With the second cinematic chapter of the HELLBOY franchise set to inject some new life into the special-FX-action genre, the PlayStation Portable release of this title sticks more to the comic book style of the character’s origins than replicating the look and narrative of the movie versions.

The terrain across several global locations is not entirely free-roaming as you’re restricted to your path (as most platform games do), and some of the detail gets lost on the smaller PSP screen.

With no shortage of bad guys to sort out, they include demented Nazi villain Helmutt Von Klempt coveting a powerful spiritual artifact (smells a bit like Raiders Of The Lost Ark?). Firepower comes in the shape of Hellboy’s trusty super-caliber revolver, a variety of grenades, as well as magic and his Right Hand of Doom. Some heavy duty punching combos naturally occupies a lot of the action.

You also get to play Hellboy’s fellow members of the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, the waterbound Abe Sapein and flaming Liz Sherman.

The game was developed with close co-operation from comic book creator Mike Mignola and movie director Guillermo del Toro.

3 / C
- Paul Blom

A:Long Term Shelf Life
B:Deserves Another Play
C:Once Should Suffice