DeathSpank Reviews

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Written by BuckGB on July 27th, 2010

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There hasn't been a funnier, more singularly creative videogame since Brütal Legend. And where Double Fine disappointed some with odd game design choices, DeathSpank does nothing but please.

There are so many good things in DeathSpank; the amount of loot collecting (and bacon), quests to complete (and bacon), and fantastic look and feel of the world make up for any shortcomings and give a lot of value and enjoyment (and did I mention this game has bacon in it?). If you're a fan of action-RPGs, you will not be disappointed, and those looking for a game that will bring them into the genre need look no further than DeathSpank.

For one of the rare games that actually made me feel like I wasted my time after playing it, I did enjoy the ride. My perception of digitally distributed games is still warped a bit as I still think of small XBLA games from the beginning of this generation, and for what it's priced at, DeathSpank is worth it. Just be sure you know what you're going into. You could also say the same for Deathsmiles, which this is not. They are completely different and yes it helps me sleep to keep reminding myself that.

Deathspank is a brilliant game, but it doesn't fit. The Animal Crossing style rotating globe, cartoony visuals and humour saturated storyline would appeal to casual RPG fans, but to someone whose spent thousands of hours in said genre, I didn't enjoy it. However, if you love engaging storylines, simple to play games, and something you can actually understand, you'd love Deathspank, and I recommend you pick it up. The 1200 MSP (Circa $20 AUD/$15 USD) is a bit much, but in my opinion you do get your monies worth.

Even without an abundance of the "loot lust" that usually drives action-RPGs, DeathSpank has a hook that makes you want to keep playing it. But that alone doesn't make it a fantastic game. Its moments of brilliance are usually directly offset by its shortcomings. But if you aren't especially picky and you're on the hunt for something new to play during these slow summer months, DeathSpank's good enough to fit the bill.

Despite a handful of small quirks, DeathSpank satisfies that primal instinct to beat an enemy senseless and then ransack their overburdened corpse. Typically, I pay $50-$60 for that fine privilege; investing 1200 Microsoft points seems like a no-brainer, especially given the lack on console competition.

To put it bluntly, DeathSpank is a game worth the price. It is a mere fraction of a full retail price game and much longer than a lot of them. The world of DeathSpank is visually pleasing even if the whole reason of being there is to kill everything just to save a few orphans. There is not much variety in combat short of running in and battering everything with a hammer but a variety of weapons, items and DeathSpank's shield allows for a more tactical approach towards the end of the game, keeping things exciting. The main quest in the game shouldn't take too long but an array of side-quests mean that players could potentially spend a vast amount of time playing the game.

The couple flaws are definitely notable to say the least but neither of them really takes away from the fact that DeathSpank is a very fun, albeit somewhat repetitive, game that deserves a purchase. It took me around nine hours to complete the game along with all of the side quests, and for $15 you really can't go wrong with that. DeathSpank is filled with color and humor and I would recommend this game any day for it's price of admission. Play it, love it's humor, and look forward to whatever comes out of Hothead Games' doors in the near future!

DeathSpank will be a bad thing for a lot of developers. This is a game that is going to force people to re-evaluate just what they expect from a Xbox Arcade game. Heck, this game blurs the line between XBLA and full retail release so much that we're not sure that's a useful distinction any more. It's funny, it's well-crafted, it has more polish than most full-price games and it's only 1200 Microsoft points. This is as close to a no-brainer as it gets in video games. Buy this game.

Deathspank is a delightfully quirky game that strives to give all players a maximum of fun for their gaming dollar, and it's a top-notch example of a small-scale downloadable game. I look forward to the next Ron Gilbert game, and with any luck, we won't have to wait long. Deathspank is highly recommended!

What ensues is a series of fetch quests in which you pummel a menagerie of opponents and collect loot. Sound familiar? It should all of the press leading up to DeathSpank cited its homage to the Diablo franchise. With Ron Gilbert at the helm, however, the game doesn't take itself too seriously. It's a love-letter to the hack-and-slash classics, but it often trips over the butt of its own jokes.

At 8-10 hours of gameplay, Deathspank offers more content than many full retail releases these days at one-fourth the price. While its RPG elements are sparse, and the side quests can get a little repetitive, it features some beautiful art, satisfying gameplay, and probably the best humour I've seen in a video game this year. So what are you waiting for? There are orphans who need saving. It's the heroic thing to do; even if they stink!

Despite the repetitive quests and the casual hack '˜n slash gameplay, DeathSpank is a joy to play. The gameplay flows nicely, never interrupted by loading times as you move from one area to the next, while the colourful world is a delight to explore. The top-down perspective and contrast of the 2D backdrops and 3D animations gives it a retro feel and an appealing art-style that feels like you're wandering through the pages of a fairy-tale book with delightful places such as Bobble Wood and the Town of Pluckmuckle to explore.

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