P.N.03 was the first of Capcom’s GameCube exclusive ‘Capcom FIve’ to see release and, due to receiving much worse critical and commercial reception than the three games that would follow it, is the only one to actually remain exclusive. Capcom has seen fit to let the game languish on the purple lunchbox and ignore it entirely, which is a fate it absolutely does not deserve. Once I got over its less-than-perfect controls I found myself having an absolute blast with P.N.03. The game has a sense of style that I completely vibed with, thanks in large part to its main character Vanessa Z. Schneider, who is voiced by Jennifer Hale, one of my favorite voice actors. Vanessa feels a lot like a prototype of Bayonetta, and feeling like a prototype is unfortunately P.N.03‘s biggest flaw.
P.N.03 was developed on an extremely tight schedule, with the Capcom Five being announced in November 2002 and P.N.03 seeing release in March 2003, just a 4-month turnaround if even that. This rushed development rears its ugly head in P.N.03’s repetitive environments and severe lack of content, being over in just 2 hours and offering little replay value. Many of the ideas Shinji Mikami had for P.N.03 would be put to use years later in Vanquish, a much better game. Really, when I look at Vanquish I think of all the potential P.N.03 had that it might’ve been able to achieve had it not fallen victim to such a strict deadline, and since a sequel is about as likely as pigs flying, that potential will forever remain unrealized. P.N.03 won’t vibe with everyone, but it’s a game I think everyone should try at least once.
P.N.03 was developed on an extremely tight schedule, with the Capcom Five being announced in November 2002 and P.N.03 seeing release in March 2003, just a 4-month turnaround if even that. This rushed development rears its ugly head in P.N.03’s repetitive environments and severe lack of content, being over in just 2 hours and offering little replay value. Many of the ideas Shinji Mikami had for P.N.03 would be put to use years later in Vanquish, a much better game. Really, when I look at Vanquish I think of all the potential P.N.03 had that it might’ve been able to achieve had it not fallen victim to such a strict deadline, and since a sequel is about as likely as pigs flying, that potential will forever remain unrealized. P.N.03 won’t vibe with everyone, but it’s a game I think everyone should try at least once.