You've probably heard umpteen times how licensed games tend to be rubbish, resting on their reputation to shift units. But with quality games like Rocky and Buffy in the wings things, it would seem, are changing.

Obviously, Blade II is a bloody beat-'em-up, in which Blade blasts, slices and tenderises his way through droves of vampires in a plot inspired by, not based upon, his second movie.

The Right thumbstick is used for hand-to-hand melee combat. Push it in the direction where you want your leg or fist to go, and tap out a rhythm on the stick to produce a series of combos. It only allows you to fight in the four main compass directions, but it's way better than the system used in Bruce Lee. It does feel a little stuttered, though, and as it stands, makes the action quite repetitive.

If more than a handful of enemies crowd around you, you can crack out the big guns, or resort to Blade's Rage mode that sees him whipping out his sword and going postal for a few seconds. These sessions of button-bashing butchery are the most satisfying parts of the game, much more enjoyable than melee combat.

It's not fair to expect anything more than mindless limb-lopping and gunplay, since Blade is famed for his flashy bloodletting methods rather than a selection of nifty gadgets. However, what combat there is needs to be more fluid and slick than it is here. Other than that, and average visuals, there's not much to criticise.

Blade II is surprisingly good for a scrolling beat-'em-up, and for a game built on a movie licence, but it'll grind you down with tedium after an hour or so of play. It all depends on just how enjoyable you find laying waste to roomfuls of neck-slurping vamps.

Buffy is still the better slayer, but she never gets her dainty fists as bloody or as busy as Blade does.

1. Barrels of blood
2. Some cool action
3. Satisfying slaughter

1. Hit/Shoot/Slice, repeat, Hit/Shoo...
2. Aorta be more fluid to play
3. Unexciting, ordinary visuals

Power
Swish loading times, and thoughtful use of the pad. Graphics are rarely anything special, though.

Style
Gritty locations slopped with gore and C-grade techno. A decent atmosphere, and good cut-scenes.

Immersion
Dip into it for occasional, casual sessions for best results, or you run the risk of a numb brain.

Lifespan
Lots of vamps to wade through, but the action can get monotonous quite quickly.

Summary
Violent, repetitive and enjoyable in short bursts. A good beat-'em-up, but not worth missing too much daylight for.