Sammy Studios is preparing themselves for a big license with the forthcoming release of The Shield, based on the controversial and entertaining FX TV series starring Michael Chiklis. We had a chance to check out the game and get some impressions.

The game features a fantastically detailed engine, right down to the curtains in a porn theatre or the way that cigarette machines or ATM's spit out cigarettes or cash upon impact. Animation looks to be good, and even small things, like bullet holes in the door and the wood fragments that pop out as a result, look great.

Gameplay is very engaging. Not only do you have some moments where running and gunning is required, but you'll also have to work defensively, as your health can be depleted by only a few single bullet hits. You can also interrogate enemies and smash them into things, like mentioned above, and watch their "will meter" buckle down, or cuff them with a meter that works kind of like Track and Field did, where multiple button taps are required to fight the resistance.

The game also calls for use of tactics at times, like calling on your partner to get you out of a jam, or shooting guns out of the hands of suspects that you need to keep alive in order to proceed.

There are three different meters in the game- your typical life bar, an "adrenaline" meter that tracks your energy, and a "heat" bar, kept track of with a heartbeat. If the heartbeat becomes excessive, your character goes ballistic and behaves more erratically, meaning further trouble as the "episode" plays out.

The game script is being watched by Shield writer Scott Rosembaum, and the final game will feature voicework from the original show cast, including Chiklis. It looks very impressive thus far.

The Shield arrives early 2005 for PS2 and Xbox.