WEREWOLF: THE APOCALYPSE – EARTHBLOOD
Xbox, PlayStation, PC, PEGI: 16
★★★ ★★
STEALTH and hardcore button mashing battles are blended in Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood, in a way that is almost as clunky as the game’s title.
While we did enjoy the graphics, characters and overall gameplay, it doesn’t quite make sense how one minute you are sneaking up on a limited number of guards, then suddenly a whole horde appear to take you on in your beast form.
The man – or werewolf – vs big corp is just so overdone too.
Having different strengths between human and werewolf form give the game some teeth, and we liked the need to balance your rage in order to fight at ~your best.
■ The last word: Unbalanced action and unoriginal story let down better concepts like rage management and differing form strengths.
■ Price: £44.99.
WILLY’S WONDERLAND (15)
C NCREATORS of those ‘crazy Nicolas Cage’ montages on YouTube Y may feel a little short-changed s h by his latest B-movie. B Willy’s Wonderland is s as unhinged as anything Cage C has done since that well-publicised battle with the taxman.
But this time, he’s been ordered to keep a tight lid on his trademark animal noises and blood-splattered gurning. Here, the Best Actor Oscar winner of 1996 (it feels a lot longer ago) remains frustratingly silent as an ice-cool and seemingly mute drifter who lands a job as a janitor in an abandoned, haunted, animal-themed family restaurant and arcade.
However, as Cage’s unnamed character sweeps up, chugs cans of a fictional soft drink called Punch and tries to beat his high score
NY on pinball, the restaurant’s human-sized animatronic creatures whirr into life.
Bi
As he wages war on them, watching Cage batter a giant mechanical ostrich to death is just as entertaining as it sounds.
Beth Grant’s local sheriff gets some funny lines, Cage’s unflappable swagger is darkly amusing and the camp violence is energetically staged.
But, by the time we get to the big baddie, the titular demonic weasel Willy, the novelty has begun to wear off.
■ On digital now.