The story isn't as interesting as the first trilogy, but the gameplay is just as solid and the new additions like a score system and optional de-buffs that make earning a better score easier are fun and interesting without disrupting the core game loop that makes any of the games fun to play. The defense sections of the game are also a welcome addition to the usual combat arenas.

The new characters get less time to become fleshed out and, given that this is a prequel, the stakes are lower, but it's still a solid B-movie type story about a military tribunal. Baird and Cole Train are still the best duo after Marcus and Dom.