7.5

Wanted: Weapons of Fate

Although the movie WANTED had mixed reviews, I was one of those people that actually enjoyed the movie, even though it was clichéd and very Hollywood. It also starred uber-babe Angelina Jolie as a ruthless hit woman who was instructed to tutor James McAvoy, the everyman Wesley. Just like a comic book come to life, Wanted had all elements of good action movies and it was even left open for a sequel or prequel.

With that said and if you enjoyed the movie, than this is the game for you as it continues directly where the movie left off as Wesley is still on a journey of discovery, however his main aim is to learn the truth about his mother. Apart from Wesley, gamers also control his father, Cross that really gives you a good history of all the characters involved in this story. Ladies and gentlemen... I introduce you Wanted: Weapons of Fate!

Features

• Intense Third Person Action: The development team at GRIN is best known for its action-oriented gameplay and the Wanted video game is no exception; the game will feature advanced shooting, fighting and assassin "finish" mechanics as well as acrobatic and stealth moves that will blow gamers’ minds

• Iconic film Moves: Fans of the blockbuster film will immediately recognize the logic-defying combat styles and moves from the motion picture -- such as "Curving Bullets" and "Assassin Time" -- and will be able to execute those moves themselves as they take on the role of Wesley

• Advanced Cover Gameplay: The Wanted video game will incorporate an advanced cover mechanic that will allow players to use the environment and other items to protect themselves as they engage enemies; the cover mechanic’s multi-faceted design changes the way "cover" gameplay is executed

• Extending Film Storyline: The storyline of the Wanted video game picks up where the movie leaves off, providing fans with another chapter to explore both Wesley’s journey to become an überassassin as well as the epic fiction surrounding “The Fraternity”

• Experienced Movie-Game Team: The Wanted video game re-teams the film studio with executive game producer Pete Wanat, who has previously collaborated with UPDPG on critically acclaimed movie-based games The Thing, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, and Scarface: The World is Yours

Although movie based games are generally on the low end of quality, Wanted: Weapons of Fate is actually on the better side of this scale. The story of the game is nicely progressed through some interesting cinemas that give some snippets into the motivations of the character and the story. The movies are also quite spread out in the gaming engine which means you'll be playing and all of a sudden a cutscene is loaded.

The gameplay of Weapons of Fate is your traditional third person shoter game that has the player performing a variety of maneuvers, from using cover to duck or using your special abilities that allows you to "pause" time as you shoot and dodge bullets in Matrix-esq bullet-time. The main weapon is of course the guns that is matched with some basic melee scenes such as using a knife on your enemy at close range.

Moving from one place to the next is also done by pushing forward on the 360 controller and then pushing A which does create a strong sense of motion as you slide over crates, duck behind pillars and the like. Although you play two characters in the game, both Wesley and Cross, the gameplay is similar for both characters which is a shame as it would have been nice for some incentive to the player. What that means to the player is that it's like playing the same character.

However, the combat in the game is quite innovative as you can control bullets to a certain extent through the shoulder buttons of the controller and the analogue stick which is truly reminiscent of the movie itself. It does take awhile to perfect but once you do, you'll be using this ability whenever you can get the chance for something different, especially when something is in the way of your opponent.

This is power represented by your adrenaline metre that uses bullets and allows you to use this ability until you run out of bullets. Thankfully, when you kill an enemy you are awarded another point. There are a plethora of enemies in the game and a few boss characters here and there which can be quite frustrating, considering the super powers at your disposal. The game mechanics are good but it does feel kind of repetitive and sameish as you progress. If you do die, it's easy to come back, thanks to the several save points in the game.

Graphically, the title is fairly impressive on the XBox 360 with detailed gaming environments and well made characters that move well with the world you are playing. The main character Wesley even resembles his real-world actor James McAvoy that actually makes the link with the movie a much more interesting prospect. The best part of the game is the way the game follows your bullets which is truly like Matrix, especially when you target an enemy in a vital position such as their head. Add in some good voice acting, decent sound effects and Wanted: Weapons of Fate is a sturdy game.

In conclusion, Wanted: Weapons of Fate seems a tad contrived and forced and although the combat and gameplay is rather strong, the title does become repetitive midpoint. It's still fun to play but don't expect this to be the killer title of the year. It sits somewhere between average to above average in the grand scheme of the gaming world.