Developed by High Moon Studios and published by Sierra, Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy finally brings the bestseller books and movies series Bourne to all the avid action gamers out there.

If you haven't lived in an anti-atomic shelter for the past 30 years, you've certainly at least heard of Jason Bourne by now. In any case, I'll remind you that Bourne is a deadly government assassin trained in an experimental program. He becomes rogue and fights to remember his past. With unique sense of survival and deadly combat skill, both with weapons and unarmed, Jason Bourne proves to be the "one man army" that the government can't stop.

Using the latest Unreal engine and motion capture technologies, the upcoming Bourne Conspiracy manages to recreate that unique atmosphere that made the books and the three movies so famous.

But the game is not limited to the books and TV stuff, and extends the story in many ways. And of course, fights that lasted 2 or 3 minutes in the movie for example are extended for half an hour in some cases.

First and most important aspect of the game is time. Time is running out and for every objective in the game you are given a short amount of it. Because of the checkpoint system, this doesn't get too annoying, and helps create that "adrenaline rush" we all need when playing this kind of games.

Bourne is proficient with most of fire weapons and can take use cover or sprint fast so he doesn't get shot. The shooting controls seemed a little awkward at the beginning, but you will get used to them as you advance through the game. If you just have a little bit of patience (ok, more than a little bit), nothing will stand in your way.

Of course, it will be pointless if all you could do is shoot stuff. Bourne Conspiracy features one of the best hand to hand combat I've seen. The developers mention that the fight moves and choreography were done by the same guy who worked on the movies. And that certainly shows. Bourne takes out his enemies faster than you can scream "MMMMmmmonster Kill!".

An adrenaline bar charges while you attack your enemies. The more adrenaline you have, the more you can perform spectacular special "signature" moves. Once triggered, Bourne will interact with the environment to take care of his opponent. A phonebook, a picture frame, a desk, a lamp, all of these can become a deadly weapon in the hand of Jason.

The adrenaline bar is available during weapon fights as well, and once filled you can instant-kill all your enemies around, assuming you press the right button fast enough. Just keep cool and wait for it to pop up on the screen.

Cinematic moments are similar: you don't just sit and watch, and you have to tap a button fast on key moments. If you fail, your mission fails and your last checkpoint is loaded. Simple as that. Plus, the buttons shown are random, which means you can't memorize the order in which they appear.

A giant help comes with the introduction of "Bourne Instinct", a special view mode that allows you to see nearby enemies and your way to the next objective.

The game also features intense car chase sequences, and I've had the pleasure of playing the exact movie scene where you escape from the Paris police in a Mini.

Conclusion

Jason Bourne is back, even if not portrayed by Matt Damon this time. The combination of high-paced action, adrenaline rush and chase moments makes Bourne Conspiracy a must play for any respected gamer. Add to that the great shooting and mixed martial arts fighting style that we all love, and you start to get the complete picture.