WANTED

WANTED is a 2009 third-person shooter video game developed by GRIN and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It is based on the 2008 film of the same name. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The narrative follows Wesley Gibson, a low-level office worker who discovers he is the son of a legendary assassin and is recruited into a secret fraternity of killers known as the Fraternity. The game’s plot diverges from the film, featuring an original storyline involving a rogue agent and a conspiracy within the Fraternity. The core gameplay emphasizes acrobatic gunplay, slow-motion combat, and the use of curved bullet trajectories, a signature mechanic from the source material. The game received mixed critical reception, with praise for its action sequences but criticism for its short length and repetitive level design.

Gameplay mechanics center on a cover system combined with fluid movement. The player character can sprint, slide, and vault over obstacles while maintaining a firing position. The primary unique mechanic is "Bullet Curving," which allows the player to manually aim and fire bullets that bend around corners and obstacles. This is executed by holding the aim button, then moving the reticle to curve the bullet’s path. A slow-motion "Adrenaline" mode activates automatically when performing acrobatic moves or killing enemies in rapid succession, allowing for precise targeting.

Operation controls on standard console layouts assign the left analog stick to movement and the right analog stick to camera control. The right trigger fires the equipped weapon. The left trigger activates aiming and, when held, enables bullet curving. The A button performs context-sensitive actions such as vaulting over cover or sliding. The B button initiates a melee attack. The Y button switches weapons. The X button reloads. The left bumper activates a temporary slow-motion burst when the Adrenaline meter is full. The right bumper toggles the cover system, snapping the character to nearby walls or objects.

Tactical techniques involve chaining acrobatic moves to maintain Adrenaline. Players should slide into cover to trigger slow-motion, then immediately curve bullets around the cover to eliminate enemies before they react. Prioritizing headshots with curved bullets conserves ammunition and maximizes damage. The environment often contains explosive barrels and glass partitions; shooting these with curved trajectories can clear groups of enemies without exposing the player. For boss encounters, the player must repeatedly curve bullets to hit weak points while dodging incoming fire. Weapon selection is critical: pistols offer the most precise bullet curving, while assault rifles provide higher rate of fire for direct engagements. Reloading should be performed only when behind solid cover, as the animation leaves the player vulnerable.