WET (PlayStation 3)

Graphics

The stylish Kill Bill/Grindhouse style flicker-filter and grain effects might put some gamers off; it’s perfectly in the style of this genre of movie though and adds to the overall atmosphere. It doesn’t look as good as some of the titles on console current-gen, but it’s certainly not a slouch. There is a good level of detail in the graphics, the textures are pretty decent and the lightning effects are well done. Rubi’s character design is excellent and she looks the part, not overly busty and certainly designed to appeal to female gamers as well as male.

Animations

The level of animation in the game is good, the combat animations are great and the sword combat feels pretty solid. Whilst it’s only a button or so, the way that the various combinations of dives, rolls, flips and acrobatic moves combine with guns and Rubi’s sword are spot on.

It’s also a very cinematic game out of the main combat, the cut-scenes are well done and the level of animation there is excellent.

Physics

There’s a decent level of physics in the game, some objects destroy the environment and some of the heavier guns and gun-turrets Rubi can use also leave their mark on the levels too. Bodies fly from explosions and heavy hits by Rubi’s sword.

AI

Good, does what it needs to and doesn’t often get stuck. It can sometimes lose the plot and go wandering off elsewhere in an Arena and usually this causes you to spend some time looking for the last enemy and lose valuable combo time too. A minor annoyance. Boss fights require a little more than just running and gunning since they have advanced attack patterns and capable henchmen.

Music

WET is packed with the kind of music that you’d expect from a Grindhouse movie, it’s over the top and cheesy with a mix of some twisted Country and Western tunes provided by some interestingly chosen artists such as Knock Galley West. The main score itself is suitably apt and the whole thing blends nicely in.

Sound

The sound design in the game is good, there are some excellent spot effects and the various levels all have their own atmosphere. Sword effects are nice and the guns sound as though they have some weight behind their firepower.

Dialogue and Voice

It’s crude and obviously cheesy, it’s meant to be, it’s perfectly written to fit that style of film. It is so well written that you’ll cringe at some of Rubi’s lines in game and the cut-scenes. The voice acting: Eliza voices Rubi and Malcolm McDowell is supported by the likes of Alan Cumming as well, so there are no complaints on the voice cast from me at all. It’s all delivered expertly and with a dark sense of humour at times.

Multiplayer

None, so there!

Slippery when WET?

WET is a brash game, a bold one and one that deserves a higher score than it has gotten so far. It is however let down by frustrating level design in places and for some people the sheer amount of slow-mo is somewhat overwhelming, personally, I liked it and could happily sail for hours through the air in various acrobatic moves plugging away at bad guys left right and centre using split-targeting and cool sword moves. It’s a game that’s worth playing even for the faults and if you liked the demo, the full game is so much better.