Demo Round Up - 9/30/09

I'd like to introduce a new feature here at Gamerology called "Demo Round-Up." Most game critics will review a game in the interest of saving you money. On Demo Round-Up, we are going to sift through the weekly demo releases and tell you which are worth your time. You've heard it said that "time is money," but in this day and age, time is quickly becoming more valuable then the greenback. This week, we are going to take a look at Brutal Legend, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Wolfenstein.

Brutal Legend

Brutal Legend comes from the genius mind of Tim Schafer. He is best known for the Monkey Island series among other great titles. Despite his wealth of creativity, his games have been overlooked by the gaming community as of late- Psychonauts being his latest critical jewel that didn't find success on a large scale. Brutal Legend looks to change all that. This game is fronted by the likeness and unmistakable vocal stylings of Jack Black as he takes on the role of Eddie the Roadie. This gives the game instant mainstream appeal. The beauty is that this isn't a mainstream title. It's all about Heavy Metal, leather jackets and blowing demons' heads off with delicious power solos. Let's not forget Eddie's kick-ass belt buckle that actually has the power to summon Ormagöden, The Fire Beast, Cremator of the Sky, and Destroyer of the Ancient World. Who knew Hot Topic sold such valuable artifacts?

The demo lasts about twenty minutes and features a variety of gameplay including literal axe wielding, guitar shredding, and hot rod driving. The game's initial boss fight is also included. Suffice it to say, you'll be going toe-to-toe with a giant worm complete with a set of jowls stocked with teeth. The game is genuinely funny and takes some shots at the current metal scene. Overall, the demo is a fair representation of what we can expect from Brutal Legend without spoiling any crucial story elements.

Verdict: Download it!

Uncharted 2 Multiplayer

When a franchise has established itself as a tried and true single player experience, the idea of adding a multiplayer component is often met with the inevitable sighs and eye rolls. I am here today to testify on behalf of the Uncharted 2 multiplayer. It is well-tuned and incredibly addicting. I had the privilege (not really, I pre-ordered Infamous) of testing the multiplayer component long before any demo was available. I saw the bones of a great game that desperately needed a healthy dose of polish. I am pleased to announce that Naughty Dog has not disappointed and Uncharted 2 plays better than ever.

An incredible portion of the multiplayer game is available in the demo right from the start. You'll have 5 maps to battle on in various game types as well as full co-op support for multiplayer-specific modes. The controls are easy to pick up, but will take some time to master. The cover system, shooting and climbing mechanics all worked great and overall the gameplay felt incredibly smooth. There is an large number of unlockables including character skins, boosters (similar to COD4: Modern Warfare's perks) and taunts. Matchmaking could use an adjustment; first time players will be pitched against much higher level combatants. The unlockable booster system gives those with higher ranks a distinct advantage.

Uncharted 2 is a real looker too. It is certainly one of the best looking games ever made. The multiplayer looks better than most games single player campaign. Naughty Dog claims to be pushing the Playstation 3 to its limits and the demo made a believer out of me. Do yourself a favor and download this demo now. It has the potential to keep you busy all the way up until Uncharted 2: Among thieves is released on October 15th.

Verdict: Download it!


Wolfenstein

Last and certainly least, we have Wolfenstein. I was hoping to bat a perfect average this week, but I had no such luck. First of all, the game has been out for almost two months. Why are we getting a demo now?

Wolfenstein is running on the Doom 3 engine from ten years ago. As such, it looks inexcusably dated. That would be more forgivable if the gameplay was more akin to the the current generation of First Person Shooters. The entire experience feels like something that would have been great in 1999. No doubt it would have gotten top marks across the board. I regret to inform Raven Software that it is in fact 2009 and the gaming world has come to expect more from its developers. The demo will take you about half an hour and gives you a pretty clear picture of what Wolfenstein has to offer. Too bad it's not a pretty picture.

There are some redeemable qualities like the ability to upgrade weapons via the Black Market. This feature is something that I hope becomes more popular in the genre. In fact, all signs are pointing toward Gears of War 3 featuring more role-playing-like qualities. The shooting component works fine and over-all the game doesn't necessarily feel broken, it just feels uninspired. If you are a die-hard fan of the series, then at least wait for this to hit the bargain bin.

Verdict: Skip it!

Are You Ready for a Throwdown?

In what has to be an industry first, Manveer Heir of Raven Software has issued a challenge to EA Sports. According to Heir's twitter, if Wolfenstein outsells Madden 10 in the month of August, he will personally reimburse you for your purchase of Wolfenstein. This is an outrageous and controversial claim as the reimbursement will be fulfilled personally by the designer. Raven Software has not been indicated in the offer. Certain restrictions do apply however. You must be a follower of Manveer Heir on twitter as well as present a receipt as proof of purchase. There is of course a limit of one per customer.

Wolfenstein has not received a tremendous amount of hype which only adds to the peculiarity of the situation. The game has visuals that border on last generation. Then again, there is always hope the gameplay mechanics prove to be more than skin deep. A homely looking games with a great personality is fairly uncommon in today's beauty obsessed world. However, it is not all together impossible (see Indigo Prophecy). One can only wonder if Heir's challenge is a last ditch effort to accumulate release date sales before word of mouth spreads. Personally I'm all for it. I hope Wolfenstein turns out to be a great game. There is a rich history with the franchise, and it's only right that it should continue.

I would gladly plunk down the cash to support the series and simultaneously wound Electronic Arts ego. If it manages to outsell Madden 10, then the cash back is an incredible bonus. I wouldn't let the reimbursement offer persuade you as there is certainly no guarantee. Manveer Heir's word hardly seems sufficient. Be forewarned, it is extremely unlikely that the first person shooter will topple the football beast in the month of August albeit at all.

Wolfenstein is slated to be released on August 18th and Madden 10 is due out August 14th. I've included trailers of both games to help you decide which franchise deserves your hard earned cash.

Wolfenstein


Maddden NFL 10