BRÜTAL LEGEND
Grade: B-
When “Halo Wars” tried to tweak the real-time strategy game formula to make it more playable with a controller earlier this year, it ran into a contradiction. Simplification made the game better by making it easier to control, but it also hurt the game due to the sacrifice of strategic depth and variety. “Brütal Legend,” a game first created as an homage to heavy metal music, goes even farther in favor of simplification and action over strategy with decidedly mixed results, but its presentation still makes it worth it for anyone who enjoys a good story or fast guitar riff.
The story focuses on Eddie Riggs (hilariously voiced by Jack Black), a roadie and true metal head who gets transported into a world where everything, from the demons and citizens to the epically evil architecture, looks “metal” in some way. He soon joins a rebellion against the evil forces oppressing humanity, building up an army and taking it on tour against legions of demons and other evildoers. The premise sounds a little ridiculous, walking a fine line between homage and parody; however, the story is solid and the dialogue is funny and well-written enough so that you won’t be skipping the cut scenes.
If “Brütal Legend’s” unique visual style doesn’t appeal enough, the audio more than makes up for it, using original and licensed metal tracks to great effect. If you’re not a big fan of metal, the soundtrack thankfully favors accessibility over obscure hardcore appeal. Even more remarkable is the inclusion of multiple metal musicians as actors: Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy of Motörhead and Rob Halford of Judas Priest all have major parts and perform surprisingly well.
The most surprising thing about “Legend” is how a game that flaunts its premise far more than its gameplay actually manages to be a unique and engaging experience. The first hour or so is spent as a standard action game, with Riggs mashing up demons with an axe and setting them ablaze with guitar solos, but it soon becomes clear that “Brütal Legend” is really an RTS, albeit a highly unique one.
The game’s primary missions are “stage battles,” where one starts off with a stage that can build units and fight for “fan geysers,” which generate resources to build a “merch booth” over them (the metal theme does get ridiculous after awhile). Players can advance their stage to build more powerful units and upgrades, fighting until the opponent’s stage is destroyed. One can fly above the battlefield to set waypoints and give orders to units en masse, but is most effective when teaming up with his or her army in the fight, using guitar solos and special “double team” abilities to enhance power.
At its best, the system is fresh and engaging, combining thoughtful strategic elements with fast and chaotic action. At its worst, your armies are a pain to control and order around; one is so limited by the barely passable controls that more complex battle plans aren’t an option and the actions become mindless button-mashing. It doesn’t fully commit to its premise of favoring action with strategic overtones, teaching you to play as if it were meant to be a pure RTS until you learn the hard way otherwise. It doesn’t refine its controls as much as is necessary for a game with so many different elements.
There are three different factions in the game, all of which are available for multiplayer battles, which are naturally tougher than the single player campaign, and therefore multiply the game’s strengths and weaknesses. They demand far more strategy than “Brütal Legend’s” controls really allow, ironically making them much less accessible than traditional RTS games.
“Brütal Legend” has a great premise, a fantastic look, solid gameplay and, of course, an awesome soundtrack, but is far too inconsistent to be as fun as it could’ve been.
You can reach this staff writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
