Scenery, Biffo, But Not Much Else

Sun Herald

Sunday August 31, 2008

ELIOT FISH

HELLBOY: THE SCIENCE OF EVIL

Platform: PSP

Publisher: Konami

Price: $79.95

Rating: M

VERDICT 2/5

While the red-skinned demon detective with the giant stone fist makes mince meat of the Golden Army on the silver screen, he's on a completely different track in this alternate PSP adventure.

The Science of Evil starts out promisingly enough, capturing the attitude and atmosphere of the popular Hellboy comic. Sadly, actor Ron Perlman doesn't lend his voice talents to the big man, which puts a dent in the game's otherwise decent presentation.

Punching and shooting waves of enemies is the basis for all the action in this game, with a sprinkling of problem solving to act as a buffer between Hellboy's stoushes with the supernatural. Items on the ground can be picked up and thrown, or wielded as weapons - as can the enemies themselves. You also have the use of Hellboy's "Good Samaritan" revolver, which is handy for picking off baddies before they get too close for comfort.

Aside from a change of environments, the game never evolves beyond this basic punch-up formula. Before you know it, it's all over and you realise that it never really got out of second gear.

Hellboy fans will appreciate the effort, but this shallow brawler is too generic to be memorable.

© 2008 Sun Herald

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