Review: Murky controls, goals leave `WET' dry

Someone at Bethesda Software did the right math. Draft-age males play games, so a slashing, pirouetting assassin with a body rivaling that of Angelina Jolie seems like the winning combo for the new title "WET."

But not everything in a successful game can be so easily contrived.

"WET" ($60 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) is a smart, aggressive, first-person shooter/slasher/fighter, but lacks a certain usability that sets the great games apart from the also-rans.

I played the Xbox360 version of the bawdy and bloody game, but quickly tired of this latest twist on FPS control.

"WET" means wet with blood. I was thrust into an ill-defined plot line as protagonist Rubi Malone, a buxom "fixer" dispatched around the globe to recover a wealthy man's son - and spare no lives doing it.

Rubi is killing killers, so it's hard to know who is trustworthy or if there are any good guys or girls. No mind, let the carnage begin.

Rubi's knockout figure and ability to perform athletic, gravity-defying moves while shooting is the alleged difference here. When she jumps, runs up a wall or slides along a floor, time slows for her and she bends backward and contorts her body to aim and shoot with accuracy.

This was fun for about the first 20 minutes or so, then, once I got the hang of it, the moves became routine - and a bit boring. It was also too easy to lose my bearings after completing the tricky moves. I would stand there after twisting and turning and killing a foe and wonder, "Now which way was I going?"

It would have been nice to have a small on-screen map or display with any mission objective details to remind me of my purpose on that level.

At the beginning of each level, there's a quick camera look-around that's supposed to be informative by showing you what to grab, open or find. It didn't help much. There just was enough cohesion to the action.

This game could - and should have been - better. It's got a nice feel, decent graphics and a sweet Quentin Tarantino flick feel, with a rough-edged rockabilly soundtrack. Sadly, it would probably make a better Tarantino movie than a video game.

"WET" is rated "M" for mature.

Two out of four stars.

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On the Net:

http://wet.bethsoft.com/