Right, imagine a (somewhat) turn-based tactical Superhot with a man who is just breathtaking. He also said more at E3 than he does in all three films. That said, I would state the John Wick series is one of the best movie franchises of the last ten to fifteen years; with Kingsman coming in a close second. Because of that, it is perfect for a tie-in game. That being said, John Wick is the first to get a game (the first and I’ll not hear anything else about it!); I assume because exploding colorful heads would be a nuisance to code.

Though I don’t believe I captured the true spirit of John Wick during my playthrough of Hex. I put more holes in him than a colander.  I think it should be said that you play as a man named Johnathan Wick; who in his spare time as an ex magician goes around solving crimes in a small English village. By night he’s on an ever-flowing revenge story to kill the man that killed his dog. I’m not joking about that, the first movie is a revenge plot over a dog, and it is amazing.

Hex takes a slightly different route. Taking place sometime before the first movie, with a man of the monicker of “Hex” narrating things in just that evil way that makes him sound like the villain we’re going to kill at the end. It is from this point the narration comes in with Ian Mcshane and Lance Reddick reprising their roles; additionally, the voice from every video game since about 2004, Troy Baker is the voice of Hex. This is where I think it is a good point to start talking about the game proper.

Cutscenes, for me, have had heavy lag and almost kill all the pacing and suspense of the drama. They are brilliantly written by Mike Bithell and his team, however, when the visuals and subtitles are two paragraphs behind the scene itself, I’m slightly distracted by this. What’s funny about this lag magic is the game itself doesn’t have any issues. This includes when there is a voice-over, subtitles, action, enemies spawning, and everything in between. It runs buttery smooth.

From here on out the game is my explanation at the top. During a level, you’ll be locked into this almost X-Com style combat with Superhot-like replays at the end (if you so choose). Now depending on your preference between breathing and not, you’ll gravitate towards some kind of anarchic stealth when health is low. Though I’d advise you to run at those bullets like it is dinner time. People are a little different, you’ll try to do the same thing two or three times and everyone has moved. Well, about seven times out of ten they have anyway; and the other three, you’ll die as someone creeps out of the fog of war.

It might sound like I’m bitter for dying, but I actually like that Hex is harder than a fifty-year-old man that’s taken too many pills trying to please his wife. Between the colorful explosions that are each level and the limited resource that is your life; I’d almost say it was designed for a PS2. I mean that in a good way, with HD graphics and a game to enjoy. There’s no chaff around the edges, you play as a man who shoots or hits things so he shoots and hits things. The story is off to the side, and you could ignore it if you want.

Boss fights are simple when the battles are one on one. However, given the game focuses so much on timing; it’s infuriating when you reach the end of the map with a boss fight to be killed. The first one was simple as it was a small area, with the second being a larger, a lot larger. The larger levels with more enemies to fight to get to the boss are understandably frustrating. You strategize for three or four minutes, start fighting the boss and then die to some random brute across the room.

The thing is, this is what the series is all about. You are locked in a room, three men have their sights on you, and you have to get out alive. Sure, you might only have three bits of health left, no ammo, and you left the oven on. It is the decisions you make from that moment that makes Hex feel weird and wonderful. I said it is like X-Com, but it is a one-sided tactical action movie where you play as the mind of John Wick. Either you’ll push, strike, shoot, throw the gun, or take down your enemies. The only things that matter are: when you do it, how you do it, and that you do it properly.

In conclusion, I love John Wick Hex. It is everyone’s idea of what they do with action games, but it is what you want to do. Sure you stop to think about your actions more times than a hypochondriac; however, it is the replays, (some of which are in this review) that show just how much of an action star you’ve been. Sure the collisions aren’t perfect, and the camera angles aren’t perfect all the time. You still know you were the John Wick that just took out a room of men with a single bullet, nine fingers, and a dog.

A PC review copy of John Wick Hex was provided by Good Shepherd Entertainment for this review.

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John Wick Hex

$19.99 USD

8.5

Score

8.5/10

Pros

• Captures John Wick-style action beautifully.
• Gorgeous art style.

Cons

• Replay cameras are a little "wonky."
• Some minor lag in cutscenes.