Brütal Legend

by Electronic Arts

Product Features

• Online-enabled multiplayer so players can conquer friends online via Xbox LIVE.
• Comedic action combat set in a rock n' roll fantasy world, staring the talents of Jack Black in the role of a demon fighting super roadie.
• A soundtrack made up of 108 of the most rocking tracks from 75 different bands representing every sub-genre of metal.
• A streaming, open world that gives players the freedom to walk, drive, or fly anywhere as they unleash the power of rock n' roll on enemies.
• In-game cameos from gods of Metal like Lemmy Kilmister, Rob Halford, Lita Ford, and many, many others.

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000XJNTPG
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches ; 3.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: October 13, 2009
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,625 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #23 in Video Games > Xbox 360 > Role-Playing

Product Description

Platform: Xbox 360

Amazon.com Product Description

Brütal Legend is an action-adventure that marries visceral action combat with open-world freedom. Set in a universe somewhere between Lord of the Rings and Spinal Tap, it’s a fresh take on the action/driving genre, which in this case is full of imitation cover bands, demons intent on enslaving humanity and Heavy metal tunes. Featuring the talents of comedian, actor and musician, Jack Black as super roadie Eddie Riggs, as well as cameos by some of the biggest names in metal music it's a wild ride in the belly of the beast that is not to be missed by gamers and Metalheads alike. Classic action slasher gameplay with a comic twist. View larger. Unleashable Heavy metal powers. View larger. Over-the-top vehicular combat. View larger. 8-player multiplayer support. View larger. Challenging bosses & baddies. View larger. A driving 108-tune Metal soundtrack. View larger. Story The vivid and wildly creative world of Brütal Legend is brought to life through a spate of chrome, leather, rocker babes, epic music, fire-breathing/stud-wearing beasts, mountains made of guitar amps, and more. Follow Eddie as he embarks on a tour of epic destruction with an axe, a guitar, and his minions as he commands the power of rock in epic band battles. It’s lighter-flicking awesomeness that will melt your face clean off. Action Combat Brütal Legend’s core gameplay is classic action slasher, but with a twist: ranged combat comes from your demon-slaying, electricity-creating guitar. Add that 1-2 punch to a guitar solo mechanic that can summon objects, buff your teammates, or cripple your opponents, and you have a deep, gratifying core gameplay combat loop that is fun for the hardcore and accessible for the casual. A Streaming Open World Brütal Legend gives you the freedom to walk, drive, or fly anywhere in a fully streaming open world whose art style is inspired by some of the most iconic and hilariously rad metal album covers ever created. Every vista in the beautiful universe of Brütal Legend looks like it was pulled from a Frank Frazetta painting. Packed with Cameos and Voice Talent Brütal Legend is full of cameos from gods of metal like Lemmy Kilmister, Rob Halford, Lita Ford, and many, many others. It has a MASSIVE metal soundtrack from every era of metal music: 1970’s classic metal to 1980’s hair metal to the scarier cousins of 1990’s metal. And of course, Jack Black pays the ultimate homage to metal as Eddie the Roadie, continuing the theme from the work of his band, Tenacious D and his previous films like School of Rock and High Fidelity. Multiplayer Mayhem 4v4 "skirmish" multiplayer marries action combat with a strategic unit-control mechanic. As the leader of one of the factions in the game, the player will direct his armies in a Battle of the Bands where the trophy is survival. Brütal Legend’s multiplayer is online-enabled, so you can conquer your friends online via Xbox LIVE (broadband connection required for online play). Soundtrack The soundtrack of Brütal Legend is truly massive. Made up of 108 of the most rocking tracks from 75 different bands representing every sub-genre of metal, it is something to experience in and of itself. The complete track list includes: "A Serpentine Crave" - Bishop of Hexen "Ad Notics" - Rotting Christ "Am I Evil?" - Diamond Head "Angel Witch" - Angel Witch "Angels Don't Kill" - Children of Bodom "Assault Attack" - Michael Schenker Group "Back at the Funny Farm" - Motörhead "Battle Angels" - Sanctuary "Battle Hymn" - Judas Priest "Believer" - Ozzy Osbourne "Betrayal" - Lita Ford "Birth of the Hero" - Tvangeste "Blackout" - Scorpions "Blitzkrieg" - Deathstars "Bomber" - Girlschool "Breadfan" - Budgie "Cathode Ray Sunshine" - Dark Tranquillity "Children of the Grave" - Black Sabbath "Crack the Skye" - Mastodon "Cremation" - King Diamond "Cry of the Banshee" - Brocas Helm "Dawn of Battle" - Manowar "Deadly Sinners" - 3 Inches of Blood "Destroy the Orcs" - 3 Inches of Blood "Diary of a Madman" - Ozzy Osbourne "Die For Metal" - Manowar "Dr. Feelgood" - Mötley Crüe "Drink the Blood of the Priest" - Brocas Helm "Fast as a Shark" - Accept "For the Glory Of" - Testament "Free Your Hate" - KMFDM "Frost" - Enslaved "Girlfriend" - Kabbage Boy "God of Thunder" - Kiss "Goliaths Disarm Their Davids" - In Flames "Hall of the Mountain King" - Savatage "Her Ghost in the Fog" - Cradle of Filth "High Speed Dirt" - Megadeth "Holiday" - Scorpions "Ignisis Dance" - Wrath of Killenstein "In the Black" - Motörhead "Insomnia" - Dark Fortress "Kickstart My Heart" - Mötley Crüe "Lay It Down" - Ratt "Leather Rebel" - Judas Priest "Live Wire" - Mötley Crüe "Loke" - Enslaved "Love Dump" - Static-X "Machine Gunn Eddie" - Nitro "March of the Crabs" - Anvil "Marching Off to War" - Motörhead "Master Exploder" - Tenacious D "Murmaider" - Dethklok "Metal Church" - Metal Church "Metal Storm/Face the Slayer" - Slayer "Metal Thrashing Mad" - Anthrax "More Than Meets the Eye" - Testament "Mr. Crowley" - Ozzy Osbourne "Mr. Scary" - Dokken "Narita" - Riot "Never Say Die" - Black Sabbath "Nightstalker" - Cloven Hoof "No Love Lost" - Carcass "Oblivion Instrumental" - Mastodon "One Shot at Glory" - Judas Priest "Overnight Sensation" - FireHouse "Painkiller" - Judas Priest "Progenies of the Great Apocalypse" - Dimmu Borgir "Pure Evil" - Iced Earth "Queen of Desire" - Ostrogoth "Queen of the Masquerade" - Crimson Glory "Riding the Storm" - Running Wild "Rip the System" - KMFDM "Road Racin" - Riot "Rock Bottom" - UFO "Rock of Ages" - Def Leppard "Skeleton on your Shoulder" - Coroner "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" - Prong "So Frail" - Mirrorthrone "Soul Thrashing Black Sorcery" - Skeletonwitch "Stigmata" - Ministry "Still of the Night" - Whitesnake "Sulphur Injection" - Apostasy "Superbeast" - Rob Zombie "Swords and Tequila" - Riot "Symptom of the Universe" - Black Sabbath "Tag Team" - Anvil "Technical Difficulties" - Racer X "The Axeman" - Omen "The Beautiful People" - Marilyn Manson "The Hellion/Electric Eye" - Judas Priest "The Metal" - Tenacious D "The Somber Grounds of Truth" - Bishop of Hexen "The Wild and the Young" - Quiet Riot "Thieves" - Ministry "Through the Fire and Flames" - DragonForce "Thus Spake the Nightspirit" - Emperor "Tornado of Souls" - Megadeth "Warriors Dawn" - Slough Feg "(We Are) the Road Crew" - Motörhead "Welcome Home" - King Diamond "Wheels of Steel" - Saxon "When the Night Falls" - Iced Earth "Witches" - Candlemass "World of Hurt" - Overkill "Y.R.O." - Racer X "Youth Gone Wild" - Skid Row "Zoom Club" - Budgie

Amazon.com

From the mind of Tim Schafer (Psychonauts, Grim Fandango) comes Brutal Legend, the ultimate heavy metal action game starring Jack Black (School of Rock, Tenacious D). You are heavy metal roadie Eddie Riggs, hurled back in time to the mythical Age of Metal when the world was formed and ruled by the power of Rock! Armed with a broadaxe, a guitar, and a big block V8 you set off on an epic quest to assemble an army of headbangers, hotrods, barbarians, demonic dominatrix and the undead. With the wings of a demon and the power of a Rock God, you must lead humanity in an epic war against its barbaric overlords, and carve your name forever into the Brutal Legend.

In Brutal Legend, you'll roam through a massive open-world born from the hell fires of heavy metal. In this world you can rev up any vehicle, rock its weapons, and crush the enemies of metal. You'll also learn to devastate with your guitar, playing face-melting solos that actually melt the faces of your enemies, command savage armies, bang skulls in hand-to-hand combat, and rise like a bat out of hell to command blood-drenched action from above. As if that wasn't enough, you can slay your friends and foes online, then play guitar licks on their graves! Of course, Brutal Legend is only complete with the most ultimate heavy metal soundtrack ever assembled in a game.

Features:

• Slay your friends and foes online. Then play guitar licks on their graves.
• The most ultimate heavy metal soundtrack ever assembled in a game.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I really wanted to like this game more, October 22, 2009

By 

Computer Geek (Fort Collins, CO USA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Brutal Legend (Video Game)

Let me start this review by saying I really wanted to like this game. Being a huge fan of previous Tim Schafer games and a long time metal aficionado I had high hopes. I even pre-ordered the game from Amazon which is rare for me. I give the preface since someone without the same expectations might enjoy it more.

The Good:

Story, Soundtrack, Voice Acting, Artwork, Humor, Metal References and Credits

All of the above are incredibly good. From the introduction through the credits the production values and choices the team made were excellent, within character, and true to intent. I liked the credits which is usually a pet peeve of mine. Rather than drag them out and force you to watch for 10+ minutes (and tempting you to quit out), they went along at a good clip. The soundtrack is well balanced with old and new, major (Ozzy, Scorpions, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest) and less well known but excellent (Ministry) artists, and styles from melodic to death growls (not a fan personally). The Legends and overall storyline are quite entertaining and well thought out.

The Bad:

Length, Flow, Gameplay, and Achievements

The game is very short. Unless you want to spend lots of time after the main story on either hunting through the environment for missed objects (without any map indication or "object finder") or want to play the pseudo-RTS online multi-player, you will be lucky to get more than 10 hours of gameplay out of this game. For a next gen price of $60, the entertainment/price ratio doesn't work out (and is one of the reasons for the 3 stars.) The flow of the game is somewhat disappointing as the major story points are somewhat disjoint and don't always flow smoothly together. The achievements frustrate me as >60% of them are from either the endless object search or the multi-player component. I don't have a problem with some tedium for attaining a full 1000 points, but I really feel a majority of the points should be achievable in playing the main game reasonably carefully. This is one of those games where the achievements feel set up to force the game to be artificially longer rather than to add to your enjoyment. Finally there is the gameplay itself. Another review (sorry I don't remember the reference) stated it best. In having the open-world/action/driving/RTS game models, the game is really a "Jack (Black) of all trade and master of none". None of the modes are bad but none of them are good. Taken together the whole isn't greater than the sum of the parts. The enjoyment in the game is from the story, the world, the soundtrack, the humor, the metal, and the artwork. The mechanics don't add to the game.

Bottom Line:

Worth a rent or buying a used copy, but with all the holiday games there is better value out there. I hope TS continues to make games though and the next one has the publicity/plish of Brutal Legend but is more like Psychonauts/Grim Fandago in fun.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A "Black Diamond" in the Rough this one, October 17, 2009

By 

L. Newton "Geek Enthusiast" (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Brutal Legend (Video Game)

First off, this game pokes fun at current "metal" trends while attempting to tell a story worthy of the 70s metal bands that meshed mythology and modern culture. The game succeeds, in my opinion, in just about everything it sets out to do, and does it so well that it makes the endeavor of this mixed-genre game look natural and easy to accomplish.

You can't discuss this game without the tongue-in-cheek-yet-serious storyline. The quirky characters and the fact that this is all being done in over-the-top fashion makes it hard to take seriously, but that hint of humor is what lends the game's story its sense of urgency. If the game took itself seriously and didn't play these over-the-top characters for laughs, it would become tedious and overwrought. The fact that they copped to their own camp value is what keeps it from being pretentious.

The game itself is actually a realization of Action games, Exploration/Free Roam games, and Real-Time Strategy. Fans of one or two should have no problem with this game (though people who dislike RTS will find this game least agreeable as most major plot points revolve around RTS battles.) You drive around the landscape in your upgradeable car, doing open-world missions and races. If you upgrade your car for weapons, you can also shoot things instead of hopping out of the car to fight people (which, oddly enough, my axe kills things faster than lighting something on fire, shooting it with a chaingun, running it over, then backing up over it.) Some of the missions will see you fighting things solo, but this is rare. You will usually have minions helping you out (similar to Dynasty Warriors.)

Finally, the big thing is the RTS element. While it couches it as a "battle of the bands" kind of rockshow, it is a serious (if a little bare-bones) strategy battle. In true Rock-God fashion, you have to play some epic riffs and get your hands dirty leading your troops for the most part, and you can either fly around the battlefield or take your car (which is a bit of a disappointment, as stated above, for the damage it does compared to a few whacks with your axe.) to explore your options and set waypoints. Each unit can also be "teamed" with to create a different or enhanced effect and, later, you can upgrade your main base and your basic units as well.

For all the wonderful setting and awesome music (which, admittedly, should appeal to anyone who is considering this game,) all the quirky characters and cool cinemas and events and so-on and so-forth ... the game is depressingly short (figure 8-10hrs at most for the core story.) Like most free-roaming explorers, the game depends on your desire to "catch 'em all!" to keep you playing, either looking at all the cool setting or finding all the collectibles. Admittedly, I'm interested in the fascinating metal-style mythology of this epic world, so I'm hunting for that now.

The game's brevity would seem to be an unfortunate decision to include RTS multiplayer in the game. This has very little interest to me, and I would've much rather seen them incorporate the coding into additional story missions rather than saving it all for multiplayer (with no way to familiarize yourself with the other factions' units and abilities other than playing against a typical AI which substitutes higher resource and production rates for actual skill.) I would have loved to, instead of playing multiplayer RTS, had to play a mission or three as the goth faction or the demon faction, especially because it would've fleshed out these adversaries just a little bit more and made it a little more satisfying to beat them.

Other minor gripes include the often-used mechanic of "water is deadly," in that if you end up driving your car into the ocean or off a cliff, rather than just have a quick cinematic of your character crawling, annoyed, out of the surf, you go back to the last mission you accomplished after a brief death sequence. Another minor issue is that I found it hard to give intricate commands to my troops (though I suppose that kind of fits given my troops.) Also, re-used voice-clips during the missions and RTS tend to get a little old.

In all, this game is definitely a rental, but metalheads on a mission to relive the days of epic albums should probably pick this up ...

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for me but on the short side all the same, November 6, 2009

By 

Benjamin S. Sprague "Broken Hierophant" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Brutal Legend (Video Game)

Brutal Legend is a great game. So great in fact it's only down fall is it concludes very fast. The saying goes "Time flies when you're having fun" and no quote could be more genuine when summing up Brutal Legend.

To be honest I was excited about this game until I found out that in addition to the action oriented hack n slash game play it was also a real time strategy game. RTS has never been a genre that appealed to me. I'm more about being a loner or in a small group as opposed to dictating the actions of up to 50 or so troops with different strengths and weaknesses. Yet somehow Double Fine had me addicted to the RTS "battle of the bands" set up as well as the driving escort missions, gunning death rack tower segments, and even helping my head banger bros score beer and babes. Getting a gamer to be captivated by genres he normally dislikes is no easy feat. As a matter fact to date I'd say Brutal legend is the only title that had me enjoy types of game play I'd normally be insanely frustrated by.

While Brutal Legend is influenced by Heavy Metal I don't necessarily think you have to love that genre of music to be enthralled by what is offered. It tells a decent fantasy tale with its' own unique mythology. Despite the fact Brutal Legend throws Grand theft auto, God of war, Zelda Ocarina of time, and Over lord into a blender it retains being original and non confusing.

Starting off Eddie Riggs is a likable hero. When I saw the first Brutal Legend trailer I thought maybe Eddie would end up being like Kratos aka a dumb enraged testosterone jock covered in leather and spikes. Instead Eddie cares about others, refuses to be a glory hog, and is more akin to that lovable best friend you knew in high school whom despite looking "scary" was very charismatic, generous, and optimistic.

However Eddie does not start out our tale as a happy camper. Pretty much the game drops us into a scene where Eddie's talents as a roadie are being exploited by a tween pop band trying to pass themselves off as the new equivalent of heavy metal. Eddie's awesome stage is referred to as "ironic in a retro sort of way" and one of the rockers gleefully enjoys breaking guitars just so Eddie has to fix them. In a humorous kind of way the scene reminded me of Cinderella only Eddie is a guy and instead of having 3 wicked step sisters he has to contend with three jerk wad step brothers. Most of us would understand if Eddie cussed out the manager and quit on the spot but instead he selflessly saves one of the band members from plummeting to his death. Eddie's heroism is ironically rewarded by having a stage prop fall atop his burly frame. Riggs' martyred blood mingles with his magic belt buckle summoning an angry yet noble monster of yore. With a mighty roar Omigodan the fire beast slays the blasphemers stopping their terrible music than it whisks Eddie away to an enchanted dark fantasy world influenced by the awesomeness that is "True Metal".

Yes, I realize this sounds cheesy. We can draw parallels to it being similar to Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonder Land. However the rock n roll death metal studded presentation of the tired "Stranger in a strange land" plot device works perfectly.

Upon arriving in an alternative lifestyles version Never Ever Land Eddie slays a bunch of blood thirsty occultists with an axe he finds then meets a sweet yet fierce young woman named Ophelia. She tells Eddie the robed weirdos he decapitated are the servants of the demon emperor Deviculous and that there is a human resistance trying to over throw their evil master. Equipped with his battle axe and electric guitar that can raise relics of ancient power or melt faces Eddie constructs a hot-rod on the spot, riding off into the sun set with the mysterious yet hot Goth girl to save mankind.

You will proceed to interact with the lovable yet eccentric guardian of Metal Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy the hellacious biker healer, Lita the spirited Amazon, and Lars the golden haired hero who fast becomes your new best friend. If these famous real life cameos were just thrown in to sell a bad product I would have felt cheated. As it stands they are woven in seamlessly with the world they are apart of. Every person in the game has good motivations for being the way they are and they seem more concerned with contributing to a good yarn than with out-staging each other.

Brutal Legend has a sand box world. In truth you can blow through the story line as fast as a guitarist riding the lightning but if you go that route you are going to miss out on a lot of land marks, extra missions, hidden music tracks to play while driving around in your Druid Plow, world folklore, and secret guitar riffs which grant Eddie arcane war-spell techniques whilst battling making victories come much easier. Unearthing these mementos of the forgotten age likewise increases "fire tributes" which you use to upgrade your hot rod and fighting combos within Ozzy's motor lodges.

The thing I really hope developers learn from Brutal Legend is its' perfect balance of campy humor and emotionally driven sincerity. While it can be stated Tim Schaefer's newest offering doesn't take itself too seriously it also doesn't undermine itself with an over abundance of bad ham and moldy cheese. Jack Black whom voiced Eddie walks the delicate line between satire and tragedy with perfect harmony. I honestly have more respect for him now. I'm hoping future movie producers see Jack's true potential and stop giving him roles that undermine his hidden talent.

By this point I've explained enough. I cannot say anymore without edging dangerously close to spoiler territory. This game is one that has to be experienced instead of merely read about. Words alone fail to express the creativity, awe, and mirth packed into this sour yet sweet nostalgic road trip through Heavy Metal heaven!

Pros

+Breath taking twisted yet beautiful world to traverse.

+ Good blend of RTS, driving, exploration, fun mini games, and visceral combat.

+ Acting and sound track are the best in the business.

+ A tale that is not too grim yet not ridiculously silly either.

+ Fun multi-player RTS battles over Xbox live

+ The enemy types are scary yet outrageously hilarious at the same time. Every creature encountered is some sort of parody or tribute to the various kinds of heavy metal music.

Cons

-Game is a bit short but to its' credit the ending brought a smile to my face. (Unlike Fable 2. Cough.)

-The upcoming down-loadable content is "meh" if you are more intrigued by the single player story line than you are the RTS aspects.

-Tim Schafer is not renowned for making sequels. For those like myself who want a sequel we may have to bite off a bit of bad tasting disappointment.

-Side missions get repetitive and there are only around 4 types of them. For what its' worth these mini quests extend the game and they're fun for what they are.

-Though I took to the mish mash of game styles some may be more puzzled than pleasantly surprised by BL's patchwork Frankenstein of genres.

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