In a crowded market, Eidos' Urban Chaos Riot Response doesn't stand out through its gameplay. It's simple, generic, linear, and there little here we haven't played before. What Urban Chaos does do right is present this simply styled gameplay engine inside a high production value exterior, ridiculously high gore factor, and easy to grasp teammate system. It will become one of the sleeper hits this year.

It puts the player into the role of an overpriced crime unit, T-Zero. You're stuck inside one of those classic crime-ridden cities. It's a shoot or be shot scenario, and the amount of intelligence required here is hovering around the zero marker. Its level design is straightforward point A to point B.

Aside from the enemies (who are far too limited), Chaos features highly varied environments, and ensures the player doesn't spend hours wandering looking for a solution. The upgrade system is perfect for increasing the replay value. By performing certain tasks like incapacitating enemies instead of killing them, you're given new weapons. They're incredibly effective, and make playing through this one on its highest difficulty rewarding.

While escort missions are definitely too prevalent, they're handled in a way that they're not the usual burden on the player. With some limited control (stop, open doors, follow, etc.), the protectees are smart enough to stay out of harm's way and yell loud if the rioting street gangs begin an assault. It's not always escorting a secondary character, as they're typically needed to progress. Meeting up with cops, firemen, or paramedics generally increases the sheer chaos of the battlefield.

Urban Chaos brings another strong piece with it, and that's a riot shield. It turns an offensive-minded genre into a defensive near-masterpiece. While it seems odd that this shield can stop anything, the way it's used during gameplay is the extra piece this game needed to be the success it is. While other characters won't be able to pass through a leaky, flaming pipe, you can by pulling up the shield and facing the hazard straight on. You can also reload and switch weapons without the fear of being killed as you do it.