Twitch: The game on our agenda today is RLH – which stands for Run Like Heck and run like heck you will in this exciting….

Spaz: Wait a minute, RLH doesn’t stand for Run Like Heck, the real title is Run Like…

Twitch: Shut your mouth! Randy said we couldn’t say H, E, double hockey sticks! Do you want to get us banned for another year?

Spaz: Well can we call Randy an asshole for not letting us say H, E, double hockey sticks?

Twitch: No, you can’t call him an asshole!

Spaz: Well, can I think that he’s an asshole?

Twitch: Dude, you can think anything you want.

Spaz: Okay, well then I think he’s an asshole for not letting us say H, E, double hockey sticks.

Twitch: Dude you’re an idiot, we’re going to end up reviewing Olsen Twins games for Gamespot again if Randy reads this.

Spaz: Oooh, I’m so scared.

Twitch: That’s enough, I’m taking charge. RLH is an exciting game set in a space station that has been taken over by hostile aliens. After an initial set-up that allows the player to become familiar with the outlay of the space station, your character Nick Conner and his partner are sent on a mission only to return to a station besieged by an alien race that has slaughtered almost everyone aboard. The cinematic of Nick’s return to the station and his initial encounter with one of the aliens is one of the most disturbing images that I’ve ever seen in a game, but it does set the tone for much of what follows.

And what follows are some interesting puzzles and gobs of action as Nick searches for his wife Samantha and the reason behind the invasion. Most exciting of all though are the times when Nick has to literally run for his life to escape his pursuers. It’s a breathless race for life as you race through winding corridors to reach a safe area. Your pulse actually quickens as you barely stay out of reach of your pursuers. And if the chases aren’t enough to get your blood boiling, there are a few truly scary moments that will leave you edgy as aliens make unexpected appearances.

Many of the puzzles are your standard find the key code to open a locked door, but there are a few nifty stumpers worthy of any adventure game. In particular is a real teaser in which you must figure out a way to lure an invincible alien into a Gravitational Room. It literally took us at least ten attempts before we were able to figure out the all too obvious solution.

The in-game cinematics do a great job of advancing the storyline and the developers should be credited for never letting the game degenerate into a mindless shooter. Instead, there is a purposeful B-movie feel that is heightened by the inclusion of excellent voice actors like Lance Henriksen, Kate Mulgrew and Brad Dourif. Much of the reason why RLH succeeds is that it never loses the claustrophobic feel of being trapped aboard a doomed space station.

Of course any action/adventure game is dependant on its arsenal and RLH features the standard supply of shotguns, rifles and stunners, but a nice touch are mod chips that allow Nick to increase the clip size or burst of his weapon. Auto-mapping helps guide you around the ship, though before long you will remember its layout through necessity and each chapter – there are seven total – is broken into small segments with well-defined goals so the player never feels overwhelmed or unsure on what course of action to take next.

Spaz: My favorite part of the game are the vending machines scattered about the space station that distribute a real drink named Bawls. Drinking Bawls supplies Nick with instant energy and also what is now my favorite tag-line from a video game: Grab your Bawls and Run Like Hell.

Twitch: Somehow I knew that would appeal to you.

Spaz: I’m just wondering though, would you rather I Grab your Bawls and Run Like Hell or Grab My Bawls and Run Like Hell?

Twitch: You’re incorrigible.

Final Grade: B