The Down and Dirty

In Jaws: Unleashed, players take on the role of a seriously pissed off great white shark. A shark on a mission of revenge! Um…quick question, though, how does one unleash a shark? Sharks don't have necks, so where does the leash go? I'm just asking.

The Goods

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Jaws, the movie that has kept more people out of the ocean than medical waste, and what better way to celebrate than by taking on the role of the titular fish himself? Of course, since all the sharks from the movies ended up one version of dead or another, some swift artistic license was required to create a connection between the game's razor-toothed protagonist and the movie. When the game begins, the shark is captured and sent to a research facility, from which it must then escape. The rest of the game is spent on a mission to hunt down and kill Chief Brody's son, because, really, that Brody clan is just a pain in a shark's butt, you know?

The demo on the show floor was oddly sparse for a game that's due to be released in just three months. To be honest, it was little more than a tech demo designed to show off the 25-point dismemberment engine of which the developers are so very proud. The key to maintaining Jaws' health is managing his hunger, so players will have to chow down on the various denizens of the deep that stock each level. But who wants to eat clown fish when there are unwary divers to be had? Each human can be literally ripped into pieces, and it's not uncommon to see a hand or leg floating by as Jaws makes mincemeat out of the local surfer crowd. Players will be able to mimic the most dramatic moves from the movies, such as belly flopping onto the deck of a boat to try and sink it, or using Jaws' tail in a deadly whipping attack. Jaws will gain access to more moves as the game progresses.

When complete, Jaws: Unleashed will sport 10-15 levels with plenty of sidequests to supplement the main storyline. Quests vary in difficulty, and usually require Jaws to kill a certain number of somethings, like seals or lifeguards, in a set amount of time. Although the entire game naturally takes place underwater, each environment will offer a different atmosphere, from wide open seas to polluted industrial waters. Jaws won't be alone out there, though, as nearly 40 different types of animals will be swimming along with him, with each level hosting a different roster of creatures.

The Verdict

Ok, shredding lifeguards is fun, I'll admit it. But the demo had little more to offer than swimming and making things bleed, and if the final version doesn't have more to it than that, its appeal won't last more than a few minutes. Also, a game with a sea creature as its main character should really have much better looking water effects, but perhaps the final version will have a bit more polish.