Let's Talk About Games: Brutal Legend

So today I'm going to take a moment to talk about a surprising gem that is a strange game out of time.

This game recently went on a Memorial Day sale on steam and it reminded me of the good old days. Times before online focus, and four hour single player campaigns.

Brutal Legend is a Double Fine production from the guys who brought you Psychonauts and would eventually bring the Costume Quest games.

This is a game that stands outside time, as this strange creation of passion and janky early PS3 era animations. With a mildly off putting pseudo-realistic / cartoonish art style embarrassingly similar to Street Fighter V. The game has an amazing soundtrack, and a surprisingly enjoyable if-mashy combat system. The RTS elements bleed into the game proper over a few hours but flow pretty naturally. If you haven't played it, its a half mix of Hack and Slash, and RTS.

The main reason I say this game stands between time is because it this weird uncommon type of game, mixing two very different types of game genres. Yet despite this, EA of all companies backed it, and it has what was likely a very expensive array of licensed music that was gear toward an older audience that probably doesn't play games at all, let alone RTSs. Fortunately for me, I love the soundtrack, and played a lot of RTS games and have a particular spot for the Devil May Cry series. I really enjoyed this game, and its surprisingly well done story. Yes, a lot of the jokes are corny, or visual humor. Yes, the art style does take a bit to get used, and a lot of the animations are strange and uncanny. Still the game has an undeniable charm to it that all of Double Fine games have.

The game is also open world, which is interesting considering the wave of open world games not long ago. Jack Black also makes for an amazing voice actor, although the game could use a bit more voice lines, especially with as many cheap deaths as this game has, you will often re-hear the same voice lines a few times. Still, I keep rambling about the game, and am not sure why. The game is full of collectibles and also has some achievements or trophies, whatever, that tell of time when some developers put some thought into those. One achievement requires you to be on new game plus, put on a special costume, go to an undisclosed and specific area, then make out with your love interest.

The point of all this rambling was to say that Brutal Legend is a very different and original game. One that likely will never get made again. Not because it's bad, but because game companies don't really go out on a limb for things like this any more. Indie Game Devs lack the budget required to purchase a giant list of licensed music. I mean seriously, even if an indie game did do that, the list in this game would be completely impracticable. Plus, I can't help but feel that most games avoid expensive music because that would limit it's "Let's Play" potential, which is pretty much free advertising. At least in my opinion.

All in all, take a shot at it if you can. It something new and original, something that likely wont show up again any time soon. At least check out the soundtrack, you can likely find most of it on youtube or vimeo or whatever.

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