Brutal Legend Review (8.5/10)

Not many games boast the profound sense of humour evident in Brutal Legend, and this unique strength is essentially what brings the 2009 brawler away from becoming a repetitive, predictable title. Oh, and Jack Black of course. Yep, the star of some truly great flicks like School of Rock (4.5/5) and Kung Fu Panda (4/5) plays lead protagonist Eddie Riggs in a fantastical world plagued by demons who threaten to take the heavy out of metal. The plot doesn't feel too dissimilar to Black's recent film Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny (2.5/5), albeit handled much better and making more sense as a video game. Brutal Legend finds a solid mixture of game-play ranging from blatant beat-em-up to somewhat shallow role-play sections to hilarious vehicular missions, with no element seeming too out of place, though consequently it's easy to think that no area of the game gets enough attention to make it truly substantial. Thank goodness, then, that the polish applied is of such a high quality, such that the menus, the in-game visuals and even simple instructions flow together seamlessly to create an authentic, mature musical experience. Make no mistake, what Brutal Legend occasionally lacks in staying focused on one type of game-play is made up for by the fact that it has style unlike any other title in any of its genres, and retailing for under £10 in most stores makes it one of the biggest bargains you'll likely find for some time!