Test: Brütal Legend (Xbox 360, PS3)
Among the things that have rocked my childhood and left me with lasting memories are Tim Schafer's plays and heavy metal. Although I am not particularly proud of the latter, it is nevertheless a part of my life that I can not deny. Suddenly, when the Brütal Legend announcement was made, I was obviously excited as a chip to the idea of playing a title directed by one of my heroes, which would turn around the world of metal to the 'Ancient.
Like it or not, the heavy metal of the 70s and 80s is a genre that will remain in the collective memory, not so much for the music (although some groups are fundamental) as for the imagery and the spirit that he conveyed. The looks of the musicians like the design of the covers or the topics addressed in the songs are very particular and marked their time. Everything was very cliché, sex, drugs, rock'n'roll and demons, but ultimately very consistent and governed by specific codes so that we can navigate quite easily. That's why integrating all of this into the virtual world of a video game is not ultimately such an amazing idea. That said, it is not enough to have the idea, it is also necessary to know how to make something of
Not only for the drunkards
In this, Tim Schafer and his team of Double Fine have managed their bet. Brütal Legend is anything but a niche game. This is a real game that is primarily for real players. If some of them like hard-rock and all their imagery, then they will be doubly happy, but it's clear right away, Brütal Legendis fine enough not to be reserved only to metalheads. It is suitable for all those who like to have a controller in their hands (except perhaps those who are fans of Celine Dion, but they must not be many). Featuring extremely worked gameplay that takes advantage of a deep and rich universe, both in its characters and in the environments that we explore, the title of Double Fine is amazing at more than one level.
This is the story of a roadie
We play Eddie Riggs, an old-fashioned roadie, music lover but a big nostalgic of the past and full of bitterness when he sees that the bands he works for are no longer in tune with his definition of rock'n'roll . After a staggering event, he finds himself propelled into a world where everything he loves in heavy-metal seems to have come to life. All people are fringed like hard-rockers, beer is the only drink in the area and the sets look like album covers. However, this world is beset by a demon of evil that has enslaved the human population (imagine that some must dig mines with their headbanging skulls). Seeing him disembark in this way, armed with a legendary pre-recovered battle ax, and his faithful guitar, Clémentine (who now balances electricity when playing with it), the natives take him for a kind of messiah, who according to legend, will come to deliver the people from the tyrant. However Eddie is a roadie, and therefore a shadow man. As a result, he refuses the status of leader, but proposes to participate in this popular uprising and to raise an army of rebels with whom to launch the final assault that will restore their dignity to humans. and therefore a man of the shadow. As a result, he refuses the status of leader, but proposes to participate in this popular uprising and to raise an army of rebels with whom to launch the final assault that will restore their dignity to humans. and therefore a man of the shadow. As a result, he refuses the status of leader, but proposes to participate in this popular uprising and to raise an army of rebels with whom to launch the final assault that will restore their dignity to humans.
Real guest-stars
The scenario gives in the epic. Classic in form, but completely offset in the background, as usual with Tim Schafer, he excels in his dialogues, particularly funny, without constituting a simple succession of valves. We find ourselves in front of a story that really progresses, with lots of twists and charismatic side characters to attach to each of them. It must be said that on this side, music lovers will find some of the most famous icons of hard-rock. In addition to Jack Black, who plays Eddie's lead role, we also find Motörhead's Lemmy as a healer who uses his bass to heal the wounded, Ozzy Osbourne, self-proclaimed keeper of the metal, who will have to go to buy the various upgrades and customizations for weapons and the car (I will return to this aspect of the game later) and Robert Halford of Judas Priest and Lita Ford in luxury doublers. All are surprisingly good in the exercise (in this regard, although the VF is far from bad, we strongly recommend the VO which allows you to fully enjoy the various word games and talent of actor of the performers).
Heavy-Metal, your ruthless world
Everything is provided with a realization that does not shine by its technique (the game is not particularly impressive graphically and the frame-rate is not constant), but it is perfectly compensated by an impressive artistic direction. The sets are full of details of all kinds that make the universe consistent and above all credible. The same goes for the design of the various characters and monsters that we cross, which really has a personal leg that makes it unique. Not to mention also some cut-scenes beautiful in terms of staging (including a background on the famous Mister CrowleyOzzy Osbourne, which is to die for). The journey in rocky land takes place in a completely open world, which you can explore freely on foot, or driving a car, the Deuce, between two missions. These, although classic in their course, are nevertheless particularly varied. We rarely do the same thing twice. Preparing for ambushes, defending a position, escorting a convoy, shopping in cars, and of course breaking up sales in a heap ... here is a preview of what you will be offered.
I start by typing...
Gameplay aside, the title has the particularity to evolve enormously throughout the adventure. It expands progressively to become particularly rich, and that in a very fine way, almost without one noticing. If the beginning is essentially a beat'em all in 3D where you hammer his enemies with ax and electrifying riffs, with all the combos that go with it, it turns slowly but surely to become something more strategic, where we will give very basic orders to soldiers who join the adventure (like attack, defend or follow Eddie). And as and when meetings with the inhabitants, the different "classes" of characters will join the team. Just note that the Duo attacks can be made with each of them, which logically will prove to be much more powerful and destructive. The approach of the game becoming more and more tactical, until at times reaching something quite close to the STR.
Hard rock with a brain
Indeed, some missions will prove to be true hybrids between the action and the real-time strategy. It will face enemy factions, with the ultimate goal of destroying their bases while protecting his own (represented on the screen by a concert scene). For this, it will be necessary to exploit the resources (fan geysers) by building on buildings that will channel their energy (booths of goodies and merchandising) to create various combat units to which we will give them. different orders that will achieve its ends. Meanwhile, we will not remain passive in waiting for it to happen as a general in his HQ, since we will continue to lead Eddie by distributing the best placed mandates strategically. I must admit that it is very disturbing at first, as we do not expect such a turnaround of gameplay. Nevertheless, once you have mastered the handling (which is unfortunately neither very clear nor optimal), and that we have grasped the approach that must have, these missions are pleasant, that the one is a regular of strategic games or not (myself I am not one). Especially since in the end, this type of sequence still remains largely a minority compared to others, fully dedicated to the action. prove to be pleasant, whether one is used to strategic games or not (I myself am not one). Especially since in the end, this type of sequence still remains largely a minority compared to others, fully dedicated to the action. prove to be pleasant, whether one is used to strategic games or not (I myself am not one). Especially since in the end, this type of sequence still remains largely a minority compared to others, fully dedicated to the action.
Everything comes to an end?
As I explained before, the game is much richer than we could have imagined. By its gameplay, but also the many sides that are offered to us outside the main adventure. There is a good set of secondary missions, completely independent of the main frame, but some of them are interesting (for example, there is a race in a limited time to deposit the beers before they are cooler). There are also many secrets to find, scattered around the world, as well as various possibilities of customization and upgrade weapons and the car, which, although they are not essential, help enormously to come complete missions of the main adventure. In other words, to finish the game at 100%, we will have to hang on and have time in front of us. In addition, an online multiplayer mode based on the principle of action / RTS missions mentioned above, in which one can choose between three factions each with their own style and units, completes the table. We must add to that an impressive tracklist, composed of course only metal pieces but covering all eras (Black Sabbath to Prong, through the big Manowar or Judas Priest), and with which any music lover who task should find its account.
An ode to rock'n'roll
In the end, although it is far from perfect, especially from a strictly technical point of view or even in its gameplay, which paradoxically is so varied that it can divert and leave the player a little lost, Brütal Legend m 'touched. It inspires me a lot of respect for its creators. It is a title in which we dive to find ourselves really immersed. Sometimes epic, sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, Brütal Legend is a game that will be simply brilliant if you take it in its entirety and not point by point.
The adventure as a whole is square, until its final, perfectly logical, and at the same time moving. It transpires sincerity on all sides: we feel that the developers have above all wanted to please the players as well as themselves. They did what they really wanted, and went to the end of their idea by creating an imaginary world delirious, but respectful of a theme that is obviously dear to them. Somehow glorifying it even, and without anything seems to have been dictated by the laws of the market or any fashion. In this, Brütal Legend is a game perfectly in phase with the subject that it exploits, as much as a production guided by a rare philosophy. A rock'n'roll game.**
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