ESRB: M for Mature
System: PS3, Xbox 360
Genre: Action-Adventure, RTS
Number of Players: One to Four
Developer: Electronic Arts
Release Date: Oct 13, 2009

BUY

I suppose that when you look so forward to something for so long, you’re bound to be disappointed with the final product. And while that’s no way to start a review for a game that I genuinely like, it is disappointing. Hear me out…

Pain and Fear!

To give some perspective, I hold Tim Schafer’s Psychonauts in the highest regard. It is gently resting on a pillow, covered in a glass case, atop a pedestal, guarded by 20 El Odios in my mind. To say that I consider it the greatest game possible would be an understatement, and would of course doom any sophomore effort from Tim’s Double Fine. How do you beat the unbeatable? Having looked forward to this game with a child-like enthusiasm since it was announced, I was excited nonetheless. Joss Whedon has struck gold more than once and I expected the same greatness from his gaming counterpart. Though failing to meet your own stellar standards that you’ve set could hardly be called disappointing. Overall, I’m torn.

Getting it out of the way early, let’s start with the things that are “wrong” with Brutal Legend. Obviously this is a game about music, but more specifically it’s about metal music. Maybe the greatest thing about Psychonauts was that I had no opinion on psychic summer camps before I played it. When it came to bringing in the gamer, it was a neutral subject. Conversely, I have a very strong opinion about heavy metal, in that I absolutely cannot stand it. It’s one thing to grin and bear it through a 15-minute episode of Metalocalypse, but it’s entirely another to immerse yourself in a world that you need to understand before you can successfully navigate it. This probably would’ve still been a problem with any music genre chosen (could you imagine an entire game about folk music?), and I understand that metal and the culture that comes with it is rich and full of an interesting mythology. But I don’t have to like it.

Beyond its initial bother of being based on a subject I personally have no interest in, there are several things about the game that could’ve been thought through better. The opening video of Jack Black entering the record store to find the Epic Metal record was interesting and refreshing. Hey, I think Jack Black is funny and I enjoy watching his movies. Only you’re stuck watching the movie every time you turn the game on. There was no need for that, guys. Watching it once is cool, but not being able to skip it (I haven’t found a way yet) is some new kind of torture.

This is what commanding dudes looks like.

It’s been said in most other reviews, but I’m going to keep beating this dead horse when I say that I hate the RTS aspects of the game. Very cool in theory (I’m sure more so for people who like RTS games, which again I do not), but the execution is like pulling teeth. Having to command your guys to kill the other guys should be way easier than it started. For one, the differences between Eddie’s troops and Lord Lion White’s troops are the colors of the headbands. I’m not even kidding; good guys are ranged between dark red and black, and the bad guys are kind of a fuchsia and pink color. Exact same character model for the good guys and the bad guys, where the deciding factor between “send to fight” or “kill” is a subtle color change. This part of the game was frustrating once, and luckily you get to keep doing it. Non-sarcastically lucky, is that it does improve the more you play. The enemies become more diverse as the game goes on, and it’s a lot easier than fighting your own dudes.

Now, beyond there being a limited number of them, do not think that I am ragging on the characters or the models. Scott Campbell, artist extraordinaire at Double Fine, is an amazing human being. I heard that he has as much knowledge and affection for the metal genre as I do, yet he still managed to create brilliant character designs. They fit in perfectly with their larger-than-life surroundings, which are also phenomenal. Even though I complained about the RTS turns the game takes, I really enjoyed playing solos to melt faces or summon my car because it was too far away and I’m too lazy to walk up the hill to get it. While that may sound unimportant, it seemed to me like the developers understood things about what gamers like and dislike, and tried to fix them.

Some of the voice talent used (and I’m not going to pretend I know who half of the musician cameos are) were manufactured to put a smile on your face. Did you ever think you’d play a videogame where comedian Brian Posehn tasks you with killing Ground Urchins (metal for porcupine)? Speaking of porcupines, animals play an essential and totally rad part in this story (they join your army!), and they’re a lot of fun.

Picture unrelated.

Looking back, it seems like there was more to complain about than to love, and I apologize if I gave you that impression. Maybe we’re more critical of games that are important, and that matter. Assigning a number score for this kind of gaming experience is difficult, because I believe that my loyalties are weighted more in one direction than they should be. It’s probably a sign of the times where people don’t just look up to athletes or movies stars, but to people who work hard and develop a product the player is drawn to, over and over. If a game doesn’t live up to its desired potential, those who are emotionally invested in its success take a hit. I may be taking things too seriously. Tim, if you’re out there… we love you.

Please understand that the game is wonderful — I can’t stress this enough. And while it’s initially kind of a pain and hard to love, like a sibling, if you invest the time you come out ahead. If you feel the way I do, where you absolutely hate metal music and real time strategy games, understand that it works. Eventually. Although this wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, I’m still on the Double Fine team and I’m looking forward to whatever they have next.