Game review: Dead to Rights: Retribution

The Dead to Rights series has never taken itself seriously, so it comes as a surprise that this third instalment is positioned as a gritty "neo-noir" action title. Gritty is correct, with lots of darkness, expletives and an incredibly dull colour palette.

But it's clear just a few minutes into the first mission that the latest game hasn't shrugged off the over-the-top action and dumb plot threads of its predecessors. In some ways the game is a refreshing hark back to dumb action titles of old. It's a guilty pleasure but still remains firmly rooted in past generations, with ropey fight mechanics and substandard visuals.

The plot follows super cop Jack Slate as he attempts to foil the attempts of a new guerrilla police force known as the GAC. Manipulating the city with fear tactics, the unit operates above the law and throws everything at you, from murderous street gangs to hi-tech infantry and gun-toting soldiers.

The third-person combat isn't exactly deep, blending a weak cover-shooter mechanic and basic melee combat together. It's functional but rarely innovates. The real selling point is Slate's attack dog Shadow, who can be ordered to attack enemies or defend Jack.

Some areas require you to control the hound and take down enemies using stealth, while trying to avoid raising the alarm. These sections change the pace somewhat, but ultimately there is little to help this stand out from the rest of the pack. Definitely a rental or budget-price purchase.

This article was first published in the Scotsman, May 8, 2010