 "Photo: Courtesy of Double Fine Productions")
Brütal Legend (Xbox360, PS3)
“Brütal Legend” is a game that can’t be discussed without mentioning the pairing of actor Jack Black and revered game designer Tim Schafer (known for PC adventure games in the ‘90s).
One of these guys is much funnier then the other, and luckily he is the one who has brought the world of “Brütal Legend” to life — a strange fantasy realm that is inspired by heavy metal album covers and mocks every aspect of the genre that has and hasn’t been touched by “Metalocalypse.”
As convincing as the detailed world is in HD, celebrities and comedians such as Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy Kilmister, Tim Curry and Brian Posehn help bring the world to life.
You play as Eddie Riggs, a roadie of a by-gone era, who is transported to this world after getting blood on his supernatural belt. The story is there only to bring the player closer to the ridiculous characters and jokes that will surely be appreciated by metal fans.
Sadly, the same can be said of the gameplay. If the game weren’t so funny and charming this would be a serious knock against the overall experience but, in effect, it feels like complaining about the cinematography in a comedy.
If all Schafer and Black want us to do is laugh and have a good time, then mission accomplished.
— Allistair Pinsof
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
“Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” doesn’t reimagine what games can be, but it’s the first game I’ve played that holds the same range and technique as a great Hollywood summer film.
But the game isn’t special because it resembles a film, it’s special because it’s better then most action films released in recent years.
In “Uncharted 2,” the player revisits the role of Nathan Drake, a charismatic treasure hunter who can’t seem to make his millions without screwing over a colleague or two.
The game constantly reminds us that Drake is only human, which leads to great moments of vulnerability.
Take, for example, the intro that finds Drake waking up on a train that is about to fall off a snowy cliffside. There is no explanation given; the player must simply survive as he leaps from chair to chair on the vertically positioned cart — all while bleeding from a bullet wound that makes him loose his balance and grip. Constant surprises (a chair suddenly breaking, birds flying by) add to the suspense of what should be a very easy intro.
“Uncharted 2” includes so many great set pieces that it’s hard to discuss the story without spoiling it. Just know that if this were “Indiana Jones 4,” there would be a lot less people in the world upset at Spielberg. “Uncharted 2” doesn’t do anything new, but it sums up everything games have done right this decade in a story that actually makes you care.
— A.P.
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