Additional Impressions of Brutal Legend at PAX 2009

I had a bit of a change of heart about Brutal Legend after playing it at E3. I was positively impressed with the game, so I was interested to see if my impressions stayed the same after playing an additional portion of the game at PAX 2009. If you want the short answer, it's "yes." But if you'd like to see some video of driving The Deuce or simply know why the game still impresses me, read on.

Let me reiterate that I am not a heavy metal fan, so on the surface it seems Brutal Legend shouldn't appeal to me. But some superior game design coupled with a sharp dose of originality from Tim Schafer (who is nothing but original), have made this game ascend beyond being a simple homage to metal music. It's fun to play regardless of your music tastes, and if you happen to like the classic rock ballads, so much the better.

I got to see some new cut scenes in the game, and they emphasized to me what a good fit Jack Black is for the character of Eddie. Let's face it, Eddie is basically just a Jack Black with broader shoulders and a flatter stomach (sorry, Jack, but it's true). I played the version that keeps all the swearing intact (you can play with them automatically bleeped out), although it was done sparingly enough that it wasn't too much or too crass. It just worked, and it all incorporated Tim Schafer's characteristic humor.

Another new part of the game introduced in these new cutscenes was the relationship between Eddie and the girl he finds in the opening scenes. She's naive about Eddie's world, just as he has to learn everything about hers. So this leads to some funny courtship foibles that are quite entertaining. For instance, when the topic of French kissing comes up tangentially and Eddie's love interest says she hasn't heard of it, Eddie tries to act nonchalant while offering to show her what it is. Once again, it just wouldn't be as good without Tim Schafer's clever dialog and Jack Black's over-confident delivery.

The game mechanics are pretty well thought out. You perform weapon combos with your battleaxe, both the sharp one and the musical one. But The Deuce can be used as a weapon as well, mowing down foes and fauna alike. As you can see, roadkill is a common occurence in Brutal Legend. The Deuce can be just a bit squirrelly to handle, but isn't bad enough to be a deal breaker. And it plays a large roll in the game. Not only is it a transport; there are several levels where you must race around obstacles or even attack monsters with The Deuce. It actually helps to break up the gameplay and provide a change of pace every so often.

I'm still reserving final judgement until I can experience the whole story of the game. Knowing Schafer, it should be one of the main attractions of the game. But for now it's certainly looking like a fun game for gamers of all types.

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