This isn't going to be the only review of Dredd vs Death to conclude that developer Rebellion has created the best Judge Dredd game ever. Sadly, despite seemingly offering golden potential to developers in the past, 2000AD's infamous law-giver has appeared previously in games best described as 'rancid'. Dredd vs Death? It's good - no more, no less. But that's a damn sight better than we've ever had it.

The key problem here is that Rebellion has gone for the money. The developers have produced a game that sits neatly across all the major computing and console platforms, without taking advantage of the individual quirks of them. This is particularly problematic on the PC, as it soon becomes abundantly clear that instead of playing a moody, tense, law-enforcing shooter through the streets of Mega City One, you're instead playing a console first-person shooter, with the focus on moving you quickly to the next challenge.

Still, on the upside, it is a good console first-person shooter, in an environment that's realised quite well. Fans of the long-running comic strip will recognize many of the environments the game passes you through, even if - frustratingly - you can't always interact with them.

The game puts you in the shoes of Dredd, who ultimately will come up against his most lethal nemesis, Judge Death. This big showdown is hinted at several times throughout the game; the radio crackles with updates of Death's breakout from his prison. Still, before you get to him, you have to deal with plenty of other freaks that Mega City One has to offer.

It all starts off quite tamely, as you arrest the odd graffiti artist, before quickly picking up the pace and putting you up against a prison riot, a bank robbery and other such unpleasantries. They're good fun to tackle, too, with the emphasis very firmly on blasting, and lots of it.

However, don't think that you get to choose the order in which to take these events in. Dredd vs Death is strictly linear, to the point where your path is littered with precise checkpoints. This does liven up the game's pick-up-and-play qualities, as there's generally little fussing around, few bits of waffle between events and a healthy pace to the action.

Yet it's at a cost. Rarely does the beautifully drawn Mega City One come to life. Instead it seems to serve as a backdrop to a variety of fairly standard-looking locations. And there's little feeling that you are Judge Dredd, freely roaming the streets dispensing justice. This point is hardened by the arrest tool, which is predominantly played for laughs and requires little if any judgement on the part of the player.

Perhaps it's an obvious conclusion, but still a valid one. If this game didn't come with the weight of expectation that its licence inevitably brings, we'd be talking now about a good, diverting, action title with some strong moments dotted throughout. All of that is still valid, it's just that once again the potential of Dredd as a game has yet to be fully realised. Rebellion has got closer than anyone so far, though.

This is a perfectly pleasant, console-style, first-person action shooter. Its Achilles' heel is arguably what made you notice it in the first place, namely the strength of the Dredd licence which undoubtedly deserves more.