[Multi] Brutal Legend - Tim Schafer and Jack Black's new game

[ShakeyJake]

Thought this game was deserving of it's own thread seeing as EA have picked up the right to publish it in Autumn 2009 :thumbs:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=336682

Can't wait for it personally

Here's the trailer for anyone that's not heard of it

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[mr_woo]

So they finally got a publisher, great news. Activision were apparently being right gits and giving them a lot of trouble when trying to find a new one.

[Terribly_Mauled]

Activision have bcome the new EA.

EA have become... something unexpected.... :thumbs:

[Moldiver]

There's a video interview for this on marketplace now and Gametrailers also have a new trailer.

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Looks like it could be good fun. Out in Sept' apparently

[Mr Majestik]

Looks genius x infinity.

[MetalGearAl]

Looks good, as long as it's fun to play. I really wanted to like Psychonauts but I found the gameplay incredibly dull.

[mr_woo]

FFS Activision.

http://kotaku.com/5279036/activision-sues-brutal-legend-devs-to-halt-release


Publisher Activision has filed suit against Brütal Legend developer Double Fine Productions to prevent the release of the heavy metal game starring Jack Black, putting the title's Rocktober release in jeopardy.

According to a report from the Associated Press, Activision claims that Double Fine failed to deliver Brütal Legend on time and mostly on its dime. The suit contends that the Brütal Legend dev was paid $15 million to finish the game, but missed a key deadline, with Double Fine asking for another $7 million in development monies and a nine month extension.

When Vivendi and Activision merged last year, Brütal Legend was missing from the list of titles that Activision would inherit and publish. But Activision claims it still retains its rights to the open world action adventure and that the mega-publisher has suffered "irreparable harm" in losing the game.

The lawsuit is unlikely a surprise for EA and Double Fine, as Activision expressed its unhappiness with the game being handed over to its biggest competitor earlier this year. EA's response to Activision's legal threats called them as ridiculous as "a husband abandoning his family and then suing after his wife meets a better looking guy."

Brütal Legend's presence at E3 2009 is big. New publisher Electronic Arts is banking heavily on the game, but if Activision is successful in its latest round of litigation, it's possible that we might have to start looking forward to a Rockvember or Rockcember release.

[Mr Majestik]

Activision have really made themselves into the ********* of the game industry.

Here's what Activision chose over Spyro the dragon.

<div class="gametrailers_embed_container>"<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=50432"/><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=50432" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object><div style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; text-align: center; width: 480px; padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; background-color: black; height: 32px;"><div><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com" title="GameTrailers.com">Video Games</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/game/5666.html" title="Brutal Legend">Brutal Legend</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/player/50432.html" title="E3 09: Trailer">E3 09: Trailer</a></div><div style="padding-top: 3px;"><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/platformlist/xb360/index.html" title="XBox 360">XBox 360</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/platformlist/ps3/index.html" title="PS3">Playstation 3</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/platformlist/wii/index.html" title="Wii">Nintendo Wii</a></div></div>

[mr_woo]

Some good news, Activision and Double Fine reach settlement (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/brutal-legend-release-to-go-ahead-in-oct)

Reading this story (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/07/activision-to-receive-little-to-no-compensation-in-brutal-lege/) it appears that Activision get little to nothing as well. Looks like they were trying to avoid losing in open court.

Also, the soundtrack list to the game was announced as well:

3 Inches of Blood - Deadly Sinners
3 Inches of Blood - Destroy The Orcs
Accept - Fast As A Shark
Angel Witch - Angel Witch
Anthrax - Metal Thrashing Mad
Anvil - March of the Crabs
Anvil - Tag Team
Apostasy - Sulphur Injection
Bishop of Hexen - A Serpentine Grave
Bishop of Hexen - The Somber Grounds of Truth
Black Sabbath - Children of the Grave
Black Sabbath - Symptom of the Universe
Black Sabbath - Never Say Die
Brocas Helm - Cry of the Banshee
Brocas Helm - Drink the Blood of the Priest
Budgie - Breadfan
Budgie - Zoom Club
Candlemass - Witches
Carcass - No Love Lost
Cloven Hoof Nightstalker
Children of Bodom - Angels Don't Kill
Coroner - Skeleton on your Shoulder
Cradle of Filth - Her Ghost in the Fog
Crimson Glory - Queen of the Masquerade
Dark Fortress - Insomnia
Dark Tranquility - Cathode Ray Sunshine
Deathstars - Blitzkrieg
Def Leppard - Rock of Ages
Dethklok - Mermaider
Diamond Head - Am I Evil?
Dimmu Borgir - Progenies of the Great Apocalypse
Dokken - Mr. Scary
Dragonforce - Through the Fire and Flames
Emperor - Thus Spake The Nightspirit
Enslaved - Frost
Enslaved - Loke
Firehouse - Overnight Sensation
Girlschool - Bomber
Iced Earth - When the Night Falls
Iced Earth - Pure Evil
In Flames - Goliaths Disarm Their Davids
Judas Priest - Battle Hymn
Judas Priest - The Hellion/Electric Eye
Judas Priest - Leather Rebel
Judas Priest - One Shot At Glory
Judas Priest - Painkiller
Kabbage Boy - Girlfriend
KMFDM - Free Your Hate
KMFDM - Rip The System
King Diamond - Cremation
King Diamond - Welcome Home
Kiss - God of Thunder
Lita Ford - Betrayal
Marilyn Manson - Beautiful People
Manowar - Die For Metal
Manowar - The Dawn Of Battle
Mastodon - Crack the Skye
Mastodon - Oblivion Instrumental
Megadeath - High Speed Dirt
Megadeath - Tornado of Souls
Metal Church - Metal Church
Michael Schenker - Group Assault Attack
Ministry - Stigmata
Ministry - Thieves
Mirrorthrone - So Frail
Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood
Motley Crue - Kickstart My Heart
Motley Crue - Live Wire
Motorhead - Back at the Funny Farm
Motorhead - In the Black
Motorhead - Marching Off to War
Motorhead - We Are the Road Crew
Nitro - Machine Gun Eddie
Omen - The Axeman
Ostrogoth - Queen of Desire
Overkill - World of Hurt
Ozzy Osbourne - Believer
Ozzy Osbourne - Mr. Crowley
Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman
Prong - Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck
Quiet Riot - The Wild and the Young
Racer X - Technical Difficulties
Racer X - Y.R.O.
Ratt - Lay It Down
Riot - Road Racin
Riot - Narita
Riot - Swords and Tequila
Rob Zombie - Superbeast
Rotting Christ - Ad Notics
Running Wild - Riding the Storm
Sanctuary - Battle Angels
Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King
Saxon - Wheels of Steel
Scorpions - Blackout
Scorpions - Holiday
Skeletonwitch - Soul Thrashing Black Sorcery
Skid Row - Youth Gone Wild
Slayer - Metal Storm/Face The Slayer
Slough Feg - Warriors Dawn
Static-X - Love Dump
Tenacious D - Master Exploder
Tenacious D - The Metal
Testament - For The Glory Of
Testament - More Than Meets The Eye
Tvangeste - Birth of the Hero
UFO - Rock Bottom
Whitesnake - Still of the Night
Wrath of Killenstein - Ignisis Dance

[MrSpeed]

Great soundtrack http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p143/MrSpeed_photos/RockerSmilie.jpg

[vili]

Is it just me, or is that a lot of songs? :clap:

Coincidentally, I foresee that this will be the exact playlist on my mp3 player about... mmm.. say, two hours from now. ;)

I am actually a real n00b when it comes to rock music (it's because of Tim Schafer that I'm excited about the game), so I think it'll only do me good to delve deep into the abyss of rock and familiarise myself with the basics before Brütal Legend is out.

[lentini]

That is one hell of a soundtrack! :eek:

[Moldiver]

wow, was only expecting a few songs tbh. I wonder if these play on the car radio during the driving bits?

[msm13579]

Saxon - Wheels of Steel

:lol: :notworthy

[SIMON ADEBISI]

Prong - Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck

Only listened to this the other day. What a ******* song.

[findlay_mill]

Here's a youtube video (well 3 parts) of all the songs in it + some gameplay footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhqKD6sbpp4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhqKD6sbpp4&feature=related)

[vili]

Here's a youtube video (well 3 parts) of all the songs in it + some gameplay footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhqKD6sbpp4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhqKD6sbpp4&feature=related)

Thanks! Here in turn is a Youtube playlist of all (?) songs in full:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=FD436207C6E748EC&search_query=brutal+legend+soundtrack

[findlay_mill]

This soundtrack is going to be huge! Some of those songs are 9 minutes long, it took me 30 minutes to listen to just the clips. Heh :nuts:

[anephric]

I was going to say, if any game should feature Manowar, it's this one. Colour me satisfied.

[lentini]

Demo is coming on September 17th :thumbs:

[TonyG]

Demo coming to 360/PS3 on September 17th.

*looks up* :lol: I guess we're watching the same live-stream. :)

[lentini]

I guess we're watching the same live-stream. :)

:lol:

[vili]

That's great news, guys! What's the source, though?

[lentini]

That's great news, guys! What's the source, though?

EA's live conference at GamesCon. Doesn't get more official than that :lol:

[vili]

EA's live conference at GamesCon. Doesn't get more official than that :lol:

Thanks! :)

[ShakeyJake]

Dear Customer,

Thank you for Preordering Brutal Legend on Xbox 360 from Game.co.uk.

Your Early Demo Access Code is: xxxxx

The Demo of Brutal Legend will be available to GAME preorder customers on 17th September.
To make sure you are ready, here is how to access it:

1. Sign into your Xbox Live Account from the Xbox Dashboard and select the Marketplace blade.

2. Select "Redeem Code.

3. Enter your code and select "Done.

4. Your playable demo will download to your Xbox 360 hard drive.

For techinal support, please visit: http://support.ea.com

Once again, thank you for preordering from Game.co.uk

The Team,
GAME.co.uk


ooh that's nice. I just hope I don't need to contact "techinal" support.

[ShakeyJake]

Wow this is pretty awesome :D and it's got the best menus I've seen in a game.

[Moldiver]

Fantastic. This is one of the most beautifully presented games that I've seen in some time. It does absolutely nothing wrong. The gameplay is fun; music's a blast; the controls are tight and the camera does what you want it to. The script is hilarious and Jack Black is on superb form. Laughed from start to finish throughout this demo. Cannot wait for the full game. Cheers for the code Mr. Spatular :)

[msm13579]

no problem, glad you liked it :thumbs:

what does it play like? i heard it was a bit like overlord/pikmin, which is not what i was expecting.

[Moldiver]

Well that's the one thing the demo doesn't show. When you complete it there's a video that shows extra things you can do, such as command a small team of goblins or something. The demo is basically a slash 'em up with very basic move sets, but it's good fun.

[msm13579]

ah right, thanks for the info dude.

[fivebyfive]

when is the demo out for non pre-orders?

[Moldiver]

24th

[fivebyfive]

:thumbs:

although I hate Jack Black, the game looks good

[Moldiver]

He does demonstrate a good range here, believe it or not. He does his usual bit, but there's also some understated delivery as well. He's done a great job with the character. After the end video I'm really looking forward to more. The ice level looks ace.

It also mentions multiplayer, which I never knew about until now.

[MrSpeed]

Sooo looking forward to trying the demo :D

[mikegray]

I read somewhere that the multiplayer is almost an RTS?

[odin]

Got hold of the demo today and what a laugh it is!

I was laughing all the way through, it's not exactly a taxing demo and very short but it's made me put in a pre-order.

The soundtrack is fantastic! :notworthy

[jagox]

Demo out on UK marketplace today, anyone dl yet?

[smst]

Demo out on UK marketplace today, anyone dl yet?

I haven't, but thanks for the reminder -- it'll be on the UK PSN Store (http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2009/10/01/heads-up%E2%80%99-playstation-store-update-1st-october-2009/) this evening too (and on the US store already). 1.6 GB though!

[MrSpeed]

D/L'ing it now :)

[Da Outsider]

Decapitatiooooon!! :lol:

[vili]

I just played through the demo. This game has the best game menu ever!

Although the demo is really short for such a big download, it was funny as expected, and the controls felt quite solid, especially once I realised that you can make the camera much more responsive from the settings. I don't know why the default setting is what it is. I guess some people don't like moving the camera or something.

Graphics felt a bit dated, or rather, I don't mind older graphics but I felt that they could have handled the cut scenes better, as the transitions and character movements weren't too smooth. Things felt a bit rushed. Considering the time that they have had to polish this thing, I expected a little bit smoother ride.

I'm not 100% sure about Jack Black's voice acting either. He seemed here (and in the videos that I have seen before) a little bit hit and miss with it to be honest. Sometimes he absolutely nails it, while at other times his lines are a bit off. Something to do with comic timing. This wasn't helped by instances where characters were talking at the same time with Ophelia saying something plot related, while Eddie is offering a random comment on the scenery or something.

But all in all, I had fun for the 15-20 minutes that it lasted. I also really appreciate that there is blood, gore and cursing in this game. Not that I like any of those things in general, but playing a heavy metal game without them would have been a bit strange.

I'm definitely getting the game when it's out. But then again, I pretty much bought my Xbox 360 because this game was coming out. :)

[MrSpeed]

This game has the best game menu ever!


Totally agree :notworthy

What a great game this looks from the demo...Heavy Metal, humour, gore...a must have :thumbs:

[MetalGearAl]

Enjoyed this. The framerate was a bit choppy at times and the gameplay wasn't super exciting but overall it feels very polished (framerate issues aside).

[d80s0q]

This was a really good fun demo! Love the humour, style, ideas etc. The game is a hack n slash but its dressed up very excitingly :)

Went and ordered it off the back of this.

[Matt KB]

Enjoyed it till it crashed on me. Frame rate was a bit spazzy too but other than that was quite good.

[fivebyfive]

the menu system is very well done

[ggrant]

Played this demo last night and thought it was great. I'm literally about to go and find the cheapest pre-order hehe.

[stompontheplebs]

The demo was beyond awesome :D I have just booked the afternoon of the 16'th of Rocktober off work and will be preordering the game in-store somewhere later on (just incase it doesn't get delivered on release date). Awesome soundtrack and lots of laughs - I quite like Jack Black anyway, and the games style of humour reminds me of all the classic Schafer adventures.

It's been quite a while since I've been genuinely excited about a game release but with this out soon & Modern Warefare 2 out in 5-6 weeks, things are starting to look up!

[TonyG]

Demo was ok. Good humour & cool menu, but the all important gameplay was average at best. If it was out during a quiet release period, i'd consider it, but with Uncharted out the same day & Forza the following week, this will get ignored by myself.

[Royle]

It was polished and quite funny but the gameplay was so boring it felt like Banjo Kazooie with violence. Crossed off my list.

[MetalGearAl]

I think that's the thing. The presentation is ace but the gameplay presented was quiet dull - just lots of running and hitting X and A, ocassional bit of driving. I did enjoy it but it's not a full-price purchase for sure.

I tried to get into Psychonauts but as much as everyone loved it, I found the gameplay just a bit dull at the end of the day.

[Mr Majestik]

I think that's the thing. The presentation is ace but the gameplay presented was quiet dull - just lots of running and hitting X and A, ocassional bit of driving. I did enjoy it but it's not a full-price purchase for sure.

I tried to get into Psychonauts but as much as everyone loved it, I found the gameplay just a bit dull at the end of the day.

The thing about Psychonauts was that the gameplay completly changed as you played through it though.

[vili]

The thing about Psychonauts was that the gameplay completly changed as you played through it though.

Indeed, and what I have read from Brütal Legend would suggest that there is much more variety in this one as well. So, I wouldn't cross Brütal Legend off your list quite yet based on the first quarter of an hour of the game. (Although I have to admit that it is an understandable reaction based on the amount of content they shared with us in the demo, which wasn't much.)

[mikegray]

Looks great, but duff gameplay. Considering cancelling my pre-order now.

[ShakeyJake]

Before I played the demo I was worried it was going to play like a Ninja Gaiden type game, which I can't stand, but I really enjoyed the gameplay of this.

[MetalGearAl]

The thing about Psychonauts was that the gameplay completly changed as you played through it though.
That's what I've heard, so I would really like to give it a go. The boot camp training though was a quite dull collect 'em up (And it's not like it's a quick intro, it's fairly lengthy).

I do hear it gets better tho so I should try persevering.

[DrVenkman]

The quicklook on Giantbomb last week said that the gameplay does completely change past the first few levels.

[fivebyfive]

I think that's the thing. The presentation is ace but the gameplay presented was quiet dull - just lots of running and hitting X and A, ocassional bit of driving. I did enjoy it but it's not a full-price purchase for sure.

I thought the same thing, I know its just a small part of the full game but I don't see what else they can do. Probably just a rental

I hope the game does do well as to stick 2 fingers up to Activision, from wikipedia


The countersuit states that Activision had dropped the game after its merger with Vivendi after failing an attempt to convert the game into a Guitar Hero sequel

like the market needs another GH style game

[AKPiggott]

Played the PS3 demo over the weekend. The gameplay is truly nothing special but functional at least and the experience is tarted up by the stellar presentation, cracking humour and blinding soundtrack.

In two minds whether to get it on release or not as Uncharted 2 is out on the same day.

[Mr Majestik]

I really enjoyed the demo and i'm a complete Tim Schafer fan boy but...Uncharted 2 is the game getting bought next Friday.

[vili]

Reading the comments here, I wonder if Double Fine didn't actually shoot themselves in the foot with the short and simple demo.

Just out of curiosity, is there anyone here who thinks you would have bought the game on release day (or soon after) had you not tried the demo, but after playing it are now uncertain or unlikely to do that?

[Ghost Dog]

Well sort of the opposite for me as i wasn't sure about the game before the demo but after playing it and really enjoying it, i will most likely be picking the game up on release day. Mind you i only have a 360 so there isnt really another big release to compete with it either unlike ps3.

[MetalGearAl]

I rarely buy games without giving them a go first or them being very safe purchases.

BL is in the sub-£15 category for me.

[Saber]

I really enjoyed it, wasn't too sure about the game until I tried the demo. It feels quite like an interactive movie game to me, but thats cool, it keeps me entertained.

[mr_woo]

I'll be buying both next weekend, should make for a nice long gaming session :)

[Moldiver]

Where's the best place to order this from? I'd like to try and get it for the Weds/Thurs if places are shipping early. I've read The Hut has been really good for pre-orders and also Game/Gameplay. Thanks in advance.

Just watched the new marketplace vid about the multiplayer. Turns out the game was designed first as a multiplayer, with the single player campaign built up around it. It's certainly talked up a treat and it sounds like a lot of care has been put into it. It'll support up to 4 vs 4 :D

[odin]

IGN (US) Xbox review (http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/103/1033952p1.html)
9.0
Closing Comments
Brutal Legend is a tour de force that wraps up humor, music, and clever gameplay into one highly polished package. You haven't played a game quite like this before and won't want to miss it. Tim Shafer is one of the funniest guys in games and Jack Black is one of the funniest guys in movies -- together they'll keep you ROFLing (although the laughs do taper off as you work your way through the game). Brutal Legend isn't quite perfect and there is room for improvement (it's a little short, side quests are repetitive...), but when the credits roll you'll find yourself hoping for a sophomore release. Double Fine created a rich heavy metal universe and backstory full of great characters and creatures, with potential for an out-of-this-world sequel. Here's hoping Shafer and company get a chance to take us there.

[ggrant]

Play (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=2&url=www.play.com) are now showing this as in stock ready for despatch for the PS3 with the 360 version still down as pre-order for this Friday.

[Mr Majestik]

As i thought the game play in the main game is nothing like the demo!

IGN's video review.

<embed src='http://videomedia.ign.com/ev/ev.swf' flashvars='object_ID=851726&downloadURL=http://xbox360movies.ign.com/xbox360/video/article/103/1033926/brutallegend_vdr_101209_flvlowwide.flv&allownetworking="all%"' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' width='433' height='360'></embed><div style='width:433;'><a href='http://ps3.ign.com/objects/851/851726.html'>More Brütal Legend News & Previews</a></div>

[gourry]

Played the demo on the 360. Loved the general presentation and humour.

Some odd random frame rate issues which I hope are not in the full game. Although having played through the demo twice, the frame drops seem to happen at different times, maybe hd access times ?.

Always been a big fan on Schafer's work so this will be a first day purchase. Hopefully, due to all the promos and amusing Jack Black promos it may actually sell more than 2 copies - unlike poor Psychonauts :oh-hum:.

[ShakeyJake]

I've got this preordered but I know it's the kind of game that won't sell and will be £20 by the time I get round to playing it properly :( Hopefully EA can work some magic with advertising.

[Harsin]

It's out the same day as Uncharted 2 and Forza 3, it'll be £17 from Zavvi in a fortnight.

[MetalGearAl]

Some odd random frame rate issues which I hope are not in the full game.
They almost certainly will be in the game. If that wasn't fixed for the demo, they wouldn't have spent time on it for the full release.

Will be annoyed if it requires a HD install to fix it, I'm on a 20gb HDD.

[odin]

Eurogamer review (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/brutal-legend-review?page=1)

8/10
It's probably Brutal Legend's characters that win out. Since the days when he provided dialogue options for Guybrush Threepwood, Schafer's secret skill has been to people his games with lovable oddballs who quickly start to feel like friends, creating bonds strong enough to ensure you forgive some of the ropier moments. In this case, Schafer, Double Fine, and Black haven't just created a story about roadies: they've become them, scuttling about energetically, heads down and minds focused, as they pull a handful of simple props together in order to put on an amazing show.

[ShakeyJake]

Well my card was declined for my order. Not sure if I should reorder or just wait for it to turn up in the bargain bins. It's not like I'll be playing it much with Uncharted 2 on the way.

[ggrant]

I must admit also that my interest has fell to the wayside somewhat on this as well. With Novembers release list as it stands, I've still also got CoD:WaW to get through. That and it is now behind Wet in terms of 'Bargain Bin Buys'.

[RESSEH]

Anyone know how much this and uncharted will be in the supermarkets? I cant decide which one i want to buy first.

[Moldiver]

Been playing this for the last hour or so. Good stuff, already commanding my small army around. One disappointment is that the world is very big, but it's hard to navigate. You get a map by pressing the back button, but there's no radar type thingy, which makes it very hard to find the extra bits littered around, such as the dragon statues that you need to free. So I think I might take my time and drive around a bit and get used to the land. Very happy with it overall though so far.

[vili]

Got mine yesterday and played it for a couple of hours. So much fun!

For some reason, the real game looks and sounds better than it did in the demo. Probably I'm just imagining it. But Jack Black now feels absolutely perfect as Eddie.

Those concerned about the hack and slash type game play of the demo, if you follow the main story, you get your first small army to command in well under an hour, at which point it plays a little like an axe-wielding version of Brothers in Arms (although much funnier). It's probably going to change again soon.

The open world is really stunning. I keep stopping and jumping out of my car just so that I can take the time to marvel at the scenery. The sky keeps doing interesting things (I think it's dynamic), and every direction you look the world appears both majestic and absolutely hilarious at the same time.

My only complaint so far is that transitions to cut scenes are not very smooth, and it's a bit unclear where the border around an active spot is that triggers them. At one point I was driving back to Bladehenge to meet Lars, but just before driving in I noticed one of those stone statue things with a dragon inside, and wanted to free it, but apparently even if I hadn't actually yet entered the Bladehenge area, let alone seen Lars, I was close enough and a cut scene was triggered.

Some of the cut scenes could also be a bit longer. Maybe I'm just slow or something, but I would like a little bit more hand holding at some points of the story.

But I haven't been this excited playing a new game for quite a while. :nuts:

[Moldiver]

Been taking my time on this, driving around and collecting stuff, doing side missions. Just when you start thinking it gets a bit samey it throws in new elements. For instance I've just had my first major rock battlewhich was fun, and straight after that you have to protect the rock bus, which so far has been the toughest bit, because it's a lengthy sequence with no check points.

Oh and here's a tip. Click the left stick to run/sprint! I was wondering for bloody ages why Eddie didn't do his rock slide when pressing x. Does show it in the instructions, but I don't read those :P

Gonna take me ages to find all these dragon statues.

Oh and Ozzie sounds great in this. He's got some brilliant lines and he delivers them really well.

[vili]

Oh and Ozzie sounds great in this. He's got some brilliant lines and he delivers them really well.

I totally agree! (Except that I think it's "Ozzy", not "Ozzie". ;)) Based on the little I saw of The Osbournes, I actually expected a rambling and mumbling senior citizen who doesn't make any sense half the time, but the lines are really funny and like you say brilliantly delivered (at least so far).

I must say that it's days like these when it's damn hard working from home. On a normal day I would just take the day off, but unfortunately there are too many projects going that need my attention, so I can't continue BL until sometime in the afternoon. And yet there it is, on the shelf, looking at me all the time... calling for me...

[fivebyfive]

got sent ps3 version as my next rental and the patch is massive and so slow d/l

this is waiting......

[vili]

got sent ps3 version as my next rental and the patch is massive and so slow d/l

this is waiting......

There is a patch out for ps3? What does it do? (I'm a Microsoft slave.)

I have actually encountered a few bugs. Nothing major, but something that has required me to load the previous save point. Not nice.

I'm also not very sure about the camera. It could be further from Eddie. Maybe it's better on a wide screen TV.

[Moldiver]

It's a bit disappointing that Eddie can't jump. The amount of times I've driven the Deuce off road and got stuck on scenery is ridiculous. Adding a jump would have fixed this, as is you often the case you get stuck and Eddie can't get out or jump above a small ledge that might be in the way.

Otherwise I'm still really enjoying it. Some of the battles have been a bit tougher and there are some pretty nasty enemies that take some firing to put down. Love the laser panthers in particular :lol:

[fivebyfive]

There is a patch out for ps3? What does it do? (I'm a Microsoft slave.)

I have actually encountered a few bugs. Nothing major, but something that has required me to load the previous save point. Not nice.


I looked it up to see if it was worth it and fixes sound problems and some gamers it has fixed the frame rates at points

[Moldiver]

Just finished this with 92%. That's doing all the side missions as well on normal, bringing it close to 15 hours. It actually felt like I had played much longer than that. The great thing is that once you finish the game you can roam the land looking for any remaining items and upgrades. Minor niggles aside, I loved it from start to finish.

[DrVenkman]

As much as I'm liking it so far I can't help but feel that the Gameplay doesn't quite gel with the game. Someone else said it's 10/10 presentation on a 7/10 game and I'm inclined to agree. It seems like Schafer realised that the standard hack and slash wouldn't work for this game so he tries to meld all these extra elements in and for me it just doesn't work as well.

[vili]

I looked it up to see if it was worth it and fixes sound problems and some gamers it has fixed the frame rates at points

Thanks for the info! I have actually noticed a couple of times when the frame rate has acted up -- plus once the game pretty much froze for a good two seconds. But this is on the Xbox, so I wonder if we are getting an update as well.

As much as I'm liking it so far I can't help but feel that the Gameplay doesn't quite gel with the game. Someone else said it's 10/10 presentation on a 7/10 game and I'm inclined to agree. It seems like Schafer realised that the standard hack and slash wouldn't work for this game so he tries to meld all these extra elements in and for me it just doesn't work as well.

I think BL actually started out as an RTS game, and they kept simplifying that concept more and more as the development of the game progressed, and adding other game play types. Or I think Schafer wrote something along those lines in a recent post.

But I do sort of agree with you, the game play while varied is not hugely polished. Maybe I'm just not getting the hang of the RTS type system, or haven't had enough practice yet, but the battles especially seem very chaotic to me. Then again, I don't generally like RTS games, so maybe that's why it's difficult for me to adapt.

I also think that Moldiver has made two very good observations in this thread: Eddie should have been given the ability to jump, and a radar of some sorts would have helped a lot. If nothing else, it would have made it easy to see which direction is north. Now I always have to consult the map (which itself is a bit unpolished).

[fivebyfive]

Thanks for the info! I have actually noticed a couple of times when the frame rate has acted up -- plus once the game pretty much froze for a good two seconds. But this is on the Xbox, so I wonder if we are getting an update as well.

the ps3 version still gets frozen for 1 second or 2, before the patch the frame rate would get very low


I think BL actually started out as an RTS game, and they kept simplifying that concept more and more as the development of the game progressed, and adding other game play types. Or I think Schafer wrote something along those lines in a recent post.

But I do sort of agree with you, the game play while varied is not hugely polished. Maybe I'm just not getting the hang of the RTS type system, or haven't had enough practice yet, but the battles especially seem very chaotic to me. Then again, I don't generally like RTS games, so maybe that's why it's difficult for me to adapt.

I also think that Moldiver has made two very good observations in this thread: Eddie should have been given the ability to jump, and a radar of some sorts would have helped a lot. If nothing else, it would have made it easy to see which direction is north. Now I always have to consult the map (which itself is a bit unpolished).

the RTS is a bit rough around the edges, it does feel very chaotic and difficult to spilt the friendly ai into group to defend and attack. Also the fan tribute can be difficult in a hurry in a stage battle.

In-game really needs a map, although you have the column of light, its still annoying to see where you going

The presentation is really good but the gameplay is not hugely polished as you said, the hack and slash is basic and the rts is a bit hit and miss

[vili]

Also the fan tribute can be difficult in a hurry in a stage battle.

I get the feeling that those guitar hero type quicktime events are there just because this game, like guitar hero, has guitars. They feel a little bit forced in my view.

To be honest, I was for some reason hoping that they could have used the guitar a bit like Loom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loom_%28video_game%29#Gameplay) used its instrument a good 20 years ago. It could have been interesting.

[alphatyrant]

A proper mini-map GTA style would be very handy. BTW tried one of the ambush side missions last night and was repeatedly battered, I think some of the headbangers kept dying, do you need to have a few powerups under your belt first?

So far it's been quite fun though I'm just into it, certainly providing me with more entertainment than ODST did, and I don't even like Jack Black all that much!

[vili]

BTW tried one of the ambush side missions last night and was repeatedly battered, I think some of the headbangers kept dying, do you need to have a few powerups under your belt first?

I did a few of those before getting any improvements, and didn't actually find them that difficult. The difficulty level seems to increase in a way that regardless of the order in which you do the side missions, each subsequent ambush is a little bit more difficult.

What I tend to do is stay back and use the guitar for ranged attacks, except if a big guy gets too close in which case it is better to go and slash him up. Using the jump (which pushes back all enemies) is also useful, if the enemy gangs around your headbangers.

[Moldiver]

Didn't have any problems with the side missions. I was quite happy that the driving stages were so easy, as I usually suck at driving in games. The ambush ones get a little trickier, but as mentioned, dig out the Zepplin attack or something and you're laughing.

The hardest bit in the game for me was the last RTS section. It hands everything on a plate to you, but if you're not careful the tables can turn quickly. Took a fair few goes to finally suss it. As mentioned it doesn't help that the fan tributes/guitar abilities take so long to pull off just as a horde of baddies are stepping on your toes.

I'll certainly agree with comments about uneven gameplay. It was indeed developed as an RTS and I'm glad it didn't go all the way in the end, as RTS isn't usually my sort of thing either.

I need to find the rest of the statues now. There's a column of light on the map but it doesn't take me anywhere. I'm wondering if I need 100% for something to happen.

[fivebyfive]

got up to doom's dawn or something, (undead brides etc) and the difficulty increases a lot, before you are even ready, the AI is sending enemies that unclass your basic ones. Before that the game was very easy. Although I have been upgrading, it seems I can't go back to upgrade to get the new ones until I do this battle. Have deleted the install as I'm going to send it back to LF as have not enjoyed it a lot

I don't think the RTS controls do the game any favours, despite what PC zealots say RTS on consoles can work (not as well as a mouse) but the radial menu in C&C works well

[mr_woo]

I have to say I'm really not enjoying the RTS in this much at all. I love the world, I love the characters and dialogue and I even like the driving/standard hack and slash combat. But the RTS stuff is such a drag and I'm not finding it that much fun in all honesty. I'll probably trade it in this week as soon as possible.

[alphatyrant]

It'll keep me interested until Ballad of Gay Tony then I'll keep it on credit for MW2. And yes the RTS bits are quite poor, just met the next batch of new enemies in an RTS battle and only just scraped through it, seems like keeping your guys near the stage and doing the old C&C tank building would be a good idea. If I had any tanks of course.

[fivebyfive]

apparently its not a RTS according to Tim Shafer

http://www.penny-arcade.com/2009/10/16/

If you try to play the stage battles in Brütal Legend as an RTS game then you will lose.

:nuts:

very much agree with the comments on Penny arcade

[Max Maz]

As this is £27.99 at ****** is it worth picking up for that?

[lentini]

so we can't say shopto again?

EDIT: obviously we can

[Max Maz]

OK I'm behind the times then, though shopto.net weren't allowed.

[vili]

As this is £27.99 at ****** is it worth picking up for that?

It's difficult to say, really. In my view the game is a bit of a mess, really. Funny and entertaining for sure, but as a game... well, it just doesn't deliver quite the same game play experience that Psychonauts for instance did.

I'm still happy I bought it. I guess I just expected a little bit more from Tim and his team. Probably my mistake.

If you like games that are different and make you smile, then definitely go for it. But if what is most important to you in a game is actually PLAYING the game, I would read more reviews and see if it sounds like something you might want to play. In my case, the Zero Punctuation review (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/1044-Brutal-Legend) sums up the game pretty perfectly.

[Shingster]

Well I've made it to The Number of the Beast mission and that's about as far as I'm willing to go with this game right now. Great music, great atmosphere, absolutely lousy gameplay and faaaaar too many missions where you have no ******* clue what the hell you're supposed to be doing. The Battle sequences in particular are usually just 30mins-1hr of complete and utter confusion.

Apparently in this Number of the Beast mission all you have to do is circle a beast with flame inside a spotlight and hey presto! Only, everytime I do that the ******* thing just runs through the flames - even when you complete the circle and the flames rise! Over 30****ing minutes of screwing around with this mission and I have now decided that Tim Schafer has created the most infuriating game I have ever played!

[andyp2]

Yeah that mission is really annoying, I did it after a while but disliked it.

I wanted to finish the game but it bored me so much I have it on ebay.

[Shingster]

That mission took more effort than the final stage battle, in fact I was quite shocked when I completed the final stage battle because it came so soon into the game and none of the stage battles up until that point are particularly difficult at all, they're just annoyingly vague! There's that one battle in the snow with the Emo-Goth Zombies where all you have to do is protect your stage, but they don't make that clear so I was flying around like a mad man trying to find a stage or some other object to attack! :lol:

It took me 10hrs 50mins to complete this game with 87% complete, I'm not the type of gamer who goes out of their way to find everything in a game so that 87% is really only doing the obvious things like all the side missions, etc. You definitely get very little "game" for your money.

[andyp2]

£24 now from gameplay says a lot really

[fivebyfive]

I don't think its even worth £24 tbh,

[Fever Dawg]

For anybody who cares, a Map Pack is available for free for 2 weeks on Playstation Store.

[lentini]

Started this last week and really can't be arsed to finish it. Tim Schafer created a great world with funny characters and a decent script but he certainly didn't make a great game to go with it. Began well but all the missions turned into some mind-numbingly boring tedium that got me uninterested pretty quickly.

Yawn.

[vili]

Started this last week and really can't be arsed to finish it. Tim Schafer created a great world with funny characters and a decent script but he certainly didn't make a great game to go with it. Began well but all the missions turned into some mind-numbingly boring tedium that got me uninterested pretty quickly.

Yawn.

Unfortunately, this is pretty much how I felt as well. I did eventually struggle through the story in the end, but I can't honestly say that I had a good time doing so.

[anephric]

I've recently got near the end of this and am spamming the side missions to make it last a little longer as it really is a bit too short. Aside from a brutal framerate (see what I did?) I love the world - it's got Manowar on the soundtrack, for god's sake. But the RTS Lite stuff is fairly annoying and the game chucks a lot of gameplay at you without really explaining it very well.

Nice, but very far from what it could have been.

[MrSpeed]

I'm quite near the start...at the battle with the Metal Queen Spider. Tried 3 times so far but the 3rd lot of smaller spiders keep killing me :(

Good story so far and enjoying it.

Agree with past comments that a jump button and a better map system would help a lot.

[goonerforever]

Just completed this and thought it was a fun, if infuriating at times, game. Biggest issue for me was the stage battles as I just wasn't used to that kind of gameplay but I improved as I went along. The penultimate stage battle was an absolute joke though:

Lost count of the amount of times that I got the towers down with a 40-strength squad waiting at the bridge to then be decimated by the reapers and that damn tree. Glad I persevered though as it felt really rewarding when I actually brought down the stage.

Compared to that, the final battle and boss were easy. Even did them on brutal difficulty to see if I could cheat the system and gain all three completion awards instead of just the two. Didn't work!

[sleep4ever]

Well I've made it to The Number of the Beast mission and that's about as far as I'm willing to go with this game right now. Great music, great atmosphere, absolutely lousy gameplay and faaaaar too many missions where you have no ******* clue what the hell you're supposed to be doing. The Battle sequences in particular are usually just 30mins-1hr of complete and utter confusion.


I wanted to finish the game but it bored me so much I have it on ebay.

Glad its not just me then

Was really trying to get into this, have perservered for a while, but with the pile of other games waiting to be played I'll put this on the back burner for a bit or flog it on

[MrSpeed]

I'm really enjoying the story, but the gameplay is putting me off.

I'm up to the Battle for Bladehenge mission where you get your 1st fans and have to defend the merch booths...not enjoyable to play imho :(

[Moldiver]

It is a shame that it wasn't a straight hack and slash game. If you can persevere through those RTS bits there's plenty to enjoy. Just don't rush the main story or else you'll be playing them all too often. There's one I think at the end of each major story quest.

[MrSpeed]

It is a shame that it wasn't a straight hack and slash game. .


Agreed.


I can see the 'fan battles' getting quite frustrating. I shall do a few side missions and then come back to the main story.

[SpaceCoyote]

Looks like I'm a bit behind the cool kids, but just finished this last night and really enjoyed it. The stage battles took a while to 'click' and I got very frustrated with the 2nd to last Black Tears one, but perhaps that was because I played it on Brutal difficulty.

A bit disappointed with how few achievements I got from it though and I'm in two minds whether to go back and mop some of them up.

[anephric]

It's a collectathon. I did most of them but got very bored, particularly since you get stuck on the scenery all the time and have no jump button to get out of it, hence a reload every time :/

[Mr Majestik]

It's a really frustrating game. They've created such a brilliant world with a brilliant laugh out loud script and then they bolted such an half baked game on to it.

It's the only game where i wish they'd have released the cut scenes as a DVD so i don't have to play the thing.

[Jimmyboy]

I'm late to this one as I initially dismissed it as a ropey hack and slash and am not really familiar with Jack Black. After picking it up on the cheap though I gotta say its awesome. Yeah its got faults but I find that with all sandbox titles, they all try and mash genres resulting in dodgy gameplay mechanics as the controls become compromised in the process. I certainly enjoyed it far more than the massively over rated Red Dead Redemption, even the RTS stuff was passable with the exception of the black tears difficulty spike. Can't say I ever got frustrated with it coz the whole unashamedly metalness of it all is just so cool.

I've done the main game and all the side quests except the hunting missions because the beasts I need to slay seem to have disappeared as I've progressed through the game. Is there anything else left to do? Wouldn't mind some DLC for once.

[cluderi]

I never saw any DLC for it, I think Double Fine dropped interest once it started getting middle of the road reviews and moved onto the XBLA/PSN stuff.

Personally I'd have enjoyed it more if it was just a hack and slash with Tim Schafers humour and level design and they hadn't shoe horned the RTS stuff in which really annoyed me. I guess I just want more Psychonauts and this wasn't that.

[anephric]

There were multiplayer maps, that's it.

[Jimmyboy]

Ah crap. No chance of a sequel then...