Deadpool: The Video Game - Review

Ah, Deadpool. How can you not love him? He's crass, vulgar, unkempt, and idiotic. Basically Archie Bunker with cool super powers, swords, and a gun. You gotta love him! Granted, his comics weren't always the best, and his movie, previous video game (Marvel Ultimate Alliance), and cartoon (Ultimate Spider-Man) appearances didn't do him justice. But in this game, he's the best.

Voiced by legendary game and soap opera star Nolan North, Deadpool is finally brought to life in a way that truly reflects his character. He knows that he's a video game character (in the books, it's called "comic awareness"), and often breaks the fourth wall. Not only does he talk to you directly, but he even walks away from you in one scene near the end of the game. It's up to you to catch the joke, and start to follow him. As a bonus, there's a bit with Deadpool and Nolan North talking on the phone early in the game.

As much as I want to hate this game, I can't. I know, after that build up, you didn't expect me to say I want to hate the game. Unfortunately, the designers decided that instead of giving Deadpool a full out action game, they did the standard cross platform bit, and threw in way too much platforming. Some of it was done in a joking way, such as when the game turns into a classic 16 bit era game. Another joke had him using the speach balloons from the voices in his head as jumping points.

If more of the platforming were done this way, it would have been fine. But between Deadpool having very limited teleporting distance (except for a handful of areas where the developers were too lazy to give him something to jump to), almost the whole game feels like a platformer. Jump from one ledge to another, collect some items, kill some enemies, and repeat. Wade Wilson (his real identity) deserves better than this.

Then to add insult to injury (to the player, as well as the character), most of the enemies are repeated. Even mini bosses and bosses that you've killed off keep getting cloned to come back at you. Often in waves, with little ammo to be found near the end of the game. Even the final boss, Mr. Sinister, is killed multiple times. First you kill a clone, then the final fight is a wave of multiple Mr. Sinister clones. And again, limited ammo.

In the end, the only thing that saves the game is the script, and Nolan North. The jokes themselves get repetitive fast, such as watching Deadpool sneak up on an enemy on his tip toes. He is given a pair of cartoon mallets to attack with, but they just don't work very well, or long, as a gag. Even the multiple button pushing jokes, such as when you have to keep slapping an unconscious Wolverine, are over used.

If you have a week end to kill, rent the game. It is fun. Or if you can find it cheap, grab it. Just don't expect this to become a game that you want in your library. It really doesn't have a lot of replay value, unless you want to replay chapters to get all of the collectibles. Even then, the jokes that require shock value will start to fall dead fast.