Return of the slasher

Devil May Cry PlayStation 2 £39.99 Capcom ***

In the last few years videogaming has become increasingly mainstream. The success of the PlayStation and Lara Croft have taken the pastime out of the bedroom and into the living room. While this has generally been a good thing, some think that games have become a bit too easy. Well, Devil May Cry is far from easy. In fact Beelzebub himself won't be the only one weeping here.

This is an old-school hack and slash affair that will see you throwing your joypad at the telly on numerous occasions as you fail for the zillionth time to destroy an enemy. Of course, once you finally vanquish your foe, the satisfaction is immense, until you realise that the next level offers more of the same. Basic RPG elements, where you can develop the character, and an in-game rating system, that evaluates your weapon prowess, offer a little depth, but this is a relentless onslaught. Thankfully your character is more agile than the normal automaton, with numerous moves to master. Unfortunately the camera does its best to annoy, with battles made even harder by the constant view changes.

Although the gameplay may be straight from the 1980's, the visuals are definitely modern day. There is a bit of elementary puzzling, but this is all about action. If your tastes include Civilisation or the Sims then perhaps this is best left on the shelf. If, however, you remember the days when games only involved reflexes, adrenaline and "continues" then Devil May Cry will offer some enjoyable reminiscence.