Gaming Trend Review
WET
- Official Site
- Platform: 360
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: A2M
- Release Date: 09/15/09
- Genre: Action/Adventure
Pros
- Rollicking rockabilly soundtrack
- Strong cinematic presentation
- Variety of moves are fun to chain together
Cons
- Too much "been there, done that"
- Very linear gameplay and mediocre storyline
- Level design gets a bit repetitive
by Tim Wilson
Blood. Boobs. Bullets. If any of those words make you giddy with anticipation, then you probably land squarely in the target demographic of Artificial Mind and Movement’s new shooter, WET. From the in-your-face menu screens to the frantic gameplay, WET is an adrenaline-soaked homage to ‘70s grindhouse films. Unfortunately most of those movies weren’t actually very good. Does WET fall into the same trap, or does it deserve its own cult following?
Those Naughty “B” Words
If your list of B words also contains things like “buxom babe with a bodacious booty” then your luck continues to hold. Players take on the role of Rubi Malone, a bad-ass bitch with a gun, a blade, and a serious case of attitude. Rubi shuns health packs, preferring instead to swig a fifth of whisky then shoot the empty bottle out of the air.
The game starts with a bang, as Rubi chases down a criminal named Simmons to get back a mysterious briefcase. The first level is essentially an extended chase sequence punctuated by rooms in which Rubi must fight off a large number of attackers. During this sequence, players are introduced to Rubi’s controls and actions. While this integrated tutorial is a great way to teach players the controls without slowing down the pace, the game demands that you complete each move properly before letting you continue. The result is an occasionally frustrating repetition of moves. Fortunately you won’t have to deal with this long – the game is content with showing you the basics and letting you figure out the rest on your own.
Takin’ Things Down To Chinatown
In a way it’s fitting that the tutorial is so unforgiving, because to master the game will require you to know Rubi’s repertoire of moves inside and out. Rubi’s moves are a hodgepodge of Kung Fu/action-movie stereotypes. During her adventure she’ll dual wield pistols, slash enemies with a sword, slide across the floor on her knees while shooting, perform wall runs, and cling to ledges. Many of these moves will automatically send Rubi into “bullet time” – a now well-worn first-person shooter gimmick in which the world goes into slow-motion while the player pulls off extraordinary moves.
Unfortunately there is always a balance between allowing players to pull off complicated maneuvers and keeping controls relatively simple. While WET’s control scheme is fairly intuitive, putting it all together with the fast pace and variety that the game demands can sometimes be a real challenge. The game automates bullet-time and some aspects of targeting. While it’s nice to not have to think about those things in the heat of battle, it also takes a lot of control out of the player’s hands. I could have done with a little less slo-mo and a little more power over changing moves and targets mid-stride.
Screenshots
Kill Bill Volume 3?
If all this talk of briefcases, sword-wielding heroines, and over-the-top action sounds familiar, then you’ve probably watched a few Quentin Tarantino films. Tarantino borrows heavily from “classic” ‘70s trash cinema, and WET in turn borrows from both of them. In fact, this is one area in which WET truly shines. The game utilizes a film grain effect during game play, simulating the feel of watching one of those scratchy, dust-coated old films in a rundown theater. It’s actually less distracting than it sounds, except for the heavy grain effect when Rubi nears death. When she does die (and she inevitably will, many times), there is a surprising reel break effect as if the film broke and melted on the projector bulb.
These little touches in the presentation are very effective in immersing the player in the style the developers were shooting for. Unfortunately the overall graphics don’t come off nearly as well. While the game doesn’t look hideous, it pales in comparison to a lot of modern Xbox 360 titles. Character models tend to be rather generic and plain, and the Hong Kong settings would not have looked out of place in a game two or three years older than this one.
Audio, on the other hand, fares much better. The game rocks a killer soundtrack reminiscent of Tarantino’s excellent taste in obscure but scene-appropriate music. Whenever Rubi faces off against a horde of enemies, a fast-paced song will come blaring out of your speakers – instantly putting you in the mood of kicking ass and taking names. In addition to the heart-thumping score by Brian LeBarton, the game features rockabilly bands such as the Gypsy Pistoleros and The Chop Tops.
Voice acting is a mixed bag. The game features some high profile celebrity voice talent. Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Dollhouse actress Eliza Dushku lends her voice to Rubi, while Heroes’ Malcolm McDowell plays Rupert Pelham and Mr. Ackers. They tend to do a great job throughout. Unfortunately they can’t save a game filled with generic one-liners that sound like your college dorm buddy getting drunk and ordering Chinese food with a fake Asian accent.
B Movie or Cult Classic?
WET is one of those games that is simply frustrating to review, because it doesn’t fall neatly into the “very good” or “really bad” category. While I applaud the developers for successfully infusing the game with a terrific sense of style and cinematic gameplay, there’s not much substance under the showy exterior. The first few levels do an excellent job of setting the pace and tone of the game, but they are diminished when you start to discover that you’ll basically just be fighting the same enemies over and over again. For a game that emphasizes using combat variety in order to better your rating, it sure could use a little variety itself.
There are, of course, exceptions. Button-mashing interludes and an on-the-rails (but fun) car-hopping sequence liven up the action, and pulling off a blood-soaked victory over a mob of enemies can be immensely satisfying. But in the end the game is just an amalgam of gimmicks we’ve seen before in better games. I could not shake the feeling while playing that I had seen all this before, and realized I kept comparing it in my mind to another mediocre cinema-styled shooter, Stranglehold. I have nothing against games borrowing themes from each other, but you really have to execute if you want your game to stand out from the pack.
WET offers a little bit of replay value – you can go back through levels to better your score and ranking, or take on some of the unlockable challenges. However, most players will likely move on to other things. With the linear level design and lack of multiplayer, there is little reason to revisit WET after you blow through the 8-10 hour story mode.
WET certainly offers some entertainment value, and those who want to check it out for a weekend rental will likely get their money’s worth. The action is fast-paced and fun until the novelty wears off, and the soundtrack is a real treat. Movie buffs and Tarantino fans will enjoy the style, at least for a little while. It’s not that WET does anything particularly bad, but it doesn’t do anything exceptionally well either. If there’s a sequel, I hope the developers can tweak the game’s elements to truly make it something that stands out in a crowd. The unique presentation certainly deserves a more compelling game underneath.
