MadWorld
MadWorld
MadWorld Reviews
Let’s get this out of the way first: MadWorld is an adult game. It’s the most violent game to date, and there are more content discriptors on the back of the box than for Grand Theft Auto. That being said, if you are an adult Wii gamer and have longed for something bloody, visceral, and mature for your little white box, then buy this game. MadWorld is a far cry from the standard casual family affairs that are currently clogging store shelves.
Madworld puts you in the shoes of Jack, a 40-something who has been thrown into the most horrific game show in America: DeathWatch. Jack must fight and kill to survive, for he’s been poisoned, and every kill gives him longer to live. However, DeathWatch is all about entertainment. You see, you may have a chainsaw and fists, but the audience wants more than you to beat up some dudes. Your challenge is to create combos by performing multiple maneuvers on an enemy.
For instance, stab a couple of road signs into a goon, put a trash can over his head, then use a spiked baseball bat to launch him into a dumpster where he’ll be sliced in half. The violence is so over the top, that as bad as it sounds, it’s actually really hilarious. Don’t take me for a psychopath, because when you begin to dig in, you’ll laugh too. Of course, there may be instances where you’ll wince, but it’s all in good fun.
Without going into too much detail, here’s what you can expect. Scattered throughout each level are minigames called “Bloodbath Challenges.” You’ll be given a new way to kill people in a certain number of time and rounds. Most are fun enough to warrant multiple plays to get higher scores. Also, you’ll encounter some fantastically spectacular bosses, each escalating in difficulty, and each with some truly cinematic action.
The gameplay is well done with tight analog control over Jack, and button presses for actions such as jumping and punching. Certain things are mapped to motion swings such as chainsaw attacks, special moves, and boss fights. The motion controls are simple swipes rather than tired waggle, and you’ll appreciate having it done that way.
You’ll notice the stark black and white graphics as a departure from most games. This game is stylistic and gorgeous. Screenshots may make everything look confusing, but trust me, the game is very clean and easy to see in action. The only color you’ll see in this game is red(and lots of it). This approach really stands out. It’s like nothing else you’ve seen. FYI, this game comes from the folks who brought us Okami, Viewtiful Joe, and Resident Evil 4. This game was placed in good hands.
The audio is fantastic as well. The soundtrack is made up of 20 full hip-hop tracks from up and coming artists. I don’t care for hip-hop at all, so I turned the music way down in the options, but that’s my preference. What really creates the most audio pleasure is the commentary from two announcers that follows Jack play by play. The voice actors are Greg Proops(of “Whose Line is it Anyways?” fame)and Joe DiMaggio(the voice of Bender from “Futurama” and Marcus Fenix from the Xbox 360 smash franchise, “Gears of War”). The banter goes back and forth and contains some gut-busting humor. It’s incredibly raunchy and laced with f-bombs(as well as mf-bombs), but it’s sounds so natural and it always gives you something to laugh at-in game.
MadWorld is what hardcore gamers and adults want for the Wii. It’s unforgiving in it’s nature, but for those who are old enough, the time has come. If you want more hardcore games on the Wii(and less kiddie crap), then buy this title. I’m serious. Don’t even hesitate. This belongs in every adult’s Wii library.
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