Brütal Legend

"Brutal Legend" has plenty going for it in both charm and the imagination put into its creation. I now know what a Tim Schafer game is, and he's got my attention in the future. And casting Jack Black as the lead character was a stroke of genius. In the right doses (i.e. this game), he's very likable, and the guy's woven into the very fabric of the whole thing. He makes Eddie Riggs a memorable character. And you can tell what kind of love letter this is to heavy metal just from the game design; this world looks like you've just been grabbed into some of those wicked '80s album covers. It's great fantasy.

And it's mostly a fun game, definitely worth a play for pretty much anyone. I didn't expect to be commanding armies into battle - which, while a cool idea on paper, became repetitive and not at all my cup of tea. I was much more at home tearing through the metal landscape in the hot rod and tearing through bodies with the axe. If not for the actual setting up of merch booths and controlling the head-banging forces, this would be an all-around winner.

6/10

Brutal Legend is a great game and I would recommend it to anyone. Story line was compelling with never a dull moment. It told a story and had positive impact for it taught the players lessons such as be kind to others, never give up, respect, when to take a step back and most importantly the power of music. Brutal Legend had excellent graphics and didn't find any bugs. Gotta be able to handle flashing lights though for certain battles require players to shoot light bombs. The game had different difficulty options and settings so that you can adjust for comfort. Badges players can earn to keep the players coming back and they can set goals for themselves to achieve each time.

As someone who lives and breathes metal music, I was beyond excited when I first heard about *Brutal Legend*. The combination of a fantastical setting inspired by heavy metal album art, along with the involvement of the legendary Tim Schafer (of *Monkey Island* fame) and the charismatic Jack Black in the lead role, had me intrigued from the very beginning.

The plot revolves around Eddie Riggs, a roadie who finds himself magically transported to a world that feels like it leapt straight off an album cover. He becomes an unlikely hero, championing the oppressed humans against a host of supernatural villains. It's a captivating premise that definitely had me hooked; who wouldn't want to save the world while rocking out?

The game kicks off as a platforming hack-and-slash title, complete with an electric guitar that doubles as an axe. The melee combat, while not groundbreaking, is satisfying enough for a game of this era, and the demo had already assured me that I was on the right track. You also get to drive around in a car, exploring a sandbox world that's richly infused with metal aesthetics. And honestly, just cruising through the stunning landscapes while jamming to the soundtrack brought me immense joy.

However, as the game progresses, it shifts gears dramatically into a third-person real-time strategy (RTS) experience. I must admit, this caught me completely off guard. While the idea of summoning and building units based on the metal community is a fascinating concept, the execution left something to be desired. The RTS elements felt clunky and unfulfilled compared to the exhilarating one-on-one combat that initially drew me in. It's a jarring transition that made me yearn for more of the brawling action I had enjoyed earlier.

Another aspect that fell short for me was the side missions. They felt less like meaningful activities and more like filler, lacking that extra spark of excitement that would have made them worthwhile. It seemed as if time hadn't been given the attention it deserved in this area, leaving activities that felt repetitive rather than engaging.

On the bright side, the music selection exceeded my expectations. Instead of just your typical '80s metal bands, the game features an impressive range of genres, including black metal and melodic death metal, which adds a fantastic depth to the experience. And let's not forget the voice acting-Jack Black, Jennifer Hale, and Tim Curry all deliver stellar performances that breathe life into the characters, making me genuinely care about their journeys.

While the game can be completed in about seven hours, the brevity might be off-putting for some. Sure, you can extend your playtime with those side missions, but given their lackluster execution, I found this to be a bit of a drag.

Ultimately, *Brutal Legend* earns a solid 7/10 from me. Despite its quirks and shortcomings, the game showcases tremendous potential and is a unique ode to the metal genre. I would have loved to see a sequel that could expand on this exciting universe, especially since it feels like there's so much more to explore. It's a shame that the game didn't achieve the success it warranted, but it still stands as a cult classic for metal fans and gamers alike.

A game forged out of the rock of ages has come, giving the hard rocking metal fans what they want. Awesome tunes, rocking action/violence, big stars and a few well placed curse words. That game is Brutal legend. Jack Black is hilarious as Eddie Riggs, a poor roadie who meets an untimely end after trying to save some pratt on a rock n roll stage. His soul is taken to Hell where rock is a weapon of choice. Eddie dispatches evil with a huge battle axe and his trusty guitar and lays waste to anything in his path. Take a good look at the name of this game. It's called BRUTAL LEGEND and it means what it says. This is a very gory game but that's what I love about it. There's decapitations, limbs being hacked off, people being run over, you name it, this will probably have it. Also it has the best rock/metal tunes of yesteryear pumping out and rocking your console as you progress through the game. I found this game a lot of fun. It quenched my blood-lust and also appealed to the rocker within me. Jack Black does an excellent job as the hero of the game. He makes you totally believe in the character and you wonder where the quests will take you next. Cameos come a plenty in this from the prince of darkness himself Ozzy makes an appearance, Rob Halford from Judas Priest as well as Lemmy from Motorhead is involved in the storyline, leaving the best part of the villain to the great Tim Curry. BRUTAL LEGEND is the game that Metal/Rock fans have been waiting for and it has been a long wait. Finally it's here and it ROCKS!!!!

My brother is more the video game fan than I am, but when they are good they are great fun to watch and play. Brutal Legend had some really interesting ideas and the voice cast- you can never go wrong with Tim Curry voicing a villain- and music choices are enough to draw anybody in. On the whole, Brutal Legend is an awesome game. It is a little too short, maybe if the ending was longer and more rounded off that may have solved things, and there are a few moments where the missions are repetitive and lack variety. But the good far outweighs the not-so-good, and Brutal Legend's good points are outstanding. Where to start with the praise? Well, the graphics are just great, very detailed, easy-flowing and atmospherically coloured. The visual effects are also eye-catching. The soundtrack fits so well too with some really catchy and energetic song choices, heavy metal is not a style I usually listen to but Brutal Legend is one of the reasons why the appreciation for it is going up. There is some hilarious writing, Eddie's lines especially, though there are also some thoughtful and intense moments like with Doviculus. The story is exciting, told in a way that anybody will follow with no problem and has an atmosphere that draws you right into the world it is set in, the final battle between Eddie and Doviculus is epic personified. The game play is not simplistic, nor is it too complex, one may wish for more variety but mostly it is a lot of fun to play. The characters are also great, Eddie is one cool and likable hero, Orphelia is sexy, Ozzy Osborne's character is hugely entertaining and Doviculus is convincing and not one to mess one, with a design that seems to be influenced by Darkness from Legend. Likewise with the voice acting, Jack Black is in his element in a role that just allows him to be him and do what he wants. Ozzy Osborne relishes his cracking one-liners, the heavy metal legends are fun in itself to listen out for and spot and Tim Curry's voicing of Doviculus is chilling in a way that few other actors specialising in villain roles can pull off so well. Overall, awesome. 9/10 Bethany Cox