They key to immortality, the M gene is very much sought after and with two organisations racing to find its host, two girls are used to track it down. Ling Xiaoyu, a talented fighting high school student and Alisa Bosconovitch, an android programmed to track down the gene rival each other to reach their target. The unlikely pair join with the knowledge of their employers corrupt organisations and battle to bring them down.

Tekken: Blood Vengeance brings together the all-action fighting cast of the popular Tekken games, with gorgeous CG animation to result in some of the best looking scenes in any CG film to date. The animation is stunning and could simply drop right out of a high-quality cut sequence within a Tekken game. Silky smooth skin and perfect facial features make watching the animation a treat . The only problem is, the lip syncing is quite obviously out of time with the English dub. The acting itself is pretty good but when first watching you are distracted by the plainly obvious over-dub.

Putting this aside, the film is slightly cheesy and it knows it! This makes the entertaining one-liners and nods to the game all the more entertaining. It does look a little bizarre having so many characters wearing such odd clothing in the same film. There is even a fighting panda for goodness sake! However, once again we can sweep this aside and once done, the film can be taken for what it really is – an entertaining action film with some brilliant fight sequences.

As with most films of this sort, it builds up to a crippling crescendo and just when you thought things could not get any more epic, they bring out the big guns. The CG within these scenes is stunning and even something simple like a character falling from the sky can be turned into a work of art.

The fight scenes go beyond that of the game while keeping similar moves and tricks within them – a little treat for the gaming fans. These fights use the buildings, scenery and props around the area to bring them to life, something which could be replicated within the games to make them all the more interesting.

The relationship development between the two girls is done with class. Not only do you begin to rout for the girls, you start to feel for them too. We don’t know much about their past but what is revealed allows them to form a friendship which is strengthened in one particular scene. It is this that brings them together right at the end of the film and leaves it open for a possible sequel – something which we would love to see.

Take Tekken: Blood Vengeance for what it is, a thoroughly entertaining action film with plenty of twists and turns. The CG is gorgeous and the character development will leave you on the edge of your seat. Something truly different from the rest of this year’s releases and well worth a watch.

Label: Manga Entertainment
Release date: 6th February 2012
Release type: DVD
Certificate: 12
Price: £15.99