Hired Team Trial places you in the third millennium on a gruelling trial to join the elite and deal with a soaring city crime rate.

This mainly consists of running around in a virtual reality suite, shooting anything that moves.

Forget the plot and get on with the game - just like the programmers did. You have a gun, you shoot people, that's it.

I found the hype about the new engine Shine to be unfounded.

It did not compare with others in the field, even though it was running on a computer over twice the recom-mended specification.

All in all, this PC game makes itself completely indifferent.

The game's graphics look threadbare, the maps are tiny, predictable, filled with flat washed-out squares.

The sound is not much better. The handgun sounds like a pea-shooter and other weapons sound like something out of Doctor Who.

On top of all this, the game-play is terrible. My team mate completely ignored me and ran off in the other direction, giving no support or any chance of using him to my advantage.

As you go further into the game the tasks become more complex and the problem with team interaction increases.

There are a lot of first person shooters out there and this game has priced itself to be compared with the very best.

When you consider many budget releases not only match but are better than this game, you have to wonder who will buy it.

- Ross Stevens
Price £24.99.

Contact: www.hiredteam.com
Feel good factor: 3 out of 10.