Voodoo Vince (Xbox)

Reviewed by JON MINIFIE

Herald rating: * * * * *

Microsoft Game Studio's new 3D platformer Voodoo Vince is a screwy tale of a cursed rag doll's search for his maker. The story opens with two goons paying a visit to Madame Charmaine's Voodoo Shop to uncover the secret of her famous Zombie Dust.

In the process, the pair accidentally spill some magic dust on Vince, her much-loved voodoo doll. Soon Vince springs to life and embarks on a supernatural adventure to recover all the magic powder and rescue the Madame.

Being little more than a Hacky Sack with legs and 100 per cent cloth, Vince is not particularly strong. He has a number of offensive options, though, including a fairly snappy jab and a short-lived hissy fit that sends teeny arms and legs flying in all directions.

As he's a Voodoo doll, Vince can take the knocks. His regenerative powers are through the roof now that he has been seasoned with Madame Charmaine's dust.

At certain stages of the game, Vinnie sacrifices himself for the greater good. At regular intervals, Vinnie will need to set fire to himself, hurl his tiny body into a blender, drop an anvil on his head or have a chainsaw accident.

This produces a smart bomb type effect, wiping out all nearby enemies (handy when facing multiple opponents) and somehow Vince emerges without a scratch every time. Vinnie has other tricks too and in general, his movement is pleasingly easy to manage. The simplistic yet precise control has a Mario-like classic feel about it.

In the visual department Voodoo Vince is flawless. The 3D environments are spectacularly designed, with colours that have that familiar Disney-like warmth but also a darker, more warped, black magic feel.

The music is worthy of mention too; there's more jazz going on in the background here than at a Woody Allen film festival. It all works wonderfully well, though -- particularly during the game's regular slapstick moments.

$129.95

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