Brutal Legend

I grew up listening to hard rock and metal

I grew up listening to hard rock and metal. So when I started playing Brütal Legend, I wondered how the hell this game fell under my radar for so long. Thankfully Double Fine decided to port this game to the PC otherwise I likely would have never had the pleasure to experience this treasure. There's so much great music to listen to while driving "The Deuce." Songs from Black Sabbath, Mötley Crüe, Testament, Megadeth, Slayer, Skid Row, and so many more artists are in the mix. The music is great enough to overlook even a bad game. But this is not a bad game. Brütal Legend is a fantastically fun game. The story is epic taking the role as a roadie to save the world from the forces of evil. The open world action/adventure gameplay works amazingly well with guitar solos and cooperative special moves. The only thing I had a hard time with was the stage battles. They combine 3rd person hack 'n slash action with RTS elements and require some serious multitasking. I struggled to command my troops and purchase stage upgrades in real time, all while simultaneously trying to fight off hordes of enemies. I eventually got through them, although sometimes painfully. Despite being difficult, the stage battles were still fun and blended well with the metal based story and themes. Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy Kilmister, Rob Halford, and Lita Ford are in this! Did I mention Ozzy? YES OZZY! If you are a metal head, this game is a must. Even if you aren't, the game is a must.

• Graphics4.0
• Gameplay4.5
• Story3.5
• Value4.5