"I've got my kidneys back!" Good for you, fella. "My platelets have returned!" Way to go! "Aaaaack! I've got my spine back!" Aw, stop it, we're filling up over here. In a world where most games focus your efforts on turning people into nothing more than bloody, twitching organ donors, it's incredibly refreshing to meet one of the lucky recipients at last. And you don't even have to bring grapes. Welcome to Blood Will Tell. Kind of like Children Of Courage with big knives...

Meet Hyakkimaru. His dad traded 48 parts of his infant son's body for power from demons. Leaving what was left of his baby (presumably the bits that poo and cry) to die, the nipper was discovered by an inventor who gave our hero prosthetic, well, pretty much everything. Right down to a hidden knee-mounted bazooka, machine pistol in the wrist and two elbow-fitted blades. (Thanks, dad!) Eighteen years later, and Hakki's after a level of empowerment that a disability parking sticker simply won't cover. And so, travelling feudal Japan, he hunts down the 48 demons, vowing to destroy them and get his body parts back. As a concept, this is inspired. You've got a largely artificial hero genuinely fighting to win back his humanity. It's a big theme by anyone's standards and makes for a compelling story.

Aside from an occasional detour into platformer country with Hyakki's squeaking boy-thief sidekick Dororo (who can also be played co-operatively throughout by a mate) this is predictable stuff. Not bad, just predictable - a succession of increasingly tough, often inventive boss battles, interspersed with scores of demonic minions, hidden power-ups and special items. Blade combos are built on only two buttons but are spiced up by rhythm-action-style special attacks and the use of those limb-mounted projectile weapons. Enchanted blades give defensive and offensive bonuses, and restored body parts enhance everything from speed to agility, focus and balance. Even the immensely grating Dororo has his uses, and, if you're playing solo, can be given standing orders to seek out hidden demons, collect dropped valuables and help attack Hyakki's enemies.

And that would happily be that, if it weren't for two things: one, an often distressingly lazy camera that has to be corrected manually if you want to see in front of you (a real pain in the ass in the heat of battle); and two, woolly strike areas around both you and your enemies that can lead to unexpected wounds for you, and lucky escapes for Mr. Demon.

A pity. But it says a lot for the quality of the plot and Blood Will Tell's overall style that the urge to put Hyakkimaru back together again remains, despite these failings. Oh, and by the way, in case you're wondering, at the time of writing the poor guy hadn't got his frank and beans back yet.

Graphics 70%
Stylish. Quite Spirited Away in places.

Sound 60%
Good score, meaty hack 'n slash FX.

Gameplay 60%
Variety comes mainly with weaponry.

Lifespan 70%
Plenty to do, and it's fun doing it.

Overall 70%
There's an inventiveness and style that largely manages to overcome some camera issues. A good slash-'em-up that could've been great.