P.N.03 - GameCube

The entirely inconsequential plot forces you to guide the svelte Vanessa through umpteen levels of third person combat. After viewing the intro sequence, where V gracefully jumps and twists between enemy bullets, you assume the control system is going to be all about fluid movement and balletic combos. In actual fact it's a rather clunky system that refuses to let you fire while moving and is actually somewhat reminiscent of Resident Evil's. After a while you get used to it and can start enjoying the game, which is broken up into a number of small rooms where you must destroy a series of extremely dim but nevertheless deadly robots.

Throughout all this the graphics are extremely well designed, if ultimately rather repetitive–-a statement that could be applied to the game in general if you're so inclined. If you enjoy your old-school arcade action though, this soon becomes addictive and is a welcome alternative to the legion of sequels and clones currently clogging up the charts. --David Jenkins