Games like Crimson Sea always pique our curiosity. There's no big licence or any particularly glitzy hype, and it's coming out of a stable that's always had one eye firmly fixed on originality and the other on gameplay. Once Gavin had looked at preview code and given his trademark Del Monte man-style nod of approval, we knew we had something worth looking forward to. And although Gavin always thinks he's right, we have to grudgingly admit that this time he wasn't wrong.

Crimson Sea is a third-person action/shooter that puts you in the shoes of the leading man, Sho. Through quite a novel induction sequence (that we won't spoil), Sho quickly becomes the top dog in G-Squad, a division of the rather pompous-sounding Intelligence Agency of the Galaxy. The known universe is under threat from a nasty bunch of aliens called Mutons and, yup, you've guessed it, you've got fo do the right thing and kick that Muton ass right back to Mutonsville.

From very early on, the number of enemies you face on screen is reminiscent of Koei's efforts in Dynasty Warriors 3. We're talking about hundreds of nasties resembling oversized cockroaches that will swarm you given the opportunity. But mass numbers aside, this game is a very different animal from the oriental hack 'n' slash of the Dynasty series.

For a start, there's a great deal more depth and diversity. The missions (of which there are approximately 30) are often branched quests, so you don't always have to play them in consecutive order. This means that if you fail in one you can try something else before going back for another attempt. The objectives also have enough variety to keep the action interesting - it's not just a case of hacking your way through the teeming hordes (although this is the main meat of the gameplay). You also have missions where you need to detect aliens disguising themselves as civilians, guide and protect a character from attack, put the brakes on a runaway train and engage in various ticking-clock scenarios, to name but a few.

Plot developments that have significant impact on gameplay also occur throughout the game. For example, although you start with just your trusty sidekick, an early mission involves you having to locate stranded soldiers that later make up your team. They will often follow you through missions and add much-needed firepower. Further still, Sho discovers he's a man of hidden talents, as a meeting with a scientist results in him harnessing neo-psionic powers that act as very visually impressive special moves when the going gets tough.

These powers, along with additional weaponry and items, can be purchased intermittently from your base. Sho has two forms of attack: projectile and melee (with the melee attack based on your primary gun of choice).

Koei has added a very smart weaponry system that adds further depth by having three separate components that can effect the power of your weapon. The barrel represents your gun, and you can combine it with multiple 'effectors' that enhance the performance in different ways, such as power, and then further customise it with generators that can change speed, capacity, range... the list goes on. The weapons system adds a strategic twist because you'll need different tools for different jobs and that's especially apparent when faced with one of the brutal level bosses.

The game really looks the business, too. Crimson Sea has a very distinctive style, somewhere between a Japanese anime effect and Final Fantasy, with a shaking of Phantasy Star chucked in for good measure. The only real downside is the camera - it often has a very jagged response that can disrupt play - and when you've got a screen full of stuff that wants to kill your team, then you need to have your wits about you.

But overall Crimson Sea works very well and provides a great-looking, highly playable action romp. Koei has done an excellent job at taking a genre that can quite often suffer from repetition and added enough diversity to keep the gameplay varied and exciting. If you get a kick out of killing monsters by the truckload, then this game is really going to blow your mind.

Power
Very little slowdown when tons of enemies are on screen. The load times are nice and fast, too.

Style
Tongue-in-cheek dialogue and distinctive, colourful visuals give the game its own unique style.

Immersion
Controls can be awkward and the camera irritates but all is forgotten when faced with 100+ foes.

Lifespan
There are plenty of levels to wade through and they vary enough to keep the action fresh.

Summary
A quality action/shooter that will satisfy the strongest bloodlust while making sure it never gets boring.

1. It's a full scale alien massacre!
2. Distinctive visuals
3. Varied gameplay
4. Unexpected depth
5. Good plot twists

1. Lacks a two-player option
2. Jerky camera