The name Anarchy Reigns may not have been on your radar, but judging from reviews popping up this week, that should probably change. A relentlessly paced third-person arena combat game from PlatinumGames - home to Bayonetta, Vanquish and the upcoming Metal Gear Rising - it's a frantic multiplayer mashup that offers a distinctive change of pace from the usual FPS deathmatch model. It's also budget priced, at just £17.99, so you can give it a try without breaking the post-Christmas bank.
"To say this is a game about kicking a*** undersells it," reckons Eurogamer's bottom-violence obsessed 9/10 review. "This is the Colosseum of a***-kicking, an arena where huge numbers of a***s are kicked with a gigantic boot, and then there's some more a***-kicking to follow." The review goes on to praise the "substantial" singler player story modes - there are two of those - as well as the balancing of the multiplayer. "Exceptional" is the final verdict.
Metro Game Central hails it as "one of the most unusual online action games for years" but warns players that you'll need to put your time into the story mode to master the fighting before throwing yourself into the online arena. "An inspired reinvention of multiplayer brawling, that carves out a whole new action genre for itself and those brave enough to learn its ins and outs," is Metro's final word, accompanied by another healthy 9/10 score.
Destructoid is also impressed, comparing it favourably to SEGA Dreamcast classic Power Stone. Special mention goes to the game's ability to create "amazing picture-perfect moments" from its chaotic mayhem. "Brawler fans should find everything they're looking for with Anarchy Reigns," the 8.5/10 review concludes. "It's ridiculous, it's fun, and it's packed with enough content to last you a long while."
Anarchy Reigns is out now for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, priced just £17.99.