When extreme air boarding and competitive skateboarding have finally lost their edgy appeal, there’s a club you can join where the ultimate bragging rights is that you are the only one who isn’t dead. Of course, this secret club is not for everyone but for those who join it will find themselves fighting for their lives using all the guns at their disposal. The Club for the PlayStation 3 is a third-person shooter that has you competing against other lead-pushers in a competition that’s tough but boy is it one enjoyable affair.

Gameplay: 8.2
The controls can be a tad on the sluggish side but once you get use to them you will have a blast running, rolling and shooting opponents left and right. There’s no real story to enjoy (too bad) but the competitive game matches are a delight to play. Then there’s the online multiplayer that will be the reason you will be playing this one for quite a long time.

Graphics: 8.5
Graphically, The Club looks decent on the PS3 and the character and environmental details are good. While the game is bloody, it’s never too gory and it’s a blast watching enemies fly back with the brunt of a blast. Oh, and the explosions are just too cool.

Sound: 8.0
The game’s soundtrack doesn’t change its tune but thankfully it’s not annoying. The voice acting is solid and - aside from the narrator - does a good job of reflecting the various international locales. As for the gunfire and explosions, they are appropriately loud.

Difficulty: Medium
As a single-player game, you will find yourself overwhelmed by a number of enemies that know how to shoot and duck for cover. Some enemies can perform combat rolls and shoot behind cover well enough. Your real enemy, however, is the ticking clock.

Concept: 8.0
There are a variety of different characters and two extra ones to unlock but the highlight is the number of guns at your disposal as well as the fun, fast-paced match types that’s as frantic as a racing game … if racing games included a body count.

Multiplayer: 9.0
Much like Unreal Tournament 3, The Club’s multiplayer mode is all about the competition and since it’s score-based you will really find yourself pushing your skills to the limit. There are plenty of weapons and the different environments are inviting but it’s the multiplayer game modes that rule this playground.

Overall: 8.2
Surprisingly brilliant and utterly addictive, The Club is one of those games that are hard to put down offline or online. Even with a single-player mode that features a nonexistent story and controls that can be occasionally sluggish, it’s the multiplayer action that makes this a competitive shooter worth every bullet.