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.

Brought to us from the makers of Project Gotham Racing, The Club is a stylish, fast-paced shooter that relies on combos to rack up the points if you really want to make an impression. This game isn’t about how cool it is to dodge bullets or make it to the end of a level with guns blazing. This game is about how you complete a match type’s particular brand of action and keeping your kill combo going as much as possible. You see, much like Unreal Tournament 3, this is all about the tournament itself and the game match types are all about the competition.

There’s a single-player Tournament mode that acts as a main story mode but don’t expect a deep and involving tale about a secret “gun” club that has it’s members battling it out for first place. There’s no semblance of a story at all but there is a narrator that explains that “The Club” was designed as an underground blood sport for trained killers looking for a new way to prove they are the best as well as win the ultimate prize. It’s like an underground racing club only instead of cars there are guns … a lot of guns.

You can even pick up to eight different characters (two of them can be unlocked by playing Tournament) but don’t expect to get to know them intimately. Thankfully, each of the eight characters brings their own distinctive style to the competition and some characters are faster than others. For example, Renwick (the NYPD officer) can take more bullets than other characters but Kuro (the Japanese character) is lighter and thus moves faster. Certain characters play well with a particular environment or game match type so you can figure out which one best suits a given situation.

Tournament introduces the five different game match types you can play individually in the game’s Single Event mode (used for practice as well as test of each character’s styles). The events range from Sprint (get to Point A to Point B alive) to Siege (defend a specific area as waves of enemies come at you).  The three other events are time-based such as Time Attack (a sort of race mode with laps), Survivor (like Siege only there’s a timer) and Run the Gauntlet (reach the exit before time expires). The timed matches really push you to your limits thanks, in part, to the fact that you have an explosive implant on your body. Stray from the designated area in Siege and you have five seconds to get back to said area or the explosive goes off.

Each of the game modes types does have one thing in common, though. It’s all about the points and the combos you pull of to achieve them. Killing an opponent earns you points but the trick is to keep the Kill Bar and Combo meter running without interruption. That means keeping the body count rolling as much as you can while performing a number of unique shots such as head shots, crack shot (from a long distance) and the cool Death Roll (a kill after you make a defensive roll). While there are no Stranglehold-styled slide-and-shoot moves or cool Gears of War type duck-and-shoot moves, your character can really hold his ground and use all the weapons he comes across during a match.

Interestingly enough, the controls are a bit on the stiff side and can be awkward at first but thanks to the addictive nature of the game match types you will grow accustomed to the arcade-like controls. Still, there are no moments when the controls will mean your death. One on my major complaints, however, is the lack of story in Tournament mode. With an interesting premise and a number of cool characters, a story would have been a nice addition to what is ultimately the main attraction … the game’s awesome multiplayer mode.

You can play the game offline using split-screen but the real treat comes from playing the game online with up to eight players rather than four offline. Online there are three free-for-all styled games such as Score Match, Kill Match or Hunter/Hunted (with is like a violent game of tag). There are also team-based games such as Team Siege, Team Capture, Team Kill Match and Team Skullshots. Team Fox Hunt is one of the most entertaining game modes where you attempt to hunt down a team’s “fox” while trying to take out the opposing team’s “fox.” Online the game modes move along smoothly and they’re even more addictive than the game’s single-player matches.

On the visual front, The Club looks really good but it’s not as gorgeous as it could have been on the PS3. Still, the graphics are sharp and the character detail is handled well. Each environment really stands out whether you’re running through the streets of Venice, Italy or a dank steel mill. The visual effects are also wonderful, making explosions really come to life. There’s a soundtrack here but you won’t know it since it takes a backseat to the sound of whizzing bullets, detailed explosions and various opponents shouting back at you. The voice acting is solid but nothing really special seeing as the enemies often repeat themselves.

The Club for the PlayStation 3 pushes the boundaries of what a fast-paced, score-based competitive shooter should be like and succeeds in making it a truly unique and addictive experience. Never mind the fact that there’s no story to speak of in the single-player game or the controls are not as smooth as we wish it would be … this is a wildly satisfying shooter that should not be missed by the hardcore shooter fans.

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.