Most people slept on this game, and the few that didn't bashed it, but right now, it's one of my favorite Cube shooters.
+One of the better GameCube FPS games
+Weapons feel great when using them
+Enough vampires and undead to kill for hours of fun
+Campaign is fun while it lasts
+Multiple difficulty levels
+Arcade mode adds replay value to the game
+Over 100 playable characters in multiplayer
+Multiplayer mode is tons of fun, with up to 12 bots and 3 friends
+Graphics look great artistically
The Bad:
-Graphics look terrible technically
-Not enough weapons
-Dredd's one-liners get annoying
-Single-player mode is so short it feels almost unfinished
-No bots in the non-Deathmatch-related games
Overall, the GameCube doesn't get too many first-person shooters. It does have an at least decent amount, but compared to consoles like the Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, or Xbox, it pales. Despite this, most of the first-person shooters on GameCube are good games. Examples include the Metroid Prime duo, the Medal of Honor series, and Red Faction II.
To start off this review, I would just like to say that I don't really know much about Judge Dredd. In fact, if the game weren't a first-person shooter, I probably wouldn't have even checked it out. He's a buff dude in a weird-looking suit that knows how to handle a gun, and he apparently is supposed to 'be the law'. The only place I heard of Dredd was from a 1995 film that was released to terrible reception. I watched it on TV, and I hated it. But, I checked the game out anyway. And what a great game it is!
For a budget title, the graphics are outstanding. The lip-synching and character detail are off a tad, but the environments are futuristic, and at times, beautiful and original. The voice acting for Dredd is a bit cheesy, but it's done pretty well. The game controls like a standard FPS game, so fans of the genre won't have trouble with the button-pushing. The game itself is really good, if a little simplistic.
In the single player campaign, you assume the role of Dredd, armed with only a gun, and his funny one-liners. He blasts his way through vampires, zombies, and even some criminals. In each level, you can do something not seen in a FPS before; arresting your foes. If you manage to face a huge group of enemies, you may cause the remaining to surrender, allowing you to walk up to them and put them in handcuffs. What's cool (and funny sometimes) is that when you arrest people, text appears on the screen showing the victim's name, his crime, how long he is sentenced, and other information.
The process goes on for sometime, but the game has 13 chapters, so you'll be having fun for at least half a dozen hours. Plus, you can beat it on Normal or Hard mode, which unlocks extra goodies. There is also a fun (yet frustratingly hard at times) arcade league, similar to the TimeSplitters games, which allows you to unlock cheats. The gore level of the game is high with a capital 'H'; even more so than Resident Evil 4 and maybe even Doom 3, so if you are under the age of 14 or 15 and have a sensitive stomach, I recommend a light meal before playing. The campaign is fun, but the best part is yet to come: the multiplayer.
The multiplayer mode is one of the best for the GameCube. You can play with up to 12 bots and 4 friends, and select from over 100 playable characters. There are tons of modes, including classics like Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch. Innovative new modes such as Umpty Raid (like Capture the Flag except with a passport instead of a flag), Vampire (similar to Leech from TimeSplitters 2), Judges vs. Perps (like Deathmatch except for depending on who you play as, you can only use certain guns), and Bounty Hunter (similar to Gladiator from TimeSplitters 2) are the best part of the bunch, though. To start off, there are about 8 maps, but there are over a dozen total, giving the game lots of replay value when you have beaten it.
BOTTOM LINE: The reason why everybody hates this game to death, I have no idea. Regardless of what people say, this is a great game. With a very fun campaign, amazing multiplayer, an incredibly high blood level, an arcade mode, and tons of extras to unlock, this is simply a fun, violent shooter experience. You don't have to be a fan of Judge Dredd to enjoy this game. If you simply like FPS games and own a GameCube, don't hesitate to buy this game. You will simply love it. Thanks.
Graphics- 7.5: The art direction is colorful and realistic, and really puts you into the 22nd century. The technology, however, makes the detail look pretty plain.
Sound- 8.0: The guns sound great, if unremarkable and not intense, the musical score is catchy and well-written, and the voice acting is overall decent, though Dredd's one-liners get really annoying.
Gameplay- 8.5: While shallow, the game takes you through some fun, big, bloody, gory shooting action. It's just that simple.
Replay Value- 9.5: The single player campaign is over in a flash, but the multiple difficulty levels and unique atmosphere will give you the incentive to play a few more times. Combine that with a 2-player co-op mode, unlockable characters, an arcade league, a deep ranking system, and a fun multiplayer mode complete with bots and extra modes to play with friends only, this could last you for quite a while.
Overall: 9.1/10 (not an average)