Rage

Here come the bandits. They leap out of nowhere, dropping from ceilings and bounding over barriers. Hooper explains that Rage has a dynamic traversal system so enemies can come from all directions. And they do. What follows is a frantic action sequence, a race up and down stairs, lots of hiding behind concrete pillars and almost constant gunfire. Weapons on show include a powerful shotgun and a super-fast machine gun. When even they aren't enough, another homemade gadget comes into play - this one's a minigun turret on metal legs which clambers around like a giant spider.

Then things take a turn for the nasty. Descending further down into the well, we enter a chamber to find a stack of bloodstained bodies piled high. Strange, mystical-looking symbols have been scrawled on the walls, and there's more blood dripping from the ceiling and pooling on the floor.

But before there's time to investigate further, Hooper wants to show us another area of the game. It's called the Dam Facility and it's where the Wasted clan reside. Their speciality is building vehicles, so this is the place to come when you need a new buggy.

Unfortunately, it's also the place to come when you want to be shot at by terrifyingly aggressive homicidal maniacs, some of whom have tattooed not only their chests but their entire faces with Union Jacks. The environment has a vehicular theme, with road signs peppering the walls and old car seats, parts and tires littering the streets. Entering a garage, we take cover behind one of the dozens of cars on bricks. But a crazed bandit appears in a huge, roaring truck and screeches towards us, smashing through everything in its path.

The demo's almost over, but there's just time to take a peek at a place called Dead City. This is indeed quite different to the other two environments. It appears to have once been a buzzing metropolis, but now the huge skyscrapers lie toppled and crumbling in the streets. Weeds push through the torn-up roads and pavements. Everything is presented in greyscale but has a sickly greenish tinge.

Dead City may look different, but it's the same old story, at least to start with - club-wielding mutants appear from the rubble in all directions, requiring fast moves and dexterity on the part of the main character. A much taller, broader enemy emerges from the shadows and starts lumbering towards us, but a bit more blamming teaches him who's boss. Then, however, we hear a huge roar and turn around to see a true titan striding through the ruined skyscrapers. He raises a giant fist, lets out another massive roar and then... The demo's over.