Die Hard Trilogy puts three action movies back-to-back on one PlayStation disc, and it mostly earns that ambition. The game asks players to move through New York City, Nakatomi Plaza and a Japanese cargo ship as John McClane, and it manages to capture some of the films’ energy while smoothing over their rough edges. This is a game built on set pieces, and it knows it.
What the Trilogy Packs
The trilogy is a compilation, not a new game. That means players get three separate stories, each tied to a different film in the series. The first mission covers the events of the original Die Hard, the second moves through Die Hard With a Vengeance, and the third wraps up with Die Hard 2. Players switch between the three films at will, moving between cities and settings as the game progresses.
The game leans heavily on its source material. Scenes, dialogue and set pieces are drawn directly from the films, though the game often changes who gets to deliver them. That can feel jarring at times, since the game’s version of McClane does not always sound like the actor who played him on screen. Still, the familiarity of the material makes the game easy to jump into, even for players who have never seen the films.
Fighting Through the Levels
Fighting is where the trilogy shows its age. Players move through levels filled with guards, vehicles and occasional boss fights, all while avoiding damage and finding ways to take down enemies. The controls are simple enough that anyone can pick them up quickly, but they do not offer much depth beyond that simplicity.
Boss fights stand out as the strongest moments in the trilogy. Each film’s villain gets a dedicated encounter, and these are often the most polished parts of the game. The pacing during these fights is tight, and the difficulty curve feels fair. Outside of those moments, though, the regular combat can feel repetitive, with little variation between one enemy and the next.
Where the Trilogy Falls Short
The trilogy is not without flaws. Some levels repeat the same tricks again and again, and the game’s camera can struggle in tight spaces, making it hard to see where enemies are hiding. There is also a noticeable drop in quality between the first film’s levels and the later ones, which feel less polished and less exciting by comparison.
The game’s presentation is mixed as well. Character models look dated by today’s standards, and the animation is stiff in places. The music, drawn from the film scores, carries the mood better than the visuals do. Sound design is solid, with gunshots and explosions landing with weight.
| Mission | Film | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Die Hard | New York City |
| 2 | Die Hard With a Vengeance | New York City |
| 3 | Die Hard 2 | Japanese Cargo Ship |
The Difficulty Curve
Difficulty is a point of contention. Enemies hit hard, and health bars do not regenerate, so players who want to finish the game without dying will need to learn enemy patterns carefully. The game does not hold hands, and that approach will frustrate some players while pleasing others looking for a challenge.
There is a checkpoint system in place, so death rarely costs much time. Players can return to their last checkpoint after being killed, which keeps the game moving even when a fight goes badly. That said, the difficulty means the trilogy is not for everyone, and players expecting an easy ride will likely be disappointed.
Final Word on the Trilogy
Die Hard Trilogy succeeds because it commits fully to its source material. It does not try to remake the films or change them; it simply puts them on a controller. That commitment shows in both strengths and weaknesses. The best parts of the trilogy are the ones that lean hardest on the films themselves, while the weakest parts are the ones that try to build something new on top of them.
The trilogy is a solid, if flawed, package for fans of the films. It does not reach the heights of the movies it draws from, but it comes close often enough to justify a playthrough. For anyone who has not seen the films, the game can still be enjoyed, though some jokes and references will land flat without prior knowledge.
