The first thing I want you to consider before you go any further is that this is a budget game. I find it difficult to score because you feel like giving them an extra couple of points just for making the game less expensive. I've not done that however, the score up there is accurate but as Blowout is pretty much half price, that makes it not a bad deal.

Before we go any further, you should know that Blowout is a side scrolling, 2D shoot 'em up. For all you old schoolers out there, it's like a cross between Contra and Elevator action. For you new kids it's similar to Metal Slug. The game takes place in a futuristic world where clones have been sent to protect the Earth from aliens. Sadly, the head clone "Honours Guard" goes bonkers (yes like the computer in 2001 or the android in Alien) and decides to clone an army of himself. This army begins to mutate, as does everything around it and guess who gets sent in to sort it out? That's right, you, as Transfed Marshall John "Dutch" Kane.

Sounds cheesy doesn't it? That's because it is. I could smell the stilton as I opened the case. That doesn't really matter though, because the game is executed more than competently and although basic, it's good at what it's doing. You begin with a cut scene that looks as if it's been lifted from PS2 circa 2001 and are then thrown into the game. The first level is a quite slow paced tutorial, where a voiceover of your ship's captain, "Red", talks you through the controls and how to use the map, weapons and so on.

The in-game graphics actually look quite good, there are no glitches, the character controls feel just right and he's very responsive. So that already puts this game way in front of Driv3r. The sound doesn't let it down either; it's suitably space shippy and some of the quips exchanged between "Dutch" and "Red" are actually pretty funny. Also the ship's computer adds amusement, as your lead character chain smokes a cigar and at certain trigger points in the levels you'll hear a computerised voice saying, "No smoking in the elevators," or, "Smoking is hazardous to your health and prohibited whilst on board." I know these things aren't spectacular but at least it feels like someone's actually tried to add a layer of polish whilst making this game.

Unfortunately, there are no real control innovations here; it's more or less exactly the same as Contra but with the addition of being able to shoot through certain floors and walls. Also rather than jumping, you have a jet pack. This serves no added purpose, other than looking cool. The game wouldn't have been any different if they had had a standard jump, apart from using lower ledges and ceilings.

The enemies aren't really anything to write home about either but then they don't need to be in a shoot 'em up. They do the job fine and there's a bit of variety. Each boss battle is won in much the same way as many of the arcade classics, by dying a few times until you learn the attack pattern and then blowing it away to head for the next level. There are not that many levels though, so the game is finished pretty quickly.

Usually with something as arcade style as this, it doesn't matter if you complete it fast, because you want to go back and try to better your score. I didn't feel any urge to do that here, unfortunately. If there's one key simple thing I felt the developer could have done better, it would have been the inclusion of a two player co-operative mode. This would have taken this game from okay to alright; it would have increased the lifespan, gameplay and overall score by a couple of points.

For the budget price, Blowout isn't a bad game, as it follows the rules of its genre very closely and, while offering little in the way of innovation, does at least feel like someone cared when they made it. If you've only got a bit of cash spare in your wallet or you're a fan of games of this type, then it's worth giving a go.

Reviewed by Mark Hayhurst for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).