Multiplayer party games might be a bit of an acquired taste, but the variety, pace and visuals of Whacked! should appeal to many. The first game of this type to land on Xbox was the average Fuzion Frenzy which failed in all aspects to show how much fun a multiplayer party game can be. But here, even when playing in single-player against the computer-controlled characters, there are enough laughs to keep you wanting more. Which says nothing of the promise the treats the Xbox Live aspect holds in store.

Whacked! is the name of a TV show presented by over-the-top host, Van Tastic, who walks you through each stage of the show armed to his big white teeth with a gag for every occasion. Some are genuinely funny while others are scraping the barrel, to say the least. Gameplay in Whacked! is split into two different modes. There's the single player Gameshow mode, and there's Battle mode for multiplayer matches played either split-screen, via System Link or on Xbox live. Should you want to hone your skills first, there's also a Theatre mode that shows you the basics. But as the controls are pretty simple (one button to attack and one button to jump) you won't be at a huge disadvantage if you leap in at the deep end. But before you can play either you'll have to select your character from the four very different personalities open to you at the game's start.

There's Eugene, a geeky-looking green penguin; Toof, a creature that defies all description; Lucky, a permanently angry rabbit; and Lucy, a cheeky female dressed only in stockings with nothing but little strategically placed bars over her private parts. And no, you don't get to see her fully naked, even though she tries her best during the show (Van Tastic just won't allow it). Four hidden characters are also in there waiting to be unlocked.

Once you've chosen your misfit it's off to the selection room to choose your first game.

A game of Whacked! comprises three stages, and to complete each, nine matches have to be played. You can play these in any order you wish, but you must complete all of them before moving onto to the next stage.

Whacked! features six different game types. Most of them pit all the contestants against one another in manic slap-'em-ups to the death. But one of the first games you'll come across is played purely solo - Chicken. This dumps you into an arena on your own, and to win the round, you have to collect a set number of silver stars by destroying chickens. Each rooster you destroy nets you a star. Collect 50, 100, or 200 (depending on which stage of the show you're at) and you're through to the next round.

Combat is a free-for-all where the first player to collect the set number of stars wins. Grab 'n' Run sees you having to hold a trophy for a certain amount of time to win, while the others throw everything that comes to hand at you to make you drop it. Dodgeball finds you all dodging huge, red, bouncy balls with the last one standing winning. In King of the Hill it's the first person to accumulate three minutes of time by standing on green swirls that appear around the level. And last but not least is Fragfest, where the player with the most kills once the timer has run out wins.

What's surprising about Whacked! is how playable it is given the amount of chaos going on. The Left stick moves you around the level, while the Left and Right triggers are used to strafe. This allows you to easily zigzag around collecting stars, weapons and power-ups. Only two buttons are used - one for picking up and firing weapons, and one for jumping.

The levels are brimming with elements the player can control, such as a super-weapon that, provided you've collected a battery, takes you into first-person mode for some serious cartoon carnage. Handy when you're lagging in a game of Fragfest.

Also impressive is the variety of weapons, as each level you complete unlocks a new one. You'll get to play around with plunger missiles, cluster ducks, mallets, staplers, pitchforks, beehives, cannons and freeze guns to name but a few.

Whacked! is a simple game to play, but winning can be anything but, especially on Xbox Live where you'll always be able to find a bigger fish. But at least you'll have fun trying.

1. Huge amounts of weapons to play with
2. Simple to control
3. Playable online

1. Could have more game types
2. Can be a bit annoying on the harder settings

Power
Levels are packed full of movement and impressive special effects with no slowdown at all.

Style
Very colourful with plenty of humorous dialogue to back up the slapstick cartoon action.

Immersion
On harder difficulty settings it'll take a lot of patience and perseverance to finish the game.

Lifespan
Single-player won't amuse you for long, but there's plenty of life in the multiplayer options.

Summary
Shows how a party game should be done. Simple to pick up and fun to play, especially with friends or online.