Breakdown

Although Breakdown is a first-person action game, it integrates elements of a fighting game and uses auto-lock for shooting enemies. The viewpoint is always the player's, and interaction with objects is realistic: ammunition is picked up by looking down and grabbing it (instead of walking over it), doors are opened by grabbing the handle, key cards are used by swiping them over a scanner and ladders climbed by using one's arms. Health and energy are replenished by consuming energy bars, hamburgers, and sodas.

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.

Breakdown received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to the review aggregator website Metacritic. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of three sevens and one six for a total of 27 out of 40.

David Chen, writing for Xbox-gaming magazine Xbox Nation, said, "Hardcore gamers ... will find Breakdown suffers from a few too many design flaws," but praised the game, saying: "In spite of any ... shortcomings, Breakdown is an enormously compelling, satisfying game." IGN's Hilary Goldstein criticized the game for boring level design and clunky gameplay mechanics but praised it for its solid voice acting and deep story.