'THE NAME'S ASH, HOUSEWARES.'

Ash is back, and badder than ever! Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick (you gotta love the title!) may not be the greatest game in the world, but the fact is that Ash is voiced by none other than Bruce Campbell himself. (Note: If you don't know who Bruce Campbell is, you probably won't appreciate this game.) Full of one-liners I like to call 'Ash-isms', A Fistful of Boomstick has got humor and sarcasm covered from every angle. In fact, the quality of most of these Ash-isms rivals the Army of Darkness movie. As long as Bruce Campbell continues to support Evil Dead games, you can expect that the quality of the game will increase tenfold.

'HONEY, YOU GOT REAL UGLY.'

Unfortunately, as for the rest of the game, signing Bruce Campbell 'ain't but Jack and S__t, and Jack left town.' Or, at least it is concerning the graphics of A Fistful of Boomstick. I have never played the game State of Emergency, but this newest Evil Dead game apparently uses the same graphics engine. It is supposed to allow for tons of onscreen action, so that extreme numbers of Deadites can attack Ash at once. For the most part, this is true. But when it comes to using certain weapons, all it causes is a drop in framerate, and inadequate graphics. The cut scenes of Ash may look outstanding, but our in-game hero looks more like 'Evil Ash' than the S-mart employee.

'SHOP SMART. SHOP S-MART.'

The fact is, Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick is graphically ugly, too easy, and too short. But if you're a fan of the Evil Dead movies, it's also too cool! Staying true to the style and story of the Evil Dead movies, the game delivers many film references, from quirky Ash-isms to the use of Ash's S-mart badge. The gameplay also gives you a great sense of what Ash goes through every time you mention the word Deadite. The story begins in Dearborn, Michigan, present day. As you progress through the six levels in the game, you'll be hurdled through time, visiting the past, and eventually ending up back at an altered present, courtesy of the Necronomicon Ex Mortis (Book of the Dead) and the evil that lurks within its pages.

'THIS IS MY BOOMSTICK!'

A Fistful of Boomstick incorporates a great targeting system that, when used, auto-targets the nearest Deadite to Ash. Because of this, the camera will automatically shift to show you the action, while Ash remains standing in the same direction. The results are some nifty poses for Ash as he slays baddies with his boomstick or other weapon he may be using at the time. Whether it be a quick shot to the side or a double-barrel over the shoulder, Ash always has an answer for the living dead. And you better believe that after the kill, good old Ash will have something clever to say.

'WELL HELLO, MR. FANCYPANTS.'

Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick is as much a puzzle game as it is an action game. Throughout the game, you'll have to solve puzzles and run errands in order to accomplish your mission of ridding the world of Deadites once and for all. This can be a daunting task considering the respawn rate of these baddies is extremely fast. Deadites travel to our world via open vortexes, and the ultimate goal is to close these vortexes with silver you will find during your quest.

'GOOD. BAD. I'M THE ONE WITH THE GUN.'

At your side are a number of weapons. Some are tried and true, like Ash's trusty Boomstick (shotgun) and Chainsaw. Others are old favorites, including Molotov Cocktails, Dynamite, and Pistols. And yet others are completely new, like the new right arm replacements (Gatlin Gun, Leecher, and Flame-Thrower). Also in Ash's arsenal is a Spell Book, which he can use to cast spells with the touch of a few buttons. Screw up and be treated to a quick snippet of Ash blundering the chants used to cast the spells. But if you manage to hit the correct buttons, you'll be able to cast many enchantments, including lightning and fire, and also have the ability to possess Deadites for a limited time. As you do so, you'll see one of the coolest effects in the game... your spirit flying through space in the same manor as in the films!

'YO, SHE-BITCH. LET'S GO.'

As mentioned above, however, A Fistful of Boomstick is just too easy and too short of a game. As it is, you could hypothetically beat all six missions in one day without much difficulty. In fact, the end boss is laughably easy, and ultimately disappointing in that regard. Still, with a price tag of only 20 bucks, you really can't go wrong. Besides, if you do manage to complete the main story mode quickly, you can always try to best your times in the cool Arcade Mode. Here you'll have a set amount of time to slay a certain number of Deadites, using only selected weapons. This mode is very fun also, and a new five levels are unlocked each time you clear a level in the Story Mode.

'BUCKLE UP, BONEHEAD, CUZ YOU'RE GOING FOR A RIDE!'

Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick is way, way too easy. As long as you don't go completely nuts with your ammunition, you shouldn't have too much difficulty clearing the game. The shear number of Deadites may seem overwhelming at first, but each has its own weakness. Find and exploit it, and you'll cruise to victory. The hardest part about this Evil Dead game isn't the combat, but instead the puzzles. And these puzzles aren't overly hard either. The Arcade mode offers a unique method of combat for each level also, so using your resources wisely is essential to gain good times and ratings.

'GIVE ME SOME SUGAR, BABY!'

While some may find the camera in Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick to be a bit crazy, I feel it does a fantastic job during the auto-targeting. It gives a great view of the action, and also serves as a life-saver when Deadites approach from behind. The actual controls in the game are also nice, and serve the game very well. I would have liked to see the ability to use both weapons at the same time, but the overall quality of the controls is there.

'HAIL TO THE KING, BABY!'

While some may look at A Fistful of Boomstick as a second-rate game, a 20 dollar value game that delivers the true sense of the movies is worth its weight in gold. And just having the original and distinctive voice of Bruce Campbell lends an aura of authenticity that only he can deliver. Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick is a game that every fan of the films should pick up. It's like a new chapter in the endless story of The Evil Dead.