Namco Bandai and Saber Interactive's Inversion is a "gravity-bending" shooter, first announced in 2009 and originally stated for release in 2010. It's since been pushed back to 2012.

Saber are the developers of the critically-panned Battle Los Angeles as well as the folks who will be bringing us the recently announced Halo re-make Combat Evolved.

The story-line lands us on Earth, and the premise is relatively simple; gravity has all measure of problems as an alien race causes a ruckus.

The overwhelming impression from our hands-on time was that the potential for Portal-esque gravity shifting puzzles hasn't been met, at least not in this demo. We were simply using magic that the developers called gravity to take down enemies by throwing barrels and rocks that were littered around the level. In talking to the developers following the demo, they assured me that this is not the limit of the gravitational effects found in the game.

 
Inversion

Graphically, the game isn't satisfying. Due to the wide varieties of objects (barrels, rocks, various detritus) filling up the levels, corners had to be cut to keep this thing running on consoles. Textures are passable and colours dull. Despite the limitations of the current generation of consoles, art direction doesn't factor in. It looks like a cross between Gears of War and a fever dream inspired by the film Total Recall.

The game had fun moments. Environmental interaction is selective, but as I found by destroying a bridge full of enemies with a gravity propelled barrel, rather satisfying.

 
Inversion

It was a very familiar third-person shooter using cover and partial zoom targeting, much like Gears of War or 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, for the token Fiddy reference. Gameplay was fast and easy to instantly pick up for those even the slightest bit familiar with console shooters.

Perhaps one contrast with other shooters is you can pull enemies out of cover using your gravitational powers, which looks like a nightmare waiting to happen in multiplayer.

The game isn't exactly engaging, whether due to storyline purposes or a pervasive blandness, but I'll admit I was unable to suppress chuckles as I shot an enemy apart, used gravity to hover his body in the air, then pelted his buddies with his limbs. If that is enough for you, then I understand.