25 to Life on the loose

After being postponed for months, 25 to Life has finally shipped to stores. The third-person shooter, which pits teams of cops against bands of criminals in Battlefield-style combat, is being released on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC. The console versions of the game retail for $39.99, while the PC version will cost gamers just $29.99.

As you might expect from its subject matter, 25 to Life is rated M for Mature. However, the 17-and-up sticker the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) slapped on the game did little to shield it from controversy. In the wake of the "Hot Coffee" scandal spawned by Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, it was blasted by US Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and CNN Headline News anchor Nancy Grace for encouraging criminality among impressionable youth. Unsurprisingly, antigame activist Jack Thompson was among one of its most vociferous critics, at one point circulating an e-mail saying he heard "from a credible source that Eidos has decided never to release 25 to Life."

Many speculated the controversy was behind Eidos' decision to delay 25 to Life from its original October 2005 release date until January 2006. Was it worth the wait? Check back later this week for GameSpot's full review. In the meantime, consult our previous coverage for details on the game.