Review: Deathspank
Before I even start talking about this game, I need to get something off my chest: Deathspank is a fucking terrible name for a game. I know that it’s supposed to be all about “the funny”, but when you give a game a name like Deathspank you’re making it sound juvenile as all hell rather than giving off the idea that it’s actually funny, which is a shame because there are a number of situations within Deathspank *shudder* that are actually quite humourous. I’m going to try not to bring it up again, but seriously, DEATHSPANK? God damnit.
Alright, take two. *Ahem*. Deathspank is a downloadable action-rpg for the PS3 and Xbox 360 made by the up-and-coming development house “Hothead Games”, who were also responsible for the “Penny Arcade: On the Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness” series, an awesome series of cartoon games which hold a very special place in my heart. In addition to Hothead, however, famed developer Ron Gilbert (one of the creators of the popular “Monkey Island” series) had a hand in this game’s creation, and as a man known for bringing the funny there were a lot of high expectations held for this game.
(I mean really, though, Deathspank? Come on now…)
The gameplay in Deathspank *shudder* is Diablo-lite, or something like the old Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance series. What that really means is you wander around, killing a random assortment of bad guys who will drop better items so you can do a more efficient job at killing more bad guys. A simple premise, but often addictive. The term “loot lust” comes to mind, where people (like me) will spend hours trying to find just one more piece of new and better magical armour. Sadly, Deathspank doesn’t engender that addictive nature as well as past games in the action-rpg genre. Sure, enemies drop new and potentially better weapons and armor, but it rarely felt as if these items were having a quantifiable difference. I was still often dying in the same situations despite having the new and shinier armour.
Which brings me to another complaint: this game is at times frustratingly difficult. Enemies can surround you and kill you in a matter of seconds, and when your primary form of health regeneration is eating food, a process which takes time and stops if you’re attacked (does Deathspank just drop all his shit when he’s attacked, or what?), it leads to a spike in my blood pressure. Combine this with the fact that enemy difficulty levels are utterly schizophrenic, with numerous early regions of the game having enemies you can’t really fight until you’ve reached THE END of the game (fucking Unicorns…), and you have a formula for me constantly flying into an infantile rage.
No seriously, FUCK Unicorns
In addition to the Diablo-like qualities of Deathspank *shudder*, there’s also a well-advertised “adventure game” aspect, hence the barrage of quotes while this game was in development of it being “just like Diablo meets Monkey Island!”, which, yes there are a number of adventure gaming tropes to be had within Deathspank such as the collection, combination, and use of items on objects in the environment (oohhh, you’re supposed to use the termites on the wheel THEN you can use it on the wall. Duh), but much like the action-rpg elements of Deathspank, the adventurous qualities are too little and too few, with there being only a few events that require you to do any sort of puzzling past “hit shit until it stops fidgeting”.
Gaming Rule #1: It’s not an game until there are zombies
As for the story itself, it’s…alright? I guess? You’re the titular hero, Deathspank *shudder*, who’s out searching for some artifact. Why, exactly? Because that’s what the game tells you, essentially. There’s also some evil lord Von Prong who wants to kill Deathspank, because he wants his magic thong.
I mean god damnit guys.
The overarching story isn’t anything to write home about, but things actually start looking up once you meet and start interacting with individual characters. The dialogue, while not up the previous standard Ron Gilbert has set, is often smirk-inducing and at times even lough out loud funny. The characters are generally done well, with exceptional voice casting and writing, except ironically for Deathspank himself, whose grating voice sounds like a combination of Dudley Do-Right and the Adam West era Batman. So while the search for some magical macguffin is at best a weak attempt to push the player forward, some of the individual moments within are well put together.
Deathspank is available online for fifteen dollars on both Xbox live and the PS3 marketplace, which to some (myself included) may be a little steep. The game is by no means short, clocking around 6 to 8 hours, but it’s not an especially riveting 6 to 8 hours. If you’re desperate for some Diablo action and can’t wait another year (or three) until Diablo 3, and you want a game that may at times make you possibly consider entertaining the idea of laughing, then you’ll probably enjoy Deathspank. But if this isn’t you then I have a hard time recommending this game.
Now, I can only hope that Hothead’s finished with this little experiment and will change their minds on not making a new Penny Arcade game.
Score:
