Resident Evil 3DS * * *

The wonderful world of Raccoon City and Resident Evil needs little introduction.

For years now it has set a high standard of gaming and carved out a niche market for itself.

Many games now copy the suspense, the zombie elements and the style of play such is the impact it has had on gaming.

Each game had that ticklist you come to expect with Resident Evil games in terms of the storyline, the chills and the investigation - not to mention the odd annoying camera angle.

The weird thing about this latest offering on the 3DS is that it differs greatly from what has gone before it.

Rather than being story-based and constructed in a linear or open-world way it's actually a game that harps back to the old-school 'beat your score' type gaming.

That's a rarity these days but more so with games like this.

What Capcom have done is create a visually appealing game, watered down elements of the combat, removed the storyline and focused on the excellent settings and enemies for a bit of button-mashing.

When I say watered down the gaming I don't mean that in a disparaging way, the new direction the game has taken for its 3DS outing makes it necessary.

The gameplay is great and the action is relentless and receptive throughout.

It's enjoyable but it does feel very hollow, despite a flood of unlockables.

Sometimes as a gamer you need to know why you are there, with that person and the context of what is going on.

That said, it is very well designed and the mechanics are a dream on the 3DS.

But is there enough to sustain interest?

You have to be a BIG fan of shooting the baddies and beating your own score.

Gamers also get a taste of the horror to come thanks to the addition of a playable demo of Resident Evil Revelations.