Have you had the misfortune of enduring Kevin Costner's Waterworld? If so, you'll be familiar with a vision of the future that depicts the planet as one big swimming pool.

This is the theme that Battle Engine Aquila takes its cue from - a first-person Mech blaster that delivers an original twist to the existing robot genre - and it's a great deal more entertaining than Costner’s recent celluloid efforts.

As a result of heavy pollution, the world is in a soggy old state with just small outcrops of land remaining for those who have legs instead of fins. Two factions are going toe-to-toe in order to secure the last bits of dry real estate, and your job is to work alongside the Forseti forces to defeat the evil marauding Muspell army.

In the battle to reclaim land, the Forseti have got one big advantage going for them in the guise of a new experimental Mech from the Battle Engine range called 'Aquila'. As far as big electrical appliances are concerned, water is traditionally a no-no, which is why Aquila is special. In addition to standard stomping around in Walker mode, it can switch to Jet mode for limited periods and thus serve up a fresh slice of death from above - as well as kick some butt on terra firma, or at least what's left of it.

So, a flying Mech. "Big deal!" we hear you all cry. Well, it's not so much the ability to take to the skies that gives this game an interesting edge, it's the environment and computer-controlled unit activity that really immerses you. The most striking feature is the scale of battles that are independently taking place before you. Large numbers of opposing forces will be using all the weapons and machinery in their arsenals to get the upper hand in combat including tanks, battleships, infantry, aircraft and artillery. You'll find yourself experiencing moments where it's all kicking off around you and if you're not careful you'll quickly be flanked by a team of enemy units. All the time you need to assess your own position and target your objective while keeping an eye out for your own troop movements.

How you engage the enemy is up to you. Go in gung-ho and stand your ground on the frontline, or use your brain and pick the fights where you can protect your men and also gain an advantage. This core gameplay element makes Battle Engine Aquila a very enjoyable experience and often makes you feel like you're playing a role in a much bigger battle, rather than the solitude found in most Mech titles. You may well have a shiny metal beast to play with, but this title teaches you that you're not a one-man army.

Battle Engine Aquila has a very distinctive appearance, helped by a rich colour palette and detailed textures. Flying over the beach at sunset and watching the light reflect on the waves is as heart-warming as watching a squadron of troops fly through the air after a volley of grenades has landed on their position. The units are a bit basic in colour (red for the bad guys, blue for your own troops), but at least it makes them easily identifiable in the middle of combat.

The framerate nips along nicely in Jet mode and the dreaded slowdown that is inevitably expected with multiple squadrons moving simultaneously makes no significant impact on the enjoyment of the game. The only gripe with the landscapes is that they can appear too similar, especially when mission objectives are also centred on the attack/defend variety.

The same can be said for weapons. There is a different selection to use both on land and when airborne, and occasional augmentations increase the destructive capacity, but there still could be a little more variety. A third-person view would also have been a nice touch, so we could check out the Battle Engine strutting around in all its glory.

Although Battle Engine Aquila is fundamentally an arcade-style Mech shooter, there is a heavy strategic element that adds the required depth to make this game more than just a flight of fancy. It's refreshing to play a well-produced title that hasn't had to rely on the bells and whistles of licences or a mountain of marketing budget in order to deliver a genuinely enjoyable and relatively sophisticated experience. A great game for those who like to hunt in packs.

1. Big battles
2. Good shooting and strategy mix
3. Easy controls and immediately playable

1. Landscapes and objectives can be repetitive
2. Not enough variety of Mechs

Power
Xbox is put to good use by handling epic combat scenes with confidence and style.

Style
Rolling 3D landscapes, distinctive graphics and top quality audio. Highly original.

Immersion
It's a war out there and a tough and enduring one at that - who can resist?

Lifespan
Lots to do and tons of stuff to unlock before you even factor in two-player options.

Summary
An arcade shooter with deceptive depth. Distinctly different from other Mech-style games and that's no bad thing.