By GG-CrixLee 2 years, 8 months ago • 6 Comments
A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be able to visit the EA Los Angeles campus for EA3 a preview day of upcoming EA titles to be shown off at the annual E3 convention. One of the featured games that EA was showing off was Brutal Legend, a 3rd person action game written by Tim Schafer of Double Fine Productions.
Brutal Legend is just what it sounds like: Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll.
Jack Black voices Eddie Riggs, a disillusioned Roadie for a crappy Heavy Metal band. That is, until a stage accident causes a few drops of his blood land on his belt buckle and he finds himself transported back to the Metal Age, which strangely resembles every Heavy Metal album Eddie has ever seen and loved. Eddie finds himself unwittingly appointed as Leader of the resistance who is trying to defeat the evil Emperor Doviculus, who has enslaved the last remaining humans. The game features other voices worthy of noting (or at one time could be noted) such as Rob Halford (singer, Judas Priest) as the voice of General Limelight, a henchman to evil Emperor Doviculus. General Limelight can belt out a sheer high note that is capable of shattering your skull. Also featured is Lemmy Kilmister (bass/lead vocals, Motorhead), as Kill Master who can heal you with his tasty, tasty bass skills.
There are TONS of things about this game that any Heavy Metal enthusiast will love: the landscapes are inspired by the fold out album covers from bands like Iron Maiden and Meat Loaf’s ‘Bat Out of Hell’. There’s a particular wide shot of Bladehenge that reminded me of so much of Iron Maiden, it prompted me to ask Schafer if they were indeed the inspiration, and he confirmed that “Iron Maiden is one of many bands’ albums he drew from, along with many others.” The game’s score is comprised of songs that are easily recognizable and revered. The 64 sq km grid that the game takes place on is full of blood, skulls, debris, and a healthy amount of f-bombs adding to the verbose landscape that is enough heavy metal to make you go “whoa”. As you progress through the game you amass an army consisting of interesting dudes like the Miners. These giant dudes dress like headbangers and break rocks in the mines with their heads, which they also implore as their fighting style, which carries over into their dialogue. (Make sure to keep an eye for them in the HILARIOUS trailer, below.)
In game your primary weapon is your guitar, Clementine, which Eddie brings with him from the other side. Power ups and summoning powers are done through guitar solos, consisting of hitting buttons in sequence to activate them. During the demo we saw that your car “The Deuce” a.k.a. “Druid Plow” is summoned by playing the “Drop A Deuce” solo. When you play it, your car roars in out of nowhere, ala K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider style.
The tutorials are not only fun, but also uber funny due to Jack Black’s amazing comic timing. The beasts you encounter along the way would make any mere mortal wet themselves, but Black diffuses the situation with well-timed dialogue. What storyline I did see, was a little goofy but left me curious enough to see how it will all end.
The visuals are stunning and awe inspiring to anyone, Heavy Metal lover or not, the backgrounds are rich in druid-like lore and full of dark and light colors, such as oranges, reds, blacks, and whites that are synonymous with most Heavy Metal albums. My only real issue at this point is that it seems like more time was spent on the INCREDIBLE landscape and less on the look of the characters. They resemble many of the avatars you’d see in Rock Band, which aren’t the most polished, yet they seem to work in the overall motif of the game.
I was disappointed that we didn’t get any hands on time with the game, as I was teeming with excitement by the time the presentation was over. I can only hope we get to see the game at E3 and get some hands on time with it. Expect a report if that happens.
Currently the release date for Brutal Legend for the 360 and PS3 is October 13, 2009.
This game is not yet rated.
You can see more at www.BrutalLegend.com as well as follow them on Twitter www.Twitter.com/BrutalLegend
Brutal Legend (EA)
Genre: Action
Rating: PENDING
Release Date: 10/13/09
Platform: Xbox 360/PS3
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I can not even wait.
the funny thing about their release date is that it's a TUESDAY.
I looked at the date and assumed it was a FRIDAY, lol.
I am so in love with this game.
Friggin' Awesome.
I can't wait to get my hands on this!!!!!
"Drop a Deuce Solo"....ha ha ha ha ha
GG-CrixLee
2 years, 8 months agooh I saw it and wanna put my hands all over it!