Rating of
3.5/5
Headbanger's Brawl
Chris Kavan - wrote on 06/01/14
This was a game that I had on my radar, as I was interested to see how this would fare combining open-world exploration with the real-time strategy aspect of leading a heavy-metal army. Plus you have the kick-ass music and top-notch vocal talent to go along with it. While the game does sport its flaws, it was a fun time. It's not likely to make too many top game lists, but for a a good price, it's worth the time playing and at least your ears will thank you (if you're into metal at all).
Presentation: Graphics are decent - not outstanding. There is some definite clipping issues (sometimes hair in cut-scenes goes majorly crazy) but overall the style works. It has a slightly cartoony feel - though the design is straight-up rock goodness. Introductory enemies are "glam-based" (think big hair, sequins and the like) but later enemies are "goth" and "demonic" - and those designs are excellent. And the variety is good - from basic infantry to lumbering vehicles - there is a lot going on. Heck your own units offer up a nice little slice of death - from ranged shooters to monstrous beasts to your own vehicles - plus, you can team up with any of them an provide devastating attacks. This is all in the strategy department - the open overworld has its own set of monsters - many of whom you can tame and ride - along with random patrols you can take down.
The world itself is based on a fantasy world where "Metal Titans" once ruled - so things like monstrous guitars, a wall of amps and various other rock-related mega-structers, permeate the landscape. Other areas include a jungle, a bog filled with the goth-like enemies the lake of black tears - the final area where demons rule. It isn't a huge world, but it is varied enough to give you cause to explore.
But the real shining factor for Brutal Legend is the sound - both the soundtrack and the vocal cast assembled make this a totally worthwhile game. Jack Black is the main character, but he has found some friends - people like Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Rob Halford, Lita Ford - voicing kind of representations of themselves - along with Tim Curry - who does an excellent job as the main villain. Voicever queen Jennifer Hale is also along as the main love interest for Black's Eddie Rigg's character. But if the vocal cast is good, the soundtrack is better - you have 107 tracks ranging from big names like Judas Priest, Motörhead and Megadeth to a bit more eclectic metal from Ostrogoth, Iced Earth, Racer X and 3 Inches of Blood. You even have some classic 80s hair metal, from the Crue, Scorpions and Def Leppard (to fit in with the various themes). If you like head-banging rock in the least, the soundtrack alone is worth playing the game for. You unlock tracks as you go - and simply driving around gives you the ability to change tracks as you see fit. It's the main selling point in my mind.
Story: Eddie Riggs is a regular roadie for some tween sensation "rock" band - when during a performance the stage collapses and seemingly spells his doom. But he wakes up in another world - a world of metal, at least it was until the demonic hordes took over and the rock has been suppressed. Riggs meets up with Ophelia, who is working with a brother/sister of Lars and Lita Halford looking to rebel and bring rock back. In order to do so, they must first confront General Lionwhyte - a glam monster who has enslaved many and currently rules the land with a sequined fist. Riggs soon finds his calling in leading this rag-tag rebellion - and recruiting his "army" along the way. But that is only one part of the story - he also must figure out how he came to be in this world - and it all has to do with his parents - as well as figure out his relationship with Ophelia - which turns out to be a big more complicated than he first thought. It's not a deep story, but it throws in a few nice twists, have a few good speeches (thank you Tim Curry) and overall moves nicely. It has a somewhat more abrupt end than I was expecting, but overall, it was serviceable.
Gameplay: The game is divided into two main ways to play - an open world sandbox type experience and a real-time strategy element where you control your army. The open world part is similar to many other games - you can run (or drive) around, there are various things to collect - relics you can raise (that unlock more music), Motorforges where you can upgrade your vehicle, clothing, weapon and such. Fireplugs - jumps you can make, Dragon Tributes - collect ten to give you a slight boost to your health and damage and Vistas that give you a better look at the metal world around you. Pretty much everything you do earns you Metal Tributes - this is you "currency" that helps you afford the upgrades in the Motorforge. Special things you can find around the world also include "Solos" - guitar skills you can play that do everything from summoning your vehicle and metal beasts to literally melting the faces off your enemies and calling down a real "Led Zeppelin" to crush your foes. You can also uncover special monuments that tell the history of the world. As you do more missions, sidequests become available that include ambushing enemy patrols, racing, beer runs, very rudimentary tower defense and firing mortars (or directing them as it were). They get a big repetitive, but are all an easy way to get some extra tributes to spend. There are also a few boss battle - but they are few and far between and none of them (even the final battle) are all that tough.
On the other end is the real-time strategy. You command your army from a stage you build. Fan geysers are set up around the battlefield - you build "Merch Booths" to recruit fans - which in turn allow you build up your units. Everything you've unlock are recruited along the way become your army - you have basic melee and ranged units, healing units, and much stronger ranged vehicles and tank-like attackers to help you along. Of course, better units cost more fans. But the enemy is also after those same fan geysers and he (or she) has units in similar strength to your own. That being said, while some of the battles (especially towards the end) lasted longer, I never felt any of them were very tough. I never suffered a defeat on the field of battle. It seems like more of a novelty than anything else - interesting, but plainly executed in my mind.
Replayability: Like many games, you have the ability to choose various difficulties. Once you "win" the game, it goes in to free roam mode where you can find the rest of the unlockables you skipped (an upgrade to your vehicle points you in the right direction) as well as do a few other optional things to get some easy points. It doesn't take all that long to win things, so those going for everything probably won't have too much trouble.
Overall: A fun diversion from your typical game - while the elements sometimes feel like they could have been deeper, the soundtrack was a huge plus and I enjoyed myself.
Presentation: 3/5
Story: 3/5
Gameplay: 3.5/5
Replayability: 3.5/5
Overall (not an average): 3.5/5
