As an avid comic-book enthusiast and lover, I’m always excited when a character gets a new movie or game and such was the case with Deadpool. The “Merc with a Mouth” finally stars in his own game, and I was laughing the whole time. However, I was left wanting more after the over-too-soon experience.
3.5 /5 “Worth a rental”
For PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows PC
Deadpool is a character from the popular X-Men comics whose history is a reflection of modern pop-culture and a parody of the seriousness of comic-book storytelling. He is a character who is fully aware that he is a comic-book character, giving no regard to the fourth wall and even going as far as having conversations with his own speech bubbles.
The premise of the video game is that Deadpool has finally been able to get a game made out of him, but problems with the budget, script and his own lack of concentration leaves the story as frantic as Deadpool himself. The writing is provided by Daniel Way, an accomplished comic-book writer responsible for bringing the character into the spotlight in the last decade, and while some of the writing is hilarious, it is very hit-and-miss, as is most comedy.
The writing does a very good job at breaking the fourth wall but misses a chance at really making a commentary on action games.
Deadpool is known for pointing out what’s wrong in comics, and while the character gets to make fun of tutorials, game production and even the player, commentary is never made on the actual genre or tropes of the game.
Deadpool is very much an adult’s game with the F-bomb being dropped fairly often, tons of allusions to sex and a substantial amount of violence; all common traits of the comics.
Deadpool suffers from repetitive gameplay, and even though the violence is plentiful, players will find themselves numb to it if they’re not laughing at the jokes. The game also offers upgrades and new weapons, but the changes are more aesthetic than they are useful as weapons don’t change the gameplay and only increase damage, making the joke that dual hammers are as useful as a pair of katanas.
Gameplay aside, the writing is solid with laughs all through out the game, great visuals and some fantastic cameos, but it’s not enough to recommend a purchase. Rent the game or watch a friend play it.
