Run Like Hell

For a game with a title any reviewer would love, Run Like Hell has exactly the wrong blend of elements for a game of its ambition, creating a dissatisfactory experience.

You control your character from a 3rd person perspective camera, as he sweeps through a space station, and the plot, eliminating strange alien monsters in a series of intense firefights and gratuitous cutscenes. Here's a short list of my problems. You're less than maneuverable, with poor control over your character.

You've got weapons that require significant button mashing to use, even when it would seem like they should be auto fire. Additionally, I'm not sure who designed the character models, but any woman sporting these figures would almost certainly be guaranteed severe back problems in reality. Finally, the graphics are sub par, appearing almost two-dimensional at times, with a very derivative, almost Sci-fi TV level, visual style. And honestly, how does it enhance the game to see a character being graphically decapitated (via biting), watching the decapitated head being spit at the main character, and then being put through a pedantic, annoying, pointless puzzle?

It's only saving grace? Its the voice acting, handled by real, honest to goodness actors. It claims to use high caliber voice talent, and in Lance Henriksen and Clancy Brown, it delivers. They may have absolutely crappy dialogue, but at least these two are real actors, and it shows. Brown has portrayed Lex Luthor in Superman: The Animated Series, as well as a variety of other voice roles in his long career, and Henriksen is an accomplished potter outside of his acting career.

In the end, don't take my word for it. Like the advertisement in the back of the manual says, 'Grab your Bawls and Run Like Hell.'

A mix of The Thing and Aliens--that's what Interplay hopes it's achieved with Run Like Hell. Featuring top-flight voice talent (so they say), the game focuses on Captain Nick Conner, who can't slow down for a second, lest one of the rather intelligent aliens slice off his head. Featuring 3D environments, cinematic camera angles, and seven grueling chapters, your springtime should be a horror-filled place.