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Good: Platforming, combat, Charlize Theron in leather

Bad: Inconsistent plot, targeting, mini-ball

Comes with: A free ticket to the new movie

Aeon Flux has been a bit of a mystery for over ten years. Originally, she was the protagonist of stylish and violent MTV shorts that resulted in her own show. Then she seemed to move out of the public eye only to return with a movie starring Charlize Theron and of course this game, which seems to be based on both the original cartoons and the new movie.

The plot of AF is very hard to nail down. It's set in the futuristic metropolis of Bregna, where an uprising known as the Monicans is trying to take down Trevor Goodchild, Chairman of the Breen Council. This skeletal plot is about the only thing that stays consistent throughout the game, which is broken down into seven episodes. The game begins with Aeon taking part in a fashion show in order to infiltrate Trevor's facilities, yet in another episode, you are Mrs. Trevor Goodchild. The fact that Aeon's character changes in the episodes definitely erases any kind of character development, as you must reevaluate everyone with each new episode. Of course, if you aren't particularly fond of her character in one episode, there are six others to choose from, which is nice in its own way.

Gameplay is a mishmash of several popular gaming series from the last few years. At its heart, AF is a solid platformer with puzzles scattered throughout. Aeon can kick ass with style, using walls as if gravity doesn't apply, unfortunately there isn't much difference in execution between AF and the Prince of Persia series in this aspect. If you've played the PoP games, you've seen Aeon's moves before. AF also grabs ideas from the Metroid games. Some of the puzzles require you to crawl into a roller that, if you squint, could pass for old Samus herself. Once again, if you've played Prime or Echoes, then you'll feel right at home in the roller, if not a little let down, as AF's clunky roller doesn't seem to control quite as well as Samus's. Information is also found throughout the game in capsules, which reminded me of the Primes.

Other puzzles require you to use a remote controlled mini-ball with quite loose controls. These are some of the most frustrating moments in the game, as the mini-ball can lose power if you miss the batteries in your path, and it can easily be blown off course by steam and other obstacles throughout the game. It doesn't help that Aeon says, "Let's roll!" after sending out the mini-ball each time, even if you've been stuck in the same spot for ten minutes. A grappling hook is also available in certain areas, and is a simple one button affair with no skill whatsoever needed.

Combat is fun, if unoriginal. Standard kicks and punches can be spiced up with the use of walls and even some of the platforms. The first time you pull off a jump that results in grabbing and throwing a solider to his death is pretty cool. Vaulting low platforms can also increase combat. Aeon's got some stylish moves, but targeting is a real issue here. If there are three Breen soldiers jostling for position, you've just got to hope that Aeon chooses the one you want to hit first. This isn't nearly as upsetting in hand-to-hand combat as it is with Aeon's gun the FUG. I honestly stopped using it unless it was completely necessary, simply because it was a waste of time if I could run to the enemy and get in some punches and a wall kick without losing too much health.

The replay value of AF isn't very high, unfortunately. A lack of multiplayer doesn't help, and the fact that you can replay levels with new costumes, including BloodRayne, will only entice huge fans of the series.

The graphics in AF range from respectable to deplorable. Aeon is definitely easy on the eyes and most of the game is well done, but some glitches using the grappling hook actually turned half of my screen grey several different times. There is also a noticeable slowdown when combat involves more than a couple Breen soldiers. Level designs also leave much to be desired, most of which are okay at best. The rest of the game looks decent, but the future has looked better in several of the games of this generation.

Charlize Theron does the voice work for Aeon and the rest of the cast does a good job of fleshing out Bregna. Unfortunately, Aeon repeats herself quite often throughout the game, which gets old quickly. Some of the explosions in the game sound alright, and when I had to use my gun, the sound was good, but otherwise audio is so-so at best

Aeon Flux definitely beats the movie to video game reputation, offering enjoyable platforming and stylish combat that overshadow the harder puzzles and lack of targeting. Its gameplay feels almost like it is the secret love child of The Prince of Persia and Metroid. If that sounds intriguing, or you just want a good platformer with Charlize Theron clad in leather, check this one out.

Graphics: C

Sound: D

First Play: C

Last Play: C-

Gameplay: C+

Overall: 75% C