Dark Sector

Stuck behind enemy lines in the remote Russian town of Lasria, Tenno is infected with a deadly virus that slowly mutates the carrier into a mindless, brutal killing machine. Off the bat DS feels like Resident Evil 4, using a 3rd person, over-the-shoulder viewpoint with a similar emphasis on action-adventure.

However, guns are his secondary method of dispatching enemies. A razor-sharp blade called the Glaive has grown from the palm of Tenno's hand. This can be detached and thrown like a discus, decapitating the odd solider or two. Slicing someone's leg off and watching him hop around in pain is pretty brutal, yet sadistically fun at the same time.

Going through the town and the neighbouring districts is a blast with many action-packed set pieces, such as taking down a giant robotic turrent on legs in a small courtyard, to battling mutated goliaths in an abandoned church. Dark Sector knows adrenaline and delivers it in spades. Chucking in some truly polished graphical flair gives the game more weight. This sets a foreboding atmosphere, especially in a level which sees Tenno navigating a graveyard swarming with gibbering freaks. The fog hanging in the air, the creaking of the trees and the still darkness will keep you on edge and the soundtrack, ranging from downright eerie to kick arse action flick score, is brilliant.

Dark Sector ticks all the action-adventure boxes and bows down to the exemplary standards set by Resident Evil 4, commonly regarded as the greatest action game of all time, while adding some new tricks into the mix. If a sometimes dodgy storyline lets it down, with the level of action and fun to be had you will barely notice. It's been five years in the making. But was it worth the wait? Hell yes!