Graffiti speaks volumes. Apparently, a lot of lawmakers would agree with this statement and outlaw it like they only can. But they fail to see the point of graffiti in the first place. Sometimes it's a way of expression for people, and sometimes it shows off the diverse talents of someone who doesn't know how to let loose otherwise. Video games seldom celebrate this art form, although Sega's already given them a nod with their unique Jet Set Radio games for the Dreamcast and Xbox. But apparently Marc Ecko has something to say, and his game speaks a loud volume all its own.

Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure has been in production for some time now, originally slated for release in fall 2005 and pushed back to give the game a little more time in structuring. Looks like that time clearly paid off, as the game is not only a celebration of expressing yourself, but a well-playing title that packs plenty of depth as you make your way through the mean streets of New Radius.

You play a young artist named Trane who's looking to define himself, and he has the tools to get the job done, be it spray cans, a paint roller, and other items to help spread his message in certain spots all over the city. We find Trane in a predicament hanging over the side of a flying craft, and the game flashes back through the events that led him to this chaotic point. It seems he has revenge set on his mind against the New Radius government, and spends the game striking back with his gift of artwork, while fighting off the aggressive CCK soldiers that work valiantly for the city, local cops, and a number of rival gangs who have their own forms of expression through their graffiti. Needless to say, your task isn't an easy one.

The game could've taken the easy way out and just gone with a typical street design, leading Trane through a number of limited missions and "tag here" tasks. But instead, the Collective gathered a great idea with their design process. They've taken a note out of the Prince of Persia playbook and made the level designs really elaborate, so Trane would have to climb, hang, jump, and scurry his way across a series of ledges, ropes, and other surfaces to reach the hot spots where he has to drop his paint-fueled messages. They've done a fantastic job putting these levels together, and even if you find yourself getting stuck in a spot, you can always use Intuition to find your way. This is a limited feature that kind of points you in the right direction, just in case you find yourself scratching your head, wondering how you're going to reach a certain ledge.

The game isn't just made up of that, however. Once you do reach your tag points, you have to guide your arm along in the certain area in order to complete it in a certain time frame. The faster you complete it, the better your rep gets. Having a good rep pays off in the end, as you're able to get your tagging done even faster in later parts of the game. The fact that different painting tools come into play mixes up the gameplay a little bit, instead of just following a "jerk the joystick this way" method that the Jet Set games did. And you'll want to also be careful with "dripping". If too much paint misses the mark, well, there goes some rep points.