Driving and Flying Stages
Charlie Murder features some variations in gameplay that help to prevent the gameplay from getting stale. Most stages are pretty similar as you go left to right and beat up enemies in the same ways. However, repetitiveness is avoided by mixing in some very easy, but fun stages. For example, one stage finds you driving a car while throwing an infinite number of items at enemies while also being able to run over them. Another level has you riding a witch’s broom while firing a handgun that has infinite bullets during the flying segments. You end up shooting at witches, flying ninjas, and zombies riding in flying vehicles. The change of pace in these stages helps to avoid monotony, which is a problem that plagues many side scrolling beat-em-ups.
NOT
Complicated for Newcomers
For a game with drop-in and drop-out gameplay, Charlie Murder is almost a little too complicated for its own good. For someone who is just starting from the beginning and learns everything, it is completely fine. However, it becomes a lot more difficult with a group of friends who haven’t played the game. Most side scrollers don’t have this problem and someone can just join in instantly and play without a 10 minute tutorial. Before even starting to play you will probably want to explain the level-up system, equipment, and everything else that is vital.
Frustrating Checkpoints and Save System
The single worst aspect of this game that forced me to knock the score of the game down is the terrible checkpoint and save system. The checkpoints are few and far between which makes single player especially frustrating. The game isn’t the hardest game in the genre I’ve played, but there are still times you get overwhelmed and die and are forced to replay a large section of the game.
The save system is even worse. It doesn’t even tell you, at least that I ever saw, that the game is saving. This will lead to you losing a lot of game progress by turning off your Xbox 360 when you assume you’ve gotten a checkpoint and can turn it off. You would think the game saves after every level is completed, which is marked by a screen that says “CLEARED” after beating a boss. I know multiple times I was done playing and felt comfortable that the game would have had to have saved by then, but I was wrong. It just begins to turn you off from the game when you have to go through the same segments over and over not knowing when it is safe to turn it off.
VERDICT
Charlie Murder is a very unique side-scroller from Ska Studios that keeps with their zombie themed releases, while also being its own experience. The RPG based system adds a lot of depth, which is always a plus with downloadable titles. There are a variety of ways to play the game with up to five character classes to choose, as well as an abundance of weapons and items that you can use and equip throughout gameplay. The game’s hazy atmosphere elevates the enjoyment of the game, as does the soundtrack. This game is very worthy of adding to your Xbox Live Arcade collection if you enjoy a good side scrolling beat-em-up, especially at only 800 Microsoft Points ($10). Just be wary of turning your game off unless you are positive you’ve reached a save checkpoint.
[Editor’s Note: Charlie Murder was reviewed on the Xbox 360 platform. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]
