Deadpool – Like you’ve got something better to do
Hell yeah! That pretty well sums up my feelings about the Deadpool video game. However, since I can’t exactly post a review consisting of “hell yeah” and a number of stars, I’ll expand on that thought. Deadpool is actually a pretty standard action game with elements of stealth, puzzle solving, and flat out crazy violence. What makes the game remarkable is the humor. It is, however, very very low brow humor. There are literally dick and fart jokes. Not at the same time, of course, but you get the idea. Deadpool is crass, misogynistic, and juvenile, but in a fun way.
Deadpool is fucking hilarious
Deadpool is made by High Moon Studios and you will never be able to forget that as “the merc with the mouth” refers to them or calls them regularly throughout the game. The game also never lets you forget that it’s a game and switches into several different game parodies like an overhead adventure game or a side-scrolling platformer all while Deadpool goes on about loving those styles. In fact, Deadpool is constantly breaking the 4th wall throughout the whole game. Of course the other characters in the game are baffled by this and completely unaware that it’s a video game following a script. At least it could be following a script. It might help if Deadpool would read the damn script. It might also help if he wasn’t bat-shit crazy, but it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun.
Deadpool is accompanied by a variety of other characters throughout the game including Wolverine, Domino, and Cable. Cable, in fact, delivers one of my favorite subtle jokes by saying that time is running out and then remarking that he can always travel back in time and try again if he needs to. Then he encourages Deadpool by reminding him that the tenth time’s the charm. Look, it’s funnier in the game. For the most part Deadpool just annoys everyone that he encounters, ogles the female characters, and argues with the voices in his head. It’s funny in exactly the same way that Duke Nukem was disgusting.
Oh, and there’s a game to play too
Strike fear into your enemies!
In between all of the interactive Deadpool comic, there is an action game. Deadpool the action game is filled with all sorts of creeps running at you just begging to be sliced into bits by katanas or shot with pistols. As you kill these dumbasses with extreme prejudice, you get points to spend on upgrading current weapons or buying new ones. The more kills you get with a weapon, the more unlockable upgrades become available for it. Similarly, there are upgrades for Deadpool himself that are well worth the points needed for them. Combos are king for building high amounts of bonus points, so make sure you use the teleport ability liberally to avoid getting hit and having combos broken. Building points isn’t exactly hard since there seems to be thousands of guys thrust at you constantly to the point that it feels like they only exist to make the game longer. On the plus side, if you do end up taking damage, just run away for a while and Deadpool’s healing factor kicks in. You can actually watch his flesh and then eventually his bodysuit (yeah, I don’t get it) knit back together. It’s a bit on the gross side; I don’t suggest making a habit of it.
On the whole, Deadpool is worth playing if you treat it more as an interactive comic than a standard action game. High Moon does a great job of bringing out the wacky slapstick Wade Wilson that makes it so hard to stay mad at him for being a murdering psychopath. The action portions of the game are good, but get progressively more drawn out, especially toward the end of the game where they will attempt to drown you in a sea of clones. Personally, I just wanted to slice some guys up and get back to the wisecracking. The quips during combat are funny for a while, but after hearing them repeatedly it can get a little old. Weapon options and upgrades help to keep things fresh for a while. After that, you can always just go nuts in challenge mode if you really dig the combat. I could probably go on, but you know what? Fuck this review; I’m out. Chimichangas! *Drop mic*
