I have mixed feelings about the Jerry Bruckheimer production of King Arthur, which came out earlier this year in theatres. On the one hand, it wasn't really any sort of breathtaking epic, cut down in size in its battles to satisfy audiences of all ages with its PG-13 rating. The characters also seemed a bit shallow in the long run, instead of focusing on the relationship that got the Knights of the Round Table together to begin with. On the other, it was far better than the other "historical epics" that released this year such as the unlikable Troy and the unbearable Alexander.

So that leaves the question, how about the game license? With the movie scoring a less-than-monumental box office success, one would have to wonder what Konami would do with their game, especially considering how badly the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles license has ended up. Well, good news. The King Arthur game isn't half bad, scoring with some presentation that is bound to satisfy fans of the genre, a well-thought out power-up system, and a cooperative mode that will have friends hacking and slashing well into midnight. However, it does have some things that keep it from shining.

The game lets you control of one of five different characters, each with their own unique attributes and negatives that affect them in battle. Present in this selection are three of the film's main characters: Guinevere, Arthur, and Lancelot. Throughout the game, they'll battle evil army members aplenty in an attempt to keep the kingdom safe and complete their mission in one piece so they can fulfill their lives. It isn't clockwork, it simply follows the movie's plot. With that, the game packs hack-n-slash action, and lots of it. You run into a group of enemies, cut them down to size, and continue onward, without really being able to explore the surrounding areas. This can somewhat limit the experience, and frustrate those who are used to Dynasty Warriors' free-roaming system.

But not all is lost. The game does utilize some great gameplay mechanics, although some of them could use some smoothing over, like collision detection and aiming with a bow and arrow. It feels fast and furious, and allows you to execute some vicious attacks. Some strategy can also come into play, like cutting down trees that can also do a little bit of damage. In addition, there's a power-up system that allows you to heighten skill levels on your character and try to make them better. It's been done before, but here it's done just fine, and allows for a bit of diversity in the game.

Graphics-wise, the game looks pretty good. Some of the animation is a bit limited, as are the level designs since you can't really explore, but what's here looks pretty good. Krome Studios has managed to effectively replicate the dark look of the movie, especially with some of the later levels, looming with enemies and danger. There are also some cut scenes that intertwine with the game and make it look a lot like the film, with a presentation similar to the Lord of the Rings games. It could have used a little smoothing over here and there, but it looks better than expected.

As for sound, this is the best aspect of the game. Thunderous sound effects rule the battles, and the voice work provided in the game is pretty good. There's also a great score that fits each fight scene, almost copied straight over from the flick. This department gets a thumbs up.

Being a game of the "cut enemies down to size and then cut some more down" variety, King Arthur runs afoul of danger when it comes to replay value. You only have five characters to deal with, and there's only so much of the game you can experience before you find yourself running out of new stuff to conquer. The cooperative mode, where two players can team up to cut armies down to size, is pretty sweet, but only lasts so long.

I'm on the fence when it comes to a game like King Arthur, sort of like how I was with the movie. You've got so much good stuff on one side, like the way the game looks and sounds and actually does the movie justice. Unfortunately, you lack replay value and have slight problems with the repetitive gameplay on the other. Your best bet is to give it a rental and see if you're ready to handle this sword. It's not pretty, but for the most part, it's sharp.