Deadpool Review
Deadpool Review
Here's to Deadpool, brought to you by High Moon Studios and Deadpool! But....mostly Deadpool.
Published on July 7, 2013 8:30 PM
6 minute read
5851 Views

When I first started Deadpool, I didn't really expect to like it. I knew it wasn't going to be a grand masterpiece, and I just thought it would be mildly entertaining. I love Deadpool as a character, and enjoyed the comics, but I wasn't sure how it would all come together in the game.

It was awesome. But not because of the interworkings...just because you're Deadpool, and the game reflects that.

Right from the beginning, I was already having fun, even though I was just wandering around Deadpool's apartment, listening to voice-mails from High Moon Studios. This is, after all, Deadpool's video game, and he wants it to be filled with large, busty women, huge guns, and over-the-top explosions. Once he finds out he has to follow a script, he (and his other two personalities) basically give up on High Moon and start forging their own path into destruction, mayhem, and crude humor. This game breaks the 4th wall on a regular basis, and Deadpool frequently insults you and offers advice along the way.

Deadpool Review Screenshot

Deadpool probably isn’t going to win any awards, and the gameplay is decent at best. It lags a lot, especially towards the end of the game when all hell constantly breaks loose. The combat is basic hack-and-slash, and the mini boss fights are repetitive and unimpressive. There's a run-of-the-mill point collection and upgrade system, and it really doesn't introduce anything new to the gaming world.

Really, in light of that description, why even bother picking this up?

Because this is the most fun I've had in a long time. It's completely mindless and schizophrenic, just like our wonderful protagonist. Deadpool is incredibly entertaining, and the random activities thrown into the levels break up the repetitiveness enough for a break. There's an 8-bit dungeon sequence, a mission set up like a classic side-scroller (for which he professes his love), and the self-awareness that just adds to the fun.

Deadpool Review Screenshot

The combat, though simplistic, is easy enough to where you can just fly through, guns blazing or swords whirling. Unfortunately, the bad guy is Mr. Sinister, who has a big penchant for cloning, so everyone looks alike and has the same powers. That is easy to ignore though, as most of the time you don't see them under the blood spray. There is also the fun evade ability in the form of teleportation, which is very reminiscent of Nightcrawler. The button for teleporting is the same button to counter-attack, so you have to be careful while fighting, otherwise you'll kind of...poof right behind the enemy. That isn’t hard to come back from though, as it's very free-flowing.

Of course, there are multiple downsides.

The gun control and targeting system almost never works, making it extremely annoying when trying to shoot down flying enemies. Half the time, you end up disrupting the target lock whenever you step sideways. The interact command doesn't always read on the first try, so you have to keep mashing the button until Deadpool finally reacts. This is especially irritating once you acquire the upgraded teleport skill. This game knows that it's rage-inducing, and even offers tips on how to avoid rage quitting, such as taking a walk to cool down. The fights aren't really challenging enough, and it becomes a matter of Deadpool slicing (and shooting) swarms of baddies. The larger and more powerful enemies are annoying more than half the time, as they just continuously follow you and blast you with one or two easily predictable attacks. There might have been hope for some more interesting battles with bosses, but they are few and far between.

Deadpool Review Screenshot

A really big downside is that there aren't any collectibles to speak of - something that you would almost expect from a game that parodies superheroes and video games. There's the challenge mode area, but those are just set in the same levels from the story, so there isn't anything really new to keep you coming back. I played through it once, and that was satisfying enough for me. A lot of the achievements are for performing odd tasks; things that are fitting for Deadpool, such as making 1,000 pancakes, collecting tacos, or mingling with all the ladies at a party. Make sure to slap Wolverine until Deadpool gets bored, just to hear all the dialogue from our lovely hero.

To be honest, I enjoyed this game. Not for the mechanics or the visual aspects, but because it was a lot of fun. It's quite comical, and you can tell that everyone had a good time making it - from the developers to Nolan North and his voice work. In reality this is a mediocre game, with nothing except for the main character separating it from the rest of the genre. It lags and glitches frequently, and the story is sub par. But that's okay! After all, it's all about Deadpool and his creation, and when the credits roll, you'll notice he had a part in everything. It exaggerates, it's mildly inappropriate, and it's wildly entertaining. It may be very juvenile, but at its core, Deadpool is the perfect setup for easy, thoughtless gaming, with awesome commentary from the crass anti-hero and the voices in his head.

Xbox 360
Box Art
Release Date:
06/25/2013
Publisher:
Activision
Developer:
High Moon Studios, Inc.
Genre:
Action
Number of Players:
1
ESRB Rating:
M for Mature
Our Verdict
Score: 3/5 Stars
Anyone who loves crazy humor, ridiculous explosions, and chimichangas.
Comments
11
Posted on July 7, 2013 9:08 PM

Sounds like a good Gamefly rental. I really like Deadpool but I had my reservations about how good this was going to be even with Highmoon at the helm. I thought they were kind of hit and miss on the Transformers games, so I figured it could go either way with Deadpool. Glad to hear this game has some redeeming qualities and  its not a total bomb. Great reveiw by the way.

Posted on July 7, 2013 9:17 PM

Thanks! It's definitely a good rental. I agree with you about the Transformers games...the gun control in Deadpool is basically identical to those. Which I wasn't a fan of to begin with, and the faulty targeting system just helped solidify that.

Posted on July 7, 2013 9:42 PM

I second the rental sentiment. I've been hoping my local redbox would get it, but no luck so far. Might end up passing on it, unless I can stumble upon a wild Blockbuster somewhere, lol.

Posted on July 7, 2013 9:57 PM

Hey, stranger things have happened haha. I actually looked on redbox's website, and they said they weren't planning on stocking the game anytime soon. But, if you're interested, you can grab the new DreamWork's Turbo game haha. It comes out this week! Try to contain your excitement.

Posted on July 8, 2013 12:15 AM
Posted on July 8, 2013 5:06 PM

I spoke with some friends about this game today.  They pretty much say, this game isn't anything special and the best thing about the game is the writing and that it's Deadpool.  As a fan of Deadpool, I'll have to get this game, but I'll wait for a price drop. 

Posted on July 8, 2013 5:55 PM

I played the game on the hardest difficulty so maybe my experience was different, but I didn't find it "easy" or "thoughtless." I didn't have a problem with the targeting system. Floating enemies needed to be manually targeted, but once you lock on it's a wrap. The system itself was challenging without being a given. The real trick to the game was utilizing a strategy to deal with the onslaught of enemies that are thrown at you as the game progresses. You have to use your upgrades correctly to deal with the increasing difficulty and types of enemies that come at you, from hand to hand combat, swords, shooters, and more powerful mutant types that charge at you or use some time of projectile. Then there are types that float and can teleport. Then you have to fight all of these at once.

There were parts that experienced "slow down" but these seemed mostly to occur at the beginning of levels, where Deadpool appears to creep along before returning to full speed. It made the part where you follow Death more difficult but not impossible.

Is it a three star game? Probably. Might also be a reason why it came out new for $50 instead of $60. But to me that's a matter of the game's style. Ultimately it's a nostalgia trip into the world of beat 'em up games and classic gaming with it's platform elements and even a sonic-style tube slide level. Deadpool as a character is a homage to every trope in comic bookdom and the game reflects that by applying that method to a storyline about how Deadpool would make a video game. It's hilarious. Every part with Cable is genius. It's a matter of taste. It's not a long game. It's a beat 'em up. It's not everyone's cup of tea, especially for sensitive people and those who expect AAA quality every time out and maybe you should at $60. But I like seeing a game that's fun and to the point come out at a cheaper price point. It's a good change up.  

Posted on July 8, 2013 9:54 PM

Deadpool always reminded me of Freakazoid, which is why I like Deadpool. I may check it out after a pricedrop, but you really aren't playing this for it's amazing story or gameplay, you're playing it for Deadpool and that's a good enough reason for me.

Posted on July 9, 2013 12:18 PM

Great review!

I saw this at the local rental shop in town, so I'll definitely make sure to pick it up sometime whenever I'm in need of some zany action!

Posted on July 10, 2013 5:17 PM

I want dat bike! Tongue Out

PS: Well, there "was" a picture of an awesome bicycle with turbo boosters & Deadpool hanging on for dear life. Where did it go?!

Posted on July 12, 2013 12:11 AM

Haha, the pictures change every time the page refreshes, but yes his bike is awesome!