Wet - Review

obie · 09-19-2009, 01:16 AM

Making it's release the same day as Need for Speed Shift, and only days before Halo O.D.S.T. "Wet".. Was always going to be facing an uphill struggle.

And with a name like "WET" the last thing on your mind is a Gun toting, sword wielding Femme Fatale with an attitude, But with Wet, that's exactly what you get.

In fact it's an almost assassin like Lass with contacts worldwide, who helps a guy, to find out she's not helping the guy, only to find out she was helping th eguy all along by not helping the guy.
The Story isnt going to make it into the Movies, but it's enough to keep things moving and introduce the characters and at least half a reason for travelling between England & Hong Kong so damn much.

To start off, let's get something straight, those who have played the demo will know what to expect.. Or will they ?
Core gameplay is a mix between Max payne of old, and more recently John Woo: Stranglehold.
Both quality games in there own right, but at the same time, both known for being somewhat repetitive.

Bethesda obviously didnt want that, so they've added numerous gameplay elements to take your mind off the slow-mo gunplay.
And while none of these parts are done to the point of amazement, each one is a welcome addition that adds to the overall game.
Whether it's mixing the gunplay with high-speed car chases, or elements of careful platform like traversal across the play area (that feels more Tombraider or Prince of Persia than MAx Payne etc)
, there's plenty more in the game than the demo shows, and while they do add to the game, sadly, they dont quite add enough.
And while they are spaced out, with a nice blend of styles without too much of anything, there's times you feel as though there's not enough of it either.
While it's better, some chapters feel short and dissapointing, while others drag a little, However the team have done a great job, because after a play through it was only the Weapons training that I was bore doff, and not the actual core gameplay.

Actual controls are easy to handle, and while the camera does well to guide you and often point you in the right direction, and the animation is top notch,
However during some of the more precise platform sections, you feel as though it's not as fluid as it could or should have been and at times the buttons dont quite perform as you'd expect,
You will die a few times purely down to the controls not performing as you wish, but it should only be that so it's fairly easy to forgive and move on.

Taking a look at graphics & sound, both are done well, not groundbreaking, and there's no new benchmarks here, but they are done well enough to showcase this generation, and some of the platform sections are a easy chance for the game to show off some of it's landscapes and scenery.
The whole game carries a "Filmy" feel with Grain & film-scratch, But while effective you can't help get the feeling it'd look better without it.

Now the big question,
Will it last...
Well on "Normal" the 2nd of 5 difficulty settings (2 unlockable) It should take you about 6-7 hours to get through, which isnt bad in todays age,.

Sadly what let's it down is, that while Fun to play through, the few irritating sections while only few, are enough to dampen the spirits when considering a second playthrough.
However upon completion you unlock a new mode "Points MAtter" or something along those lines, which runs the game similar to "The Club" in which it's much more points driven and you have to try and hit high enough combo's and kill-streaks in order to succeed.
It's a nice addition, but at the same time, it does feel like a simple play through of the story, So it's not that much to shout about.

You also get the challenges, which work as Weapon training through the story (which sadly are the worst sections)
Again you can replay these for fun, or achievements, from the menu upon completion

Also, there's a variety of Concept art, Character Bios which are well done, but again not groundbreaking.

Wet has appeared on our shelves for £29.99 which is a fair price, if it was £40 I'd be alot more critical, but it's set itself as a cheaper / budget title, and for what it is, it's a very good game.
It does have it's faults, and it wont last forever, a dedicated gamer with 1-15 hours spare could easily walk away with the full 1000 gamerscore.
And less dedicated achievement whores could still net about 500 gamerscore from only 6-7 hours play.

The Verdict..
A Perfect Rent,
Fast, Fun, and you won't feel like you've missed anything when you have to take it back to blockbuster

7/10.