Brilliant, but short lived

16 April, 2009

First of all, let me start with the obvious; if you aren't a fan of the Wanted film or comic series, it's unlikely you'll enjoy this game. The plot follows on directly from the film, and is intertwined with some backstory leading up to the film events.

Gameplay is fantastic. If you haven't read any reviews or know what it's about, I'll try and explain. Think Gears of War cover system with the speed turned up to eleven. By taking cover and moving in the desired direction, you can quickly slide across the floor or vault objects making a "cover chain". It's a solid mechanic used throughout the game and it works really well. It wouldnt be Wanted without bullet curving, and here its executed very well. With one button you can set the trajectory and pull off some great slow motion camera shots as the bullet curves through the level.

For such a great game I've only given it 3/5. Good graphics do not make a good game, but you cant help notice the screen tear and muddy resolution. It's especially worse after playing something like Resident Evil that truely show you what the Xbox 360/PS3 can do.

Finally, this game will last you 3 to 4 hours of play time, which is frankly criminal in this day and age. Before throwing it completely to the dogs though, remember that this game was designed to be replayed. All missions are available to select and dive back into, and new playable character skins are unlocked frequently. There are unlockable difficulty levels and game modifiers, and cheats are actively encouraged for playthroughs.

If you're a fan of Wanteds source material and have no problem replaying games if they're fun, I do recommend Wanted. But I'd suggest you download the demo first from the Xbox Marketplace or PS3 store (not sure what it's called, I don't have a PS3). If you decide to buy....It might be worth waiting until the price comes down. Although I do enjoy it, I'm not sure it was worth the full retail price...

Hope this helps!