The skinny:
Feminism seems to have lost a bit of its zip: All of Melissa Etheridge’s songs sound the same and Martha Burk’s attacks against Augusta National were easily deflected by a man who introduces himself as “Hootie” on national television. Where reality fails, the Cy Girls prevail, as the two titular digital heroines demonstrate that assertive, independent women can successfully navigate the modern world and show a little cleavage at the same time. The game comes with two discs that follow parallel story lines. You can choose to play as Ice, a vampish mercenary who specializes in blowing things to bits with grenades and small arms, or Aska, a ninja who favors fishnet stockings and throwing stars and is bent on avenging her clan’s honor. Both discs will have you hacking or shooting your way through the distant future. It’s kind of like choosing between trying to get into law school or going for your MBA: No matter what option you pursue, you’ll still end up in a cubicle.

If you liked this game, you’d like:
Seven Samurai 20XX, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, talking about the women’s studies courses you took in college in the lobby of your local yoga studio.

Hours to complete:
It shouldn’t take more than two days to power through both stories.

Tantalizing tidbits:
While you get a little more hands-on killing with the Aska story line (her ninja grappling-hook attack sort of resembles Scorpion’s classic Mortal Kombat spear-and-punch routine), the Ice disc has more lasting appeal. Slick targeting systems let you lock onto enemies and blast away from every angle: Hug walls, perform evasive maneuvers and slide across the floor all while emptying your guns on your foes. The puzzle elements of the game occur mostly in cyberspace—which you are compelled to dive into from time to time. The main drawbacks are the voice-overs and secondary characters that “help” you through the levels. All the threats you make to Ice’s helper, a whiny toad named Sancho Poco, will fall on deaf ears. If you really mean business, put an axe through your TV.

Buy, rent or run away screaming?
Rent before you buy. What else can you expect from a game based on a line of Japanese action figures other than Hello Kitty?