Saw is one of those franchises that started off with a big bang but has since mellowed out into a kind of purr. What was innovative and shocking to moviegoers seven years ago has since been played out by numerous sequels that have forgotten that the reason the first film was so successful was because of the unique story that drove it. Ask anyone who has seen the multiple sequels what is wrong with the series and they are likely to tell you that they have since forgotten about a good story for a cheap thrill at shocking you with a new and grosser torture scene.

Fast forward a few years since the first Saw movie and out comes the first Saw video game which takes place almost immediately after the first film. Most people shrugged it off as just some cheap torture thrills video game, but surprisingly, the game had a very rich and deep story that actually lent the movie series some of its eeriness again. By taking the Danny Glover character from the first film, Det. Tapp, and showing us his final fate, the first game did the series some justice. It’s just a shame that the game was disgraced by poor controls and a lack in puzzle variation.

Flash forward one year later and Konami is set to release the second game, Saw II: Flesh & Blood sometime in the fall to coincide with the release of the final film in the series, Saw VII. Set to be released on Windows, the Xbox 360, and the PlayStation 3, Saw II is continuing the story from the first game with Det. Tapp’s son, Michael, searching for clues to his father’s disappearance and takes place between the second and third films. Because of his search, Michael has come into contact with the Jigsaw killer and is now being tested himself.

As far as the premise goes, okay, it sounds reasonable. Det. Tapp’s son would be of a good age to search for his father’s whereabouts. What concerns me about the game though is that as I played one of the levels, the issues with the controls seems yet to be resolved. I felt awfully clumsy walking around trying to avoid the maniac rushing towards me with the spikes all around him. Worse still was that the view above the shoulder limited what you can see on screen and sometimes having to take a blind move hoping you got out of the way in time.

Again, Saw II: Flesh & Blood shows promise with the continuing of a great storyline, but if the control system and combat system are still the same, I don’t see this game being anything but a way for the Saw franchise owner’s way of making another quick buck out of the series’ fans.