Dead to Rights

I got Dead to Rights hoping for some great shoot-em-up action. And while I got that in bucketloads, it's only rarely engaging. The story plays out like film noir and has a hardened cop called Jack Slate (who really belongs in an 80s action movie) investigate his dad's murder only to end up being framed for various crimes and in the middle of huge conspiracy.

And so the game has you blast and fight your way through prisons, mines, air-force bases, dockyards, factories, cliff-sides, nightclubs, construction yards, hotels and out of control airplanes. It feels like a cross between Die Hard Vendetta and Resident Evil 4 as you seem to do nothing but shoot generic bad guys from start to finish. It becomes incredibly boring and is only slightly redeemed by a few intense shoot-outs. There IS the occasional fisticuffs but the mêlée system is poor to non-existent and there is no skill involved in defeating your opponent outside of button mashing.

Plus, the graphics are rotten. The cut-scenes look right out of a mid-90s CD-ROM and the gameplay graphics may look adequate but have a very jerky habit and the camera system will drive you crazy. And the voice acting is quite bad too with the exception of a few lively characters. The guy who plays Jack Slate sounds as bored as a living human can possibly be.

I can't rate this game particularly high. Find it somewhere cheap if you must, otherwise it's not the best shoot-em-up out there and I suggest you invest your time and money in something else.

Graphics C+ Sound B+ Gameplay B- Lasting Appeal C-