Gaming Mojo

Dead to Rights: Retribution is the newest game to hit the market this week, and having to compete with some tough competition as a third person shooter.

This game has players take control of the good cop officer Jack Slate with the aid of his K9 companion Shadow, fighting the rise of street gangs with an emerging conspiracy. Bursting out cheesy one liners and forgettable character interaction, there isn’t much for player to hold onto.

Retribution players like a standard 3rd person, with 10 chapters to complete, each containing a stealth in which you take control of Shadow. The rest of the time you play as Jack, taking out enemies with head shots or snapping necks, and constantly ditching and replacing weapons from fallen enemies. The 8-10 hour experience will be alright familiar with the standard issue weapons; assault rifle, shotgun and pistol. And with no additional modes there’s no incentive to go any further.

The combat system allows for a mix of gunplay and hand to hand combat and the all effective take down move. With the melee combat component, the gunplay it’s a little more forgiving than usual, allowing for easy kills with not a lot of stress and some ridiculous headshot whilst bind firing. But beware of your step as no grenade indicators can leave biting the dust. Shadow can also be commanded via the D-pad with basic attack, stay commands, this additions adds for some cool take down plays but won’t revolutionize the game play. Unfortunately with some dazed and an outright kamikaze attempt from some enemies will make for some all too easy kills.

This game won’t win you on presentation, with basic and some outright ugly visuals and music that will be remembers for its annoying nature. Retribution just steps up to the line and it’s a disappointment because of it.

Overall a needed graphical boost like Gears of War 2 and a more engaging and well written story like Mass Effect 2 would have blasted Retribution out of the sewers and into charts. Sadly this will be a game played once and stuffed in the draw; an all too common standard issue game with no stand out features won’t cut it in these days. If you’re looking for another game to play and finish and have the cash, by all means give this a shot, for others; bigger and better games, worth the money will here soon enough.

Video review can be found at gametrailers.com