Brutal Legend
Brutal Legend is the latest game by Tim Schafer, a game designer who is known for creating very humorous and creative adventure games such as Monkey Island, Full Throttle, and Psychonauts. Brutal Legend itself is a hilarious, heavy metal, action, adventure game staring Eddie Riggs. Eddie is a roadie for a modern “heavy metal” band and is killed in a stage accident. He’s transported to the world of Brutal Legend and has to fight demons, and help save the hellish world from evil.
As with all Tim Schafer games presentation, script, and voice work is top notch. Jack Black delivers a great performance as Eddie, and is backed up by a great cast including (but not limited to) Jennifer Hale, Ozzy, and Tim Curry.
Brutal Legend’s gameplay is very varied, much more so than the demo would lead gamers to believe. So if you’ve only played the demo, and weren’t really interested in the gameplay, I recommend watching some of the videos below.
While the demo did a great job showing off the humorous writing, and great metal influence, the only two gameplay aspects there were covered was the combat and driving.
Eddie quickly gets an axe and guitar that can be used for short and long range attacks. Like a typical action game alternating between weapons during attacking can lead to combos and chaining. Eddie can also block, and use an attack which knocks all nearby enemies down, and can cause things above to fall onto enemies. Also if you have a partner around you can perform a unique team attack. Overall the combat is a little slow and sluggish compared to other action games, but it’s an interesting change of pace.
Eddie will also get the Deuce earlier one which is a car he can drive around in and run over enemies with. In the demo it’s required to get through a large stretch of land infested with demons, and also to beat a boss. But it ends up becoming Eddie’s main source of transportation and a very important aspect of the game.
Immediately where the demo ends, the world opens up and we’re introduced to several other gameplay mechanics that make Brutal Legend stand out from other action games. The first being the open world mission based progression system and exploration elements.
With the deuce as Eddie’s mode of transportation you can drive anywhere you like on the island that’s opened up. There are a set of missions to complete for the main story as well as side quests, and just a ton of upgrades and collectables to find. The main storyline is not a very long experience, but there’s a ton of additional things to do if you’re a completist gamer. The side quests themselves do get kinda of repetitive, but they are usually pretty short. The exploration elements are quite fun though. There’s so much to find, that it’s great to just drive around the crazy landscape looking for more dragons to free, or new guitar riffs to unlock.
Guitar Riffs are an interesting addition to the game. The work like the music “spells” from any Zelda game, playing a certain riff on your guitar will have a number of effects, and is very helpful in both exploration, and battle.
Another huge gameplay aspect of the game is the Pikmen like strategy system. You can use your guitar to inspire other rockers around the world and have them join your cause. Once they’re following Eddie, you can direct them like a squad. Having them attack enemies, or guard positions. This adds a strategic element to the combat system, and allows for more objective based missions, like defending locations.
For completing missions and exploring the world you’ll earn points that you can use to trade for weapon, skill, or vehicle upgrades. There’s a ton of stuff to purchase and that keeps the gameplay evolving nicely.
Aside from the single player mode, the game also features a multiplayer mode that can be played online, or against computer controlled opponents. This stage battle mode is a great departure from other action games, and features some really interesting gameplay where the strategic elements of the single player mode come to the forefront. The stage battle plays out using the real time strategy elements of the single player campaign.
There are areas around the maps that you can liberate to get a ton of fans. You can use you’re “fan power” to purchase different kinds of troops or upgrade your base. The objective is to destroy your opponent’s stage (base). Upgrading allows you to summon stronger characters to fight for you. You can only control so many at a time, but you can also use your unique team attacks with each troop. There are 3 different teams you can choose to play as, and each is completely different with different sets of units and team attacks.
The AI has 5 different difficulty levels, and the online mode can be played with up to 8 players as a 4 vs. 4 match. The mode is interesting and fun, and it’s not a throw away multiplayer. It’s a pretty fresh multiplayer concept and it’s a great way to extend the life of the game.
Finally, I have to dedicate some time to the soundtrack. The radio in the deuce will play through 100 great metal tracks. You can switch the track at any time, and the tracks really add to the atmosphere of the game. The track selection itself is wicked, and puts the set lists of games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band to shame. Of course you have to like metal, but even if you don’t it’ll grow on you as it just fits in so well with the game.
Overall Brutal Legend is a game I recommend to everyone. There’s really something here for all, and it’s constantly evolving gameplay keeps the game from getting stale. The script, and humor and top notch, and there’s just a tons of different gameplay mechanics that all work well. I recommend checking it out, download the demo if you’re not sure, but just be aware that what’s covered in it is only the tip of this hellish fiery skull pile.
Like this game? Order it online
Cheers for the video, I was looking for ages for a decent multiplayer video.
Two questions though (open to anyone with an answer)
- Is it possible to play just against bots online with friends?
- does each faction have unique music playing at their stages, like you’ll only hear certain songs being played at certain faction stages?
Thanks.
was the ending the last level ?!!?
I don’t have the game yet, but because of multiplayer gameplay like this I may have to pick it up one day. I like interesting RTS/Action games. Reminds me a lot like Savage, but you’re the leader and the hero – which is a nice take.
no i dont think so i think it was the second or something….but still….AWESOME VIDEO…….. 4:33 – 4:35 LOL ..WELL ITS ABOUT FU**ing time
To both your questions, yes. Friends vs bots it automatically sets you up against the same amount of bots and you and your team shares fans/units. Iron Heads get Metal, Drowning Doom get Black Metal and Tainted Coil gets Death Metal.
the guy with the sword looks like Robert Plant
when this out?
nah tainted coil dont get alot of death metal. beutiful people(yeah i know spelling sucks) and superbeast isnt exactly death metal. they have like 2 or 3 death metal songs
soo this is like DOTA?
I’m not sure about the bots, But you can make matches for just yourself and friends. As for the music, Each faction gets thier own selection. Eddie Riggs and Ironheade gets the Majority of the Heavy Metal music, You can change it from getting on the stage. Doviculus and the Tainted Coil gets a unique music, Stuff like KMFDM, And Ophelia and her Drowning Doom get emo-ish music.
You can change it for each faction by jumping on the stage. It gives the option then
well with jack black’s team you’ll hear classic heavy metal, like black sabbath or judas priest. with the demon team, you get industral music, like Ministry or KMFDM. With the blueish emo team you get blackmetal/goth stuff.
Each faction has unique music *Eddie Riggs = Heavy Metal*
*Doviculus = Gay Metal*
*Ophelia = Death Metal*
best game ever
im confused about the multiplayer. does it have like 4v4 matches and can u play with friends?
This game looks awesome but I wouldn’t recommend it for some gamers
yes it does. but you are all controlling 1 faction. so its like metal vs demons or emos vs demons. i think. but you each control your own version of eddie. and yes it can go up to 4 v 4 which is just crazy!
No Ophelia = like Gothic stuff, noway is it death metal. If it was you’d hear like nile and Suffocation, not Cradle of filth and Skeletonwitch from your stage
Most people on Xbox Live dont have the required brain power to play this game.
DETAMINATION!!!!!!!!!!
Hi guys. I got this game and sometimes I play multiplayer. Usualy I’m playing as Tainted Coil and I win 2/3 games. But if I try to play with Ironhade I loos all the time. Can someone give me some tips?
anyone who wants to play this add me on psn: mrmint77
Decapitation
Can you enter stge battles against AI after you’ve completed the story mode?
im really keen to play a 4v4 game of this, my playstation account is supergoogle
I WANT BRUTAL LEGEND!!!!!!!!!!!
@Donkey5575 its decapitation
I love playing multi on Brutal Legend if you guys want 2 play multi or 2vs.2 add me im up for it! psn: OUC_Lunarian
is brutal legend for pc too?
a few fans? lol! more like a ”cubic buttload”"!!!!!!
I can’t find anyone to play on this game. Does no one play anymore, or is it from lack of map pack?
stupid storyline and setting but great gameplay and humor
Yay finaly PS3!!
phew, I was starting to wonder if I was the only one
the best strategy for stage battles : you need to be Ironheade and need to play in dooms mire. make allot razor girls and get some merch boots attack the enemy base and there you win..works eveyr time
im so gonna get this
add me so we can play sometime (if i get it) psn lol4gamezzzz
@Arissathlol can u play splitscreen?
this game has some awesome songs on it and im a big rock fan so im gettin it
@Axellexa99
no : /
my brutal leyend broke….and i cried a week…. :/