I haven't read The Da Vinci Code. There, I said it. I have a large amount of people who talk to me on a regular basis and tell me that it simply is a must-read, but I just don't have the time to sit down and bury myself in a book right now, especially with E3 right around the corner. Maybe when I start settling down over the hazy days of summer, I'll let it sink in, and finally involve myself in Dan Brown's best-seller, which has now actually become more published than every book on the planet- including the Bible. In the meantime, however, I have the upcoming Ron Howard movie to lean on, as well as a forthcoming game from 2K Games.

The Da Vinci Code allows players to take control of Harvard professor Robert Langdon and his assistant, a brilliant French cryptographer named Sophie Neveu, as they are asked to help out in solving a mystery that involves a strangely laid-out corpse that resembles an old drawing of man and paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci that hide secret messages, all in which could uncover a truth that could very well change the course of man. Of course, there's opposition out there that would rather not have such truth revealed.

2K Games made a smart move enlisting the services of The Collective, the development team that's handled licenses with care in the past, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the recent Atari release Marc Ecko's Getting Up. Here, they're crafting a game that's going to be based around a series of puzzles, chase scenes, and basic combat, as you direct Robert and Sophie through a series of stages and locales that bring them that much closer to finding out the truth about the Da Vinci Code. These locales include the likes of the Louvre, Westminster Abbey, St. Sulpice, and even the resting place for the Holy Grail.

Those expecting a solid translation from the book may be a slight bit disappointed, as The Collective are actually using the basis for the film to kind of structure the story together. However, what's here looks very intriguing, and will also have a few bonus items for those who don't want a straight-up translation that completely spoils the film or the book. This will make it reflect as if it was an experience in itself, actually making players feel as if the weight of the world is balanced on their shoulders as they solve each puzzle and sneak or battle a constant group of powerful enemies.

Along with puzzle solving, gamers will also be able to explore a number of these exotic locations, seeking out items and clues that will help them get directed ahead to the next piece of the puzzle. It's bound to put your brain to work as you move Robert and Sophie about, using a number of tools to their credit that help them unlock further mysteries about the Code and the secrets Da Vinci was trying to cover up.

It's going to be hard to really decipher if The Da Vinci Code will be as successful as the book, or the movie in which it's based upon. It does have an intriguing agenda going for it, and The Collective is a key developer that can probably bring the controversial content to life like no other team can. But, still, you can't help but wonder how it's going to unfold in the final product. We'll find out soon enough, as the game drops onto the market on May 19th, the same day as the film. We'll be back with a full review, along with plenty of email prompts for me to just sit down and read the book. Believe me, folks, I'm working on it.