MadWorld

When Capcom had Clover Studio close its doors in March of 2007, it closed the developer behind industry standouts such as the Viewtiful Joe series and Okami. However, the developers from Clover were not ready to call it quits.

They formed Platinum Games, the developer behind MadWorld.

MadWorld is an intense and brutal action title with enough blood to fill the Atlantic Ocean. The premise is pretty simple: "move to a location, kill everyone at said location." Players take control of a man named Jack who has a shadowy past and a chainsaw on his arm. Jack arrives on the island of Varrigan City, which is turned into a Running Man-styled game show called Death Watch. As Jack, the player attempts to become the number one killer in Varrigan City. Players are awarded for their kills by earning points that unlock new weapons and areas.

Jack's here to do one thing, and it has something to do with that retractable chainsaw on his arm.

Considering Clover's track record, it is no surprise that MadWorld was not going to have a traditional full color, three-dimensional presentation. Instead, MadWorld was given a gritty black-and-white look, as if straight out of Frank Miller's Sin City. Throw in splashes of dark red for blood, and yellow for accents, and what ultimately results is a very stylish, unconventional look for a game.

Platinum Games, along with Publisher Sega, made no mistake in presenting the goal of MadWorld. Kill as many people as possible using everything around you as a weapon. Pure and simple. The controls themselves reflect this; with players using the A button to punch and holding A to grab. The B button unsheathes the chainsaw, and players slice similar to No More Heroes in that there is a vertical and horizontal slice, both performed by moving the Wii remote in their respective movements.

I'll give you a hint. That's not cherry Kool-Aid.

Addicting Gameplay. MadWorld instantly sucks you in with its fun premise, and does not let go until you've beaten the game.

Creativity is Rewarded. Chainsawing enemies in half is only one way to kill. To score the most points, players will have to use signs, tires, dumpsters, and whatever else they can scratch together.

Stylish. MadWorld has an instant visual appeal. From the monochromatic look to the fabulous character designs, MadWorld looks and feels edgy and cool.

Knows What It Is. While there is a story to MadWorld, the developers do not attempt to churn out a realistic story that forces the game to make sense. Instead, it is just as exaggerated as the rest of the game, and most importantly lets the player focus on the bloodshed.

Variety of Weapons. Spiked bats, daggers, and ray guns are only a few that help diversify Jack's portfolio of carnage.

Controls Well. There is no attempt to overuse motion control. There are times when players will waggle the remote or mash buttons to do things like dodge attacks in quick-time events in showdowns with boss characters. This limited use of motion controls is just the right amount.

Numerous Finishers. Finishers are a brutal way for Jack to kill enemies. Each enemy can be finished in at least two different ways, with new moves available for each different type of enemy.

Likable Character. Jack doesn't take crap from anyone.

Distinctive Boss Fights. There are a sizable amount of bosses in MadWorld. Each one is a different fight from the last, keeping the game fresh.

Blood Bath Challenges. These challenges are unlocked when players score a set amount of points. Ranging from Man Darts to Death Press, these mini-games are just as blood-soaked and fun as the rest of the game. They can also be played separately in a multiplayer mode.

Comic Presentation. Most cinematic elements in the game are not fully animated. Instead they are presented in panels, like a living comic book.

Wide Spectrum of Difficulty. Normal mode allows for players to be more relaxed and try all the contraptions the environment has to offer. This should satisfy gamers just looking to have fun. Hard mode requires players to plan where to go and how to achieve the most points in the fastest manner. This should prove satisfying for more intense, strategic gamers.

Camera Problems. While not a major problem, players will have to fight the camera, as it faces the wrong direction occasionally.

Slightly Repetitive Commentary. While Jack runs around Varrigan City, players will hear announcers who comment on Jack's actions throughout the game. While they are mostly funny, some actions only have one or two tracks of commentary assigned to them. After performing these specific actions a couple of times, the commentary can get old.

Short. Typically it is not a problem for a game to be 8-10 hours long. MadWorld, however is even shorter. There is some replay value involved with unlockables after beating the game, but to put it simply, there could have been more.

Nearly Invisible Auto-Save. There is no manual way to save, and except for a tiny icon in the top right of the screen, there is barely any way to tell when the game auto-saves.

Takes a Little Getting Used To. It takes a bit of time to adjust to the monochromatic look, and some may have trouble following the action initially.

MadWorld is a polished game and remains stylish down to the last loading screen. Despite its simple premise of "kill, kill, kill" the game remains fun and fresh enough that it avoids repetition. It borders on the short side, but does manage to offer limited replay value. There are so many weapons and challenges, it's difficult to see it all the first time through. However, avoid this game if you are squeamish or don't like excessive violence.