Game: "Batman Begins."

Console: Xbox (also available on GameCube, PlayStation 2).

Developer/publisher: Eurocom/Electronic Arts.

Genre: Action.

Number of players: One.

ESRB rating: Teen (language, violence).

The premise: Based on the summer flick, you'll play as Batman, traveling through the alleys of Gotham City and the depths of Arkham Asylum, trying to unravel the mystery behind a neurotoxin that drives its victims thoroughly insane.

Game play: Like the movie, "Batman Begins" uses fear as the caped crusader's ultimate weapon against criminal scum. This fear mechanic involves manipulating the surrounding environments and using a number of gadgets to strike terror in the hearts of your foes. This causes them to drop their weapons and lose their composure, allowing you to swoop in and bring the pain.

Borrowing stealth elements from the "Splinter Cell" series, you'll be picking locks, climbing pipes, sneaking around and interrogating henchmen to get access codes and information. Between all the stealth and action are two driving sequences where you'll get behind the wheel of the Batmobile, taking down thug vehicles and boosting your way through a blatantly inspired take on "Burnout 3's" road rage mode.

The good/bad: The game's presentation and production values are great, with solid visuals and sound effects. For the most part, the controls are responsive and the environments are easy to navigate.

On the other hand, the camera often goes wild when in combat mode because you can't target any one specific enemy, leading to frustrating situations when you're fighting to get a view of your enemies rather than the enemies themselves. Speaking of combat, for a game so centered on provoking fear upon your foes, it makes absolutely no sense that you're allowed to use your smoke grenades and flash bangs only after you reveal your position.

Items such as the Batarang or the grappling hook can be utilized only in specific situations and when you are told to use them, further emphasizing the linearity of the game. The hand-to-hand fighting is simplistic and disappointing, as are the watered-down stealth and racing elements borrowed from "Splinter Cell" and "Burnout 3."

The developers should have maximized the "fear" aspect of the game or given gamers a choice of paths or strategies to take down enemies.

My take: Linear, repetitive and generally uninspired, "Batman Begins" is a mediocre video game adaptation of an excellent movie. As it stands, not only is the game really short, it is also very easy, holding your hand throughout the entire adventure by telling you where to go and when to use what gadgets.

Recommended only as a rental or for hard-core Batman fans.

Julius Pecson, a student at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa and a longtime gamer, reviews games on various consoles for The Honolulu Advertiser.