The big film of the moment is here, spawning a load of Watchmen merchandise, from reprints of the comics and figures to Rorschach face masks and Nite Owl II endorsed Viagra and of course a video game. I am sure Alan Moore is not at all bothered and though I can't wait for the movie, I am very sceptical about it and anything else to do with this great comic book series, especially need I say the videogame adaption. Thankfully we have managed to get our hands on the first part of the game and therefore bring you our impressions so far. 

 

 

Warner Bros have made a very brave move with the gaming version of Watchmen, they have made a kind of prequel to the movie, even though the comic is spread over 20 odd years. Having not seen the film yet I am unable to say if this ties in with a new story thread but they seem to be picking on a single incident, allowing you to control over Rorschach and Nite Owl II. The cut scenes are presented in a simple comic book style (no Dave Gibbons I'm sad to say) using cameos from the comic to set the scene. For the action the look changes dramatically shifting to a more movie like scenario, with a gritty feel and our heroes running around in their dodgy get ups. Rorschach and Nite Owl find themselves in the middle of a prison riot, straight away setting the scene for a massacre. You both run through room after room of prisoners, beating them silly. There is a little interaction with pulling levers to open doors and lifting gates but not much else from this short demo.

 

Thankfully the fighting is spot on, this is a classic beat-em-up given a HD finish, the game looks really good, Rorschach, Nite Owl and the prisoners look great for a PSN game and whilst the prison setting look a bit samey and drab, it is a prison, so we just have to see how the rest of the game fares in our full review coming soon.

 

Each character has their own unique fighting style and movement. Light and heavy attacks allow for cool combos, you also have a throw (I get a sick pleasure chucking enemies off a prison balcony or into a fire), plus a special move that is linked to a rage gauge. The action is fast and bloody, at points you are able to pull off a finisher, just move up to an enemy and press the corresponding button to unleash it, Nite Owl will pull off a fancy special move with a handstand, then he grabs the enemies neck with his legs, throwing them about, whereas Rorschach will take a more violent approach with some pretty visceral attacks.

 

 

So far the game shows promise, but I do find myself torn between the game/movie and the book. Though the comic was not as outright violent as the game (and it does seem a bit out of place) as a gamer my first impressions is that this a top beat-em-up. I have to warn parents that this is not a superhero tie-in like Superman or Spiderman, this is an adult game based on an adult movie, the swearing and violence is pretty strong throughout.

 

They ask "who is watching the Watchmen", well I will be, very closely over the next few days, before filing my full impressions for you.