The Dead to Rights series brought some serious slow-mo gunplay and intense canine assist action on the PS2 and Xbox. Despite a PSP iteration, the series seemed to go relatively dormant, but now Dead to Rights: Retribution is set to reinvigorate and reboot the tough cop and vicious pooch duo. But we’re here to see if this third-person action shooter has more bite than bark.

As the extended title implies, Dead to Rights: Retribution is about revenge. Tough cop and all-round buff guy Jack Slate, along with his canine companion Shadow, is out to take down a group who’ve sent Grant City into chaos and pandemonium. Without sliding out some spoilers, DTR:R is a simple story which fills your expectable B-grade action movie, but it turns out to be so much more than that. Despite all the killing going on, the game provides a pretty emotional story with characters (especially Shadow) which you get attached to. This creates a great background for all the head-bashing that commences.

Dead to Rights: Retribution is all about intense action, and the gameplay delivers this on all fronts. There is a large array of familiar but uniquely designed weapons to punish your enemies with, while a great cover system lends for some brilliant fun gun battles. There is a focus mode (AKA bullet-time) which allows Jack to react faster and pull off more precise and powerful shots.

While the game is based on the third-person shooter formula, DTR:R is essentially a mash-up of multiple gameplay genres, including brawling and stealth. Jack doesn’t always have means to a weapon (or a lot of ammo for that matter) therefore, he often has to let his fists do the talking. Great combos are incorporated to allow for fluid and powerful fighting, as well as blocking and countering. Disarms and takedowns also play a big role as players can strip enemies of their weapons, as well as perform brutally cringe-worthy takedowns which may even make Kratos blush.

Shadow is also integrated into the combat as Shadow can be ordered to attack or incapacitate enemies when Jack needs a hand… or paw. Shadow can also bring Jack weapons when he’s pinned down by enemy gunfire. This makes Shadow a viable tactic rather than a furry gimmick.

While Shadow contributes to the combat, his biggest assist comes in the form of stealth sections. Here, players will take control of Shadow as they navigate through complex levels, while silently taking out guards. Shadow has the ability to see and track enemies heart beats which resemble their ‘alertness’ level. These segments are interestingly different and it’s incredibly unique to play as a dog, and a vicious one at that.

While DTR:R provides a great action experience, it also brings a visual one at that. The game is very polished and has a distinctly unique and stylized look to it. The lighting is fantastic and helps create the dark and gritty atmosphere the game has to offer. Shadow looks great and the excellently executed slow-mo headshots are the icing on the cake.

Dead to Rights has been out of the game for a little while now, but we are so glad Retribution has hit our shelves. It delivers a high-paced action title with unique mechanics and a gorgeous presentation. This is the revitalization the series needed and we hope to see a lot more of Jack Slate and Shadow soon. Proof that every dog has it’s day.