My SMG is fully loaded as I reach the corner of the alley. Taking a quick turn into it, I see a street punk hiding behind some trash cans. I quickly dispose of him with a well placed Head Shot! . As my combo meter begins, I see two more thugs headed my way, one to the left of me and the other trying to flank to the right . I roll on the ground and immediately shoot the one on the left in the chest ( Death Roll! ), combo meter going, and do a Snap Shot! on the ass of the right, which consists of turning around quickly and blowing that scum off the face of the earth. More points for that little skill shot. Because my kill combo meter is draining faster the more points I get, I gotta find more scum to kill and/or shoot strategically placed skull signs to extend my combo meter and additionally my score. Y'see if I can continue to kill people the meter stays active, adding more and more points. But if I can't kill something and/or shoot skull signs for a brief period, my combo dies and starts from scratch.

So I sprint like Marcus Fenix on speed looking this way and that way, all the while my time and combo meter is dying. Running up some steps to a warehouse, I finally see someone trying to kill me with a shotgun. He shoots, I roll ducking under the shot , I reach him, clock him upside his head, take his shotgun and take out his partner up ahead with the last shell in the chamber: Last Bullet!. Laughing my ass off, I continue forth inside the warehouse chock full of killers hellbent on putting me six feet under. Running and gunning, all the while getting shot from every which way it dawns on me my combo hasn't been broken yet. I may break my record of a million in this stage after all.

Welcome to..



Bizzare Creations greatest hardcore masterpiece. Before I continue let me dispense with the story. What is The Club ? Imagine an organization so secretive that only a handful of people across the globe know of its existence. An organization that recruits 'outsiders' to fight in an underground bloodsport, like ancient gladiators. The combatants have only one option, kill or be killed. Drug lords, mob bosses, dotcom billionaires, rock stars, presidents, Hollywood superstars, CEOs of multinational giants, aristocrats and royalty-They all rub shoulders in The Club. The most exclusive and secretive organization in the world, the members all share a taste for blood and a belief that their wealth and power places them above and beyond the reach of normal laws. The entry fee is astronomical, and the membership is for life. Once your in The Club , you can't leave.


Explosions sure are purdy.

That's it for the story folks. The stylish movie that introduces the main characters in the game ala the movie Snatch pretty much sums it all up. If you're looking for a deep storyline may I suggest GTA IV cause that's about it here. Now if you want a game brimming with highly addictive gameplay, it's right here and then some. Some may dismiss this game but don't you join the chain gang of peer pressure. This is unlike any game you've played and its game disc begs to be spun.


Only 392,712 points to go ... Damn!

You play as one of eight characters ( two of which you unlock through tournament play ) and fight through eight deadly arenas and more than 49 levels in order to secure your freedom from The Club. The character designs are really nice and you can see Bizarre Creations really put extra effort into lovingly creating them. Not only are they visually unique from one another but they handle totally different as well. This is definitely a game that picking the right character for your play style pays in dividends and more importantly results. Do I go for a very fast character to zip through the level but weak stamina and health or do I go for a lumbering one with slow speed and the stamina of a rhinoceros? Choosing the right character for yourself will dictate whether you get 200,000 and under or getting a million points and beyond.


This is Nemo. He eats kids and people who suck at gaming for breakfast.

Now unto the things that people have had issues with it. The game is hard. Awww, poor baby. How's about I get you Gears of War's single player mode to play on any difficulty and a pacifier? This game isn't for people with weak constitutions as it will make you work for your results. But like anything the more time you put into it the more efficient you get. When you get used to the breakneck speed of the game, strategy that elusive technique you lacked before, you begin to incorporate it in abundance. The other thing that will have newcomers up in arms with the game is the controls. They are quirky and at first they seem slow. As a matter of fact, most people that don't dig this game main complaint is this very thing. Well padawan, as you continue to play know that the controls as the speed of the game settles into a comfortable zone and you'll realize how on the controls really are.


Somebody call a badass?

One more thing that may be a deterrent is the game is like an old school shooter. It's all about bettering your score. The multiplayer modes which there are quite a few, with different variants, all revolve around score. People have been known to complain because it's about scoring runs with leaderboards. Well guess what? That's what the game is all about. There is a simplicity not in gameplay but in cohesiveness knowing it's about your score. Not a kill count because the two are not in synergy as you may think. People have called it Project Gotham Racing on foot with guns and that analogy is actually pretty accurate. The game has four player split-screen ( love it ) and a bevy of online multiplayer modes revolving around scoring points. You want a real shooter, again you may have to look elsewhere. But if you want a hardcore action game unlike the derivative first person shooters flooding the market today.. let me introduce you to The Club. I'll be waiting.. as will my epic scores for you to beat or bow down to.


[ Blogger's Note: Far be it for me to show just one point of view, I give you Rev Anthony's take on it as well. Here's a spoiler: He thinks it's aimed for a particular sect ... retro-scoring gamers. A niche title that will appeal to a certain hardcore demographic but not to the masses. My take on his take? I think it should be tried by all and the people who moan about the game should grow some balls and a play a real man's game. ]

Also, the price in Gamestop or anywhere else for the game is 59.99 new and 39.99 used for both Xbox360 and PS3 versions. Unless you go to Amazon which has the game listed brand new for 28.41. A friggin' steal at that price!!