'Wet' falls short, despite its style

"WET," by Artificial Mind & Movement, for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, rated "M" for Mature, reviewer's rating: 6 (out of 10)

It's easy to see what inspired the creators of the new action game "Wet."

There's the setting, a gritty underworld of foul-mouthed criminals, with a Western flavor. There's the dirty-rock soundtrack and B-movie film-grain effect during gameplay. And there's lots and lots of blood that is set flowing by a mysterious heroine as beautiful as she is deadly.

Sounds straight out of "Kill Bill," right? At least, that's what "Wet" is shooting for — a Quentin Tarantino-esque action experience where violence isn't just a means to an end, but the end in itself.

The title refers to someone willing to get themselves "Wet" with blood.

Unfortunately, while "Wet" nails the grindhouse vibe, its gameplay falls short. You control Rubi Malone (voiced by "Dollhouse" actress Eliza Dushku), a gun-for-hire charged with recovering a wealthy man's son.

Armed with a samurai sword and an arsenal of guns, Rubi dispenses death using a variety of acrobatic moves.

Press a button to jump or slide, and the game world will enter stylized slow-motion while Rubi picks off multiple enemies. The faster you can dispatch your foes, the longer the slow-motion will last.

If Rubi is really ticked, she'll enter Rage Mode, and you'll become still more lethal.

And don't worry if you get hurt — around each corner is a health-restoring bottle of whiskey just waiting.

It sounds fun, and it is for a while. But it feels like "Wet" is taking too many of its cues from other games.

And as for the overall aesthetic, "Wet" got the Tarantino style down but missed the gruesome charm and humor. It ends up being less than the sum of its parts.

Graphics: The film-grain effect is a pretty cool touch, though at first a little strange. As Rubi moves from a scummy section of Chinatown to a highway car chase to a spooky mansion, the game maintains a smooth design style and fun effects. And the Rage Mode graphics really do pop.

Audio: The original soundtrack is full of excellent rock and punk tunes that suit the rebellious, violent feel of the game. Voice acting, including Eliza Dushku and Malcom McDowell, is also solid.

Parents' take: "Wet" more than earns its Mature rating, with plenty of blood and violence, the "healing" whiskey bottles and a script littered with severe profanity.

Final word: "Wet" has a lot to offer the Tarantino fan or the action gamer who just wants to shoot up some fools. But with the iffy story and inconsistent gameplay, there's just not a lot of motivation to keep slaying enemies.

e-mail: lshumway@desnews.com