Deadpool Review

By Kevin Mitchell  |  Posted: July 31, 2013

It's his game and Deadpool will cry if he wants to, as well as curse, make countless references to his "little" Deadpool, slice hundreds of clones to pieces, fantasize about Rogue and Psylocke's assets, and even have a touching moment with good ol' Wolverine.

Bringing the eccentric comic book character to life is no easy feat. For this, High Moon Studios brought in the magical vocals of Nolan North, better known for his work in the Uncharted series as the witty protagonist Nathan Drake. Every one-liner, every male...well, you know, reference, every offensive joke that bursts out of Deadpool's mouth stays true to the iconic Marvel comic book character. The personification of Deadpool takes center stage in the game and works in High Moon's favor. Even coming back to the game days after finishing it, I would chuckle at the idiotic moments, emphasized by the vulgar filth spewing out of his mouth. Deadpool never keeps his trap shut, always commenting throughout the game on everything from the enemies he is slicing into pieces to the environments he finds himself in, and of course, himself.

For those who've never read a Deadpool comic, Deadpool is quite self-aware that he is a comic book character, and this knowledge transitions into the game, as he is fully aware that he's starring in a game produced by High Moon Studios. With this in mind, any time Deadpool becomes unhappy with a predicament he finds himself in (due to not reading the script), he has the power to change it with a little help from his certifiable imagination. Usually, this results in very immature and offensive moments, which may put off anyone unfamiliar with Deadpool's antics. Various game references help flesh out the game, such as a section that sees him go through the visual style from every console generation. His infatuation with tacos and Wolverine almost brought me to tears. Then, of course, there are the hilarious interactions between Deadpool and "The Man Outta Time" Cable, who has traveled from the future to help Deadpool in the present.

The combo system feels like a hybrid of the counter mechanics introduced in Batman: Arkham Asylum and the smooth sword and gun gameplay from the Devil May Cry series. While the counters help keep the combo meter in the high hundreds, I found myself barely using the guns, instead relying on mashing and mixing light and heavy attacks until the floor was littered with bodies. Special moves can also help dispatch groups of enemies but must be recharged after using. Earning "DP" points during every encounter, as well as collecting points scattered around the environments, you can purchase new types of melee and ranged weapons featuring varying weapon speed, range, and damage. All the weapons, however, share the same combos. Upgrades can be purchased for every item, including Deadpool himself.

Deadpool's ranged weapons are utterly disappointing when trying to dispatch flying foes, due to the poorly implemented targeting system. Missing targets on a constant basis – even when locked-on – encounters are prolonged unnecessarily. Using them on enemies on the ground allows for headshots to instantly decapitate weaker foes, but even then, enemies will awkwardly dodge at times and stay perfectly still during others.

Simply Put

Deadpool left me thirsty for more Deadpool, especially after a frustrating final boss fight and when the final credits began to roll. The repetitious combat falls flat during the third act, as the lack of varying combos between the weapons holds the gameplay back. Invisible walls will prevent Deadpool from accessing certain areas, but thankfully the game is quite amazing, if you enjoy the type of humor that it employs.