I’m going to be upfront and tell you this whole game got a serious plus one point upgrade from average to great just because of who the main character is, and because the developers have hit that particular nail right on the head. This whole game is a bunch of video game tropes and clichés set to the maniacal ravings of Wade Wilson, AKA the Merc with a Mouth, AKA Deadpool. That’s what I love about this game and took the score from an average 3.5 to a great 4.5.
By Wayne Webb
I’m going to be upfront and tell you this whole game got a serious plus one point upgrade from average to great just because of who the main character is, and because the developers have hit that particular nail right on the head. This whole game is a bunch of video game tropes and clichés set to the maniacal ravings of Wade Wilson, AKA the Merc with a Mouth, AKA Deadpool. That’s what I love about this game and took the score from an average 3.5 to a great 4.5.
On the face of the story you play as Deadpool. You are in a Bertolt Brecht-style ‘breaking the fourth wall’ play within a play as Wade Wilson. He is getting a video game company to make a game starring him. From the very first minute the jokes fly thick, fast and puerile. That’s the appeal of the character and that’s the appeal of the game. There’s a load to see and do and not one single detail is played seriously. Environments are peppered with objects and interactions designed to show off the humour and the pop culture referencing on display.
It’s definitely for the fans of Marvel Comics and Deadpool especially as it is laden with dick jokes, casual sexism and personal abuse, which makes the character so much fun to play. Deadpool delivers one-liners in the fights, just walking around and in long scripted and hilarious cut scenes. One early great example is of Wade slapping Wolverine trying to wake him up. This slapping goes on for minutes as long as you keep at it and there’s a barrage of jokes flying the whole way through.
The game play itself is pedestrian; it’s not bad, but it’s just stuff we’ve seen before and in better games. It reminds me a lot of the last couple of Spiderman Games which are a little more ‘goody two shoes’ than Deadpool but operate on the same principle of navigating sewers and corridors, progressing storylines and picking up collectibles. The fight mechanics are button mashers and are not as good as other hero fighters like the Arkham series or other Marvel efforts.
All of the down sides, which are not so much problems as a lack of imagination in play style, are nothing next to the frankly hysterical dialogue, action and set cut scenes that rocket this game along. I don’t usually want to collect every single thing, but in this case I feel like I’d miss out on some of the best material unless I look for it all. If you like Deadpool, it’s a no brainer. If you don’t like him then this will not change your mind.
Pros: It’s funny, no seriously funny, have I mentioned just how funny this is? Good character work, loads to see and laugh at, collectibles and upgrades make it engaging and set within the X-men Universe. Definitely for the fans.
Cons: Gameplay is nothing new, can be repetitive and a bit of a grind. Bad guys not that intelligent and it feels like a rip off of the Spiderman Games. Definitely for fans.
4.5 Shacks Out Of 5
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