Title: Madworld
Genre: 3 person action
Developer : Platinum games Inc.
Platform: Wii
Rating: M (Mature)
Product Link: http://www.amazon.com/MadWorld-Nintendo-Wii/dp/B0019SY1D4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1237338731&sr=8-1
Website: http://www.sega.com/madworld/
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Nintendo was heavily criticized last summer at the Electronic Entertainment Expo for revealing virtually no titles that appealed to the core gamer. Light-hearted surprises such as Animal Crossing: City Folk and Wii Sports Resort did little to entice veterans of gaming. Nintendo reacted to media pressure by promising a slew of games tailored for the needs of hardcore gamers. Presently, a flurry of mature content has forced its way into the Wii’s library with Madworld leading the pack.
Madworld centers on a game show televised for the rich in which contestants murder one another to increase their rank. The more gruesome kills earn better ratings and so on. The game play is obviously inspired by Suda 51’s No More Heroes which was one of the few third party developed Wii games that was not only mature rated but also critically acclaimed. The player kills a multitude of enemies under a time limit. Depending on how horrific the kill, points are awarded. Enough points grant you the opportunity to challenge a boss in order to steal their rank. There is absolutely no shortage of ways to massacre your enemies especially when there is a chainsaw built into your right arm.
Immediately starting the game, one cannot ignore the ultra stylized graphic novel aesthetic. The game is entirely black and white with the occasional yellow accent and buckets of crimson red blood splatter. While the atmosphere is reminiscent of movies like Sin City, The character designs are delightfully over the top and just plain cool. The frame rate stays comfortably over thirty frames per second and is an incredibly beautiful game for the Wii despite its subject matter.
The sound design is based on a high energy game show blended with gangster rap. It is an odd mix that is surprisingly effective and more original than just cranking out generic death metal. The sound effects are also effective even with the muzzled chainsaw noise that emanates from the Wiimote every time you swing your weapon. The voice acting matches the over the top presentation with excellent performances all around. The game’s two announces are hilarious but tend to repeat themselves too often. The character, “The Black Baron,” is incredibly offensive for a number of reasons and is the only aspect of the game that doesn’t quite fit in this universe.
The controls are simple. Most attacks are performed with the “A” or “B” buttons or with some combination of swinging the Wiimote and nunchuk. The game has no real penalty for losing all your lives other than having to restart the short level again to reach the boss. This makes you play recklessly because their really isn’t any skill involved other than timing. Most boss battles are awesome to watch but generally boil down to you slicing at them until they die or you inadvertently activate a button hitting sequence that ends with you doing a hefty amount of damage. The story is nonsense, but if you allow yourself to accept it and go along for the ride it makes little difference to the overall enjoyment of the game.
The only motivation most players will have to finish Madworld is seeing and battling the bosses. Other than that, the game is shallow and offers no lasting appeal. The motorcycle riding sequences are pathetically dull while the multiplayer mode offers little replay value. Unlocking a higher difficulty setting could have provided a much more rewarding experience. As it is, Madworld is mindless fun that straddles the line between mediocrity and total obscurity. Its content keeps it out of the hands of children and the elderly while its game play will bore any hardcore action fan. If you are an adult Wii owner looking for something explicit, your lack of options will eventually force you to play Madworld. Otherwise, approach with caution.
Overall Rating: * * ½ / 5
M. Michael Chwedyk "The Gamekok"- MuzikReviews.com Video Game Review Staff
March 20, 2009
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