Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick - PlayStation 2

Ash has a "to do" list and this are your cue as to where to go next in the game. These missions can either be given to you by NPCs, such as the cops who stop you getting into the Kitten Club, to long-term goals such as getting into the TV station. The first problem is that this makes for a pretty linear experience. Secondly, the puzzles are obtuse. Don't assume that a locked door needs a key or you'll be running around for hours killing every zombie that jumps you in the hope that one of them will drop it. Ash can use spells and dynamite as well as keys to open doors, the trouble is you don't often know which is the right way and there are few hints in the game itself. Lastly, there's no map. This is rather a blow considering the sometimes confusing camera angles and similarity of the backdrops. But on the plus side the levels are relatively small and there are plenty of zombies to kill as you navigate your way round.

Graphically it lacks some of the pizzazz of Resident Evil, but the real reason to play is the scourge of the undead--Ash and luckily he's voiced by the man himself, Bruce Campbell. Fans of the series will enjoy the wry humour and zombie-eradicating goodness, but action aficionados might be left wanting more than the one-liners and samey gameplay. --Kristen Bowditch