After Xatrix released yet another Redneck Rampage title it became apparent that they had to release something new quickly before the company descended into obscurity. Thankfully they did indeed release something new in the form of the gangland shoot em up Kingpin: Life of Crime. When you consider that Kingpin was done in only a year it stands as a pretty impressive achievement. The graphics are lovely with convincing textures and lighting and very nice looking character models (despite the odd texture shifting effect you notice when you get close to them). The gameplay was also enjoyable as you shot your way through various scum ridden locations like docks, slums and finally Radio City, the base of operations for the Kingpin that had his goons beat you up at the start of the game. All this was accompanied by music from Cyprus Hill that was perfect for a game like this.

So why is Kingpin so far down the ladder in the Shooter Shootout? Partially because of the stiff competition, and partially because there isn't really anything that stands out about the game. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to a fan of the genre, but on the other hand we'd point that fan in the direction of a few other titles before recommending Kingpin. While it is a polished, enjoyable blast fest, Kingpin just doesn't offer enough to earn it higher ranking.

Need further convincing? Check out our review of Kingpin.