile soldiers and T’lan. However, the U.S. military destroys the helicopter and Derrick and Alex escape to the Terminus 4 research facility, where they encounter the Beta Project test subjects. These are children who have been slowly injected with small amounts of T’langen over a long period of time to give them the same abilities as Derrick. Alex recognizes one named Ernest and calls out to him, promising that help is on the way. Further, into the research center, they meet Stefania Wojinski, a neurologist specializing in memory loss and recovery, who has had her project funding terminated. After a brief discussion with her about Derrick’s memory, the two are finally greeted by Chief Researcher Glen Ogawa. They learn that Nexus is planning a massive attack on humanity. Glen gives Derrick an additional injection of T’langen known as “accelerator”, boosting his physical capabilities and giving him new powers.
Departing to Site Zero, Derrick and Alex are separated again and they both agree to regroup at the entrance. Along the way, Derrick encounters USMC Lieutenant Gianni deLuca and his squad, equipped with anti-T’lan lasers. Derrick learns from Gianni that Nexus is planning on deploying its T’lan troops all over the Earth using crystal rockets, and it is Gianni’s mission is to stop them. Gianni and his squad plan to join up with another unit. While Gianni and his squad have a different goal, other squads are ordered to shoot Derrick on sight. The two part ways and Derrick travels to Site Zero on foot. Traveling into Terminus’ sewer system, Derrick is interrupted by Solus, who has been ordered to stop him from entering Site Zero. Narrowly escaping, Derrick reunites with Alex and the two head into the complex.
Inside the complex, the two learn from Gianni that Stefania stole a valuable disk containing all of Terminus 4’s research on Site Zero and the T’lan, deleting all backups. The U.S. military wants the information, so they send in a team to retrieve the disk before they order a nuclear strike. Deep into Site Zero, Alex is captured by Solus. As Derrick makes his way through alone, he witnesses Stefania’s execution after she turns the data over to the military. Derrick travels on foot to the silos but arrives to find Gianni’s squad decimated. The rockets are launched, and the T’lan are scattered all over the world. Derrick enters the heart of Site Zero to stop Nexus but is challenged by Solus. During the fight, Solus kills Alex, and the U.S. military launches a nuclear strike in a last-ditch effort to destroy Site Zero. The resulting explosion reacts with Solus’ shield and Derrick is sent 15 years into the future.
Derrick awakes in a device designed by Stefania, and it is revealed that the device was used to piece together Derrick’s fragmented memories. Derrick finds himself in a dystopian future controlled by the T’lan. A group of Terminus 4 scientists explains that Derrick will experience the “pendulum effect”, swinging him back in time to shortly before he left. This will allow him to relive events, and hopefully, prevent the rockets’ launch. Traveling through the complex to reach Glen, Derrick finds Alex. They meet Glen, who reveals that although they failed to stop the launch 15 years before, they had time to further refine T’langen. The “ultra accelerator” injection gives Derrick the power he needs to change the past. As the pendulum effect begins, Alex accompanies Derrick to the present, knowing she will be killed by Solus. They are separated in the pendulum-effect tunnel and will arrive at different times. Derrick arrives moments after Alex is captured by Solus, while Alex is sent to the recovery facility at the moment where she rescued Derrick, facilitating Derrick’s journey at the beginning of the game.
Derrick saves Stefania before she is thrown off a ledge, and uses an elevator to take him deep into the silos, allowing him to reach Gianni’s squad in a timely manner. Derrick defeats Solus, saves Alex and destroys Nexus, ending the T’lan threat. Derrick and Alex escape from Site Zero as it collapses. In a helicopter above the site with Stefania and Gianni, Alex questions the future; since she is still alive, the future has been divided into two separate timelines. As the pendulum effect begins to throw Alex into the future she jumps out of the helicopter to avoid dragging the others with her. Derrick has a choice: remaining in his own time or following her to destroy Nexus in her timeline. If Derrick chooses to go with Alex, they both go to an unknown future. If Derrick chooses to stay in the past, then, after the ending credits, a message from Dr. Ogawa appears saying that Alex has died alone.
Source : Wikipedia
