'Dead' brings the 'Payne' to Xbox

\"Dead to Rights" is a sleazily entertaining new game available solely for Xbox. A cross-breed of "Grand Theft Auto 3," "Max Payne" and the old-school "Double Dragon," "Dead to Rights" is essentially a cheesy cop flick-turned-video game.\nGamers play as a wrongly-imprisoned police officer by the name of Jack Slate, who's out for nothing more than to avenge his father's death. Hatching an escape plan from the clink, Slate must dole out fisticuffs and gat blasts to an onslaught of corrupt cops, pissed-off prisoners and gun-toting hookers. "Dead to Rights" isn't family-friendly entertainment; gamers not only transform enemies into Swiss cheese, but they can also partake in smaller sidegames in which they control strippers to distract hoods and throw down in a good old-fashioned prison shower fight.\nThe controls are nothing short of awesome. Unlike other games of its ilk, "Dead to Rights" allows gamers to grab enemies and use them as human shields, or better yet, to snap opponents' necks when unarmed and pilfer their weapons for future use. Unlike "Max Payne" (a game that many seem to associate with "Dead to Rights"), 'Rights' uses an auto-targeting system. Simply hold the right trigger to target your closest enemy. The sight will turn red if it's a sure shot, yellow if it's a mediocre shot and green if it's a shot that couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, let alone your enemy. Pretty simple.\nIf "Dead to Rights" has any real fault it's this -- the game's just too hard at times. Slate is a one-man hit squad battling half of China's population single-handedly. And while I understand that a scenario such as this is true to the genre, it's just taken to somewhat ridiculous limits at times. Also, when unarmed, the fighting engine leaves something to be desired -- it's a tad clunky. Moves are executed simply and efficiently, but combos are nowhere to be seen.\n"Dead to Rights" is a great entertainment for adult gamers looking for something far removed from the sissy-esque antics of "Super Mario Sunshine." Those who are squeamish or offended by adult content need not apply, but for those who dig a challenging, pulpy game, look no further.