Doesn't look like he was packing much heat. Must have lost his balls in the war.

Oh those balls! Forever lost...tumbling into the loony bin that is God Hand, Capcom's latest (and hopefully not the last) 3D beat-em-up. The company's earlier efforts, the abominable Final Fight Streetwise and the rancid Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance are ugly blemishes on its record, but God Hand is a lone bright spot. In a sense, it's Capcom's way of telling us that it's tried too hard in the past, because if anything, God Hand is a game that refuses to take itself seriously. But that's a large part of its charm. If you can stomach tons of "suggestive themes" and punishing blows, it's the feel good PlayStation 2 game of October.

Any time a Japanese developer attempts a Wild West anything, it's usually entertaining if even for all the wrong reasons. That's really one of the primary reasons why this game's so cool, because Clover Studios created this completely off the wall story about a kid with a super charged arm and the baddies (the Four Devas, as they preferred to be called) quest to stop him at all costs. The story is absolutely ridiculous, but it's actually very well told. All of the jokes are funny on some level, and the voice acting, which I'm guessing is intentionally bad, works, given the various situations that arise. From a flamboyant tag team to a fat, hairy guy that smokes cigars, God Hand's creators (at least in my opinion) are poking fun not only at stereotypes, but also Japanese game development as a whole. For years, many westerners have been laughing at Japan for its over the top videogame shenanigans. And at the same time (as one of those people), I've always wondered if they realize how off base they are. If God Hand is the answer, it's yes we are, and we love it.

Combat is fast-paced and furious. You basically run from locale to locale, beating up whoever gets in your way. Like old school 2D brawlers, you'll run into groups of dudes just standing around, and once you cross an invisible threshold or hit them with something (another enemy, perhaps), they'll get steamed, utter something stupid and run over to teach you a lesson. Of course, and much to their surprise, Gene, the game's main character, is faster than them all, and through some frantic button pressing, you'll be able to deliver hundreds of slaps and kicks in a matter of minutes. But there's more to the game than simple rudimentary fighting mechanics. Not only can you launch guys high into the air or knock them back over 100 feet, but there's also a wealth of moves to unlock and master. That's one of the neatest things about God Hand. Scratch beneath the surface, and you'll discover scores of moves and combos. More so than most of today's brawlers, God Hand can be as deep an experience as you want it to be. And that doesn't include all of the special moves you can do. Pressing R1 brings up a roulette wheel of dastardly maneuvers, but if you really want to kick someone's ass (and do it at ludicrous speeds) you should unleash the power of the God Hand, which is done by pressing R2.

I'm also impressed with the overall layout of the levels. It's very simplistic point A to point B stuff, but there are usually lots of items to collect, environmental hazards, simple puzzles to solve, and the occasional mid boss/boss battle. Everything feels very 2D, as if Capcom went back to the drawing board and copied the Final Fight blueprints, except instead of just creating a straight up brawler, the developers also tossed in shops and a casino. You can actually use the gold that you've accumulated to buy/sell moves as well as partake in some gambling. Slots, poker, and blackjack are all within reach. There's even a training ground where you can test your super sexy moves. But the game definitely has a wart or two. As I previously mentioned, it's not the most polished product. With that being said, the game clips like a landscaper. It also suffers from cheap AI, which puts up a tough fight on the easiest setting. But it's all in good fun. A couple deaths here and there never hurt anyone.

Last week, I mentioned in my Mortal Kombat Armageddon review that it's been difficult going back to PlayStation 2 after playing with the Xbox 360. While that's still true, it's game's like God Hand that keep bringing me back to the machine. It's not perfect, but it's still a small slice of heaven as well as proof that it is possible to create a solid 3D brawler. But it's also very niche, so rent before you buy.