Deadpool is one of Marvel’s most entertaining and comical characters. He’s appeared in video games ranging from X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse to Marvel vs. Capcom 3 to the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance series. However, the infamous Merc with a Mouth has never taken center stage in a game all about him and his wild antics, which is surprising given his perfect fit for this form of media. High Moon Studios, known for their work with the Transformers license over the past few years, has decided to put an end to this travesty by carefully crafting a Deadpool game for his fans, one simply titled Deadpool.
This mashup of media was inevitable for Marvel’s maniacal mercenary. Now that it’s finally here, we have to ask: Does Deadpool bring the explosive personality we’ve all come to love from this comic book character and, if so, does the gameplay itself match its intensity?
Let’s find out what’s HOT and what’s NOT in our review of Deadpool.
HOT
Laugh-Out-Loud Funny
Not many games nowadays warrant more than a smirk or inner “ha”, but thankfully that isn’t the case with Deadpool. The game kicks off with Deadpool contacting High Moon Studios to create a game about himself. A few bomb threats later and, voilà, the game is good to go. The game’s (but more importantly, Deadpool’s) personality is immediately evident as you stroll around his trashy apartment interacting with various objects. Nolan North expertly pulls off each insane line uttered through the iconic red mask as you partake in activities such as surfing the web or going number 2. The craziness is only heightened when his inner voices jump in on the events unfolding on screen. It’s hard to use the word “balance” when discussing Deadpool, but his voices tend to contradict each other. That is, unless a busty woman is on the mind.
Here’s a character who’s sexual/potty humor and love for boobs (and by extension, babes) surpasses that of Duke Nukem. Your ears will be bombarded with inappropriate and crass jokes for the entirety of the game, and most will make you chuckle if not completely burst out laughing. High Moon Studios deserves recognition for this aspect of the game alone. It took a lot of research to make sure that Deadpool’s personality didn’t feel forced or stray too far from what we know. Probably the most important characteristic is Deadpool’s love for breaking the fourth wall. You’ll see plenty of that, whether he’s addressing the player directly, referencing the High Moon Studios’ work or going on about generic video game cliches/conventions/design choices. What we’re left with is one of the most entertaining, hilarious and accurate fan services for Deadpool fans out there.
Bloody Beatdowns
Deadpool isn’t typically one for subtlety (although stealth options do present themselves from time to time). High Moon Studios clearly knows this and has transitioned his energetic fight style fairly well from the comic pages to their game. Everything comes in twos. Two katanas; two hammers; two pistols; two shotguns; and other heavy-hitting weaponry. A personal favorite, which deserves its own spot in this review, is the bear trap. Bear traps can be casually tossed upon the ground, ready to ensnare unlucky enemies. This leaves them open for further attack from Deadpool’s arsenal. Whether you want to dice ’em up, smash ’em into the ground or blow their head clean off, the options are there. Aiming works well enough and combat is somewhat fluid with counter icons appearing, similar to the Batman: Arkham series. Combine the two for “Gunkata” maneuvers which involve odd poses. As for Deadpool himself, he can take quite a beating thanks to those regenerative powers. Bullets and hand-to-hand combat can take its toll on his flesh and costume though. But, like I said, those regenerative powers come in handy. Avoid damage long enough and he’ll begin to regenerate. It’s a visual treat that is reminiscent of X-men Origins: Wolverine.
