Let’s get the past out the way: 50 Cent: Bulletproof was garbage. Even if you loved Curtis Jackson with all your heart, it would take an absolute moron to think it was passable. So, with that in mind, it makes perfect sense to cast the same negativity on the sequel. Despite being developed and published by different companies, the abomination that was the first is likely to ensure people stay away from the second. In what we’ve decided to deem the most shocking turn of events in history, though – and naturally we’re exaggerating hugely there – 50 Cent: Blood On The Sand is actually rather decent.

Before you threaten to throw this magazine on the floor and leave the room, hear us out. Swordfish Studios has been exceedingly smart in how it’s approached 50 Cent’s next attempt. It looked at the entire market, saw what was working elsewhere, and incorporated the ideas within. Swordfish gazed upon The Club and borrowed the combo mechanic; it noticed the cover system in Gears Of War and whacked that in there too. The developer also obeyed the newest videogame law; namely, to include co-op. Do these elements supersede their inspiration? Of course not, but they’re more than solid and play off quite well against each other. So let’s put events in perspective and set the scene: naturally, you’re 50 Cent, and after a concert goes awry in a ‘fictional Middle East setting’ and his fee is stolen – in this case, bizarrely, a diamond-encrusted skull – the rapper slaps his knees and decides to right this extremely unfortunate situation. The solution? To shoot his way to victory.

The beauty of Blood On The Sand is how simple it all is. It never asks more from you than to engage in its shoot and move template but keeps you interested with the aforementioned extras. Every area you come across is yet another killbox, but knowing you can up your score by killing enemies within a set time to increase that combo stops the flow from becoming boring. And it’s not just your gun that will augment that number in the corner; taunting, which is easily 50 Cent’s highlight, can also be used. Clicking the left stick in at the correct moment – usually after popping some guy in the head – not only rewards you literally, but emotionally you’ll feel a lot better too.

It’s abundantly obvious both Swordfish and the rapper himself realise the errors of the original and have decided that there’s plenty of scope to make this ridiculous; both have gone all out. Some of Fiddy’s choice phrases are absolutely hilarious, upping that enjoyment factor further. Granted, if you believe that Blood On The Sand is treating them seriously you may find yourself in an offended state, but for our money, the whole project has been created with tongue firmly in cheek.

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