Tim Schafer's had some rough luck since leaving LucasArts to start his own company. Double Fine's first game, Psychonauts, was kicked to the curb by Microsoft (likely due to some late night drunken decision by a shady executive with a hate for inventive games). It later found a home at Majesco, was released at a bargain price and got critical acclaim only to receive little attention from consumers.
Double Fine's second game, Brutal Legend, was to be published by Sierra with the promise that oodles of marketing money would be put behind the game to make sure the masses were exposed to Schafer's genius. Activision and Blizzard (which includes Sierra Games) merged one night in a Vegas chapel and, once again, Double Fine was tossed on its fanny. But it looks like this story has a happy ending. Brutal Legend has been picked up by EA and it will, in fact, melt your face off.
Prepare to headbang your way into glory with these metal-infused games. You'll find yourself flipping your hair in pure excitement.
The Humble Day of the Devs Bundle 2022 just launched. It includes sixteen items including Psychonauts, Brutal Legend, Broken Age, and more.
The world of Brutal Legend looks like something a 14 year-old metal head would draw on their notebook while not paying attention.
Liked the aesthetic, tone, humor, and action combat.
Didn't care for the RTS elements.
Never cared to finish it.
PS360 gen was special, then again it was still the mid 2000s. Everything went to shite in the teens
I think that was the breaker for Doublefine's creative ambitions and their mixing of genres (which was getting kinda stale). It was a nice to look at but it was more of a tribute to the many things Tim loves, was influenced by and has great admiration for....but the forced RTS stuff was like a drinking buddy's "great idea" that never should have come to light. The game seemed a lot more vast, but it ended pretty quickly too. And Jack Black. As much as I don't care for him as an actor (annoying and requires constant attention), this was absolutely made with him in mind and it worked. I mean come on, Tenacious D? For as Metal as this game was trying to be, even comically, it did little more than meow.