Deadpool | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | High Moon Studios [lower-alpha 1] |
Publisher(s) | Activision |
Director(s) | Sean Miller |
Producer(s) | Brian Johnson |
Designer(s) | Joseph Shackelford |
Programmer(s) | Michael Riccio |
Artist(s) | Damon Wilson-Hart |
Writer(s) | Daniel Way |
Composer(s) | Julian Soule |
Engine | Unreal Engine 3 |
Platform(s) | |
Release | Windows, PS3, Xbox 360 PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Genre(s) | Action-adventure, hack and slash |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Deadpool is an action-adventure video game based on the Marvel Comics antihero of the same name. It was developed by High Moon Studios and published by Activision for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360 in June 2013. Written by Daniel Way, the game's story follows Deadpool as he joins forces with Cable and the X-Men in order to thwart Mister Sinister's latest scheme, getting into numerous comedic adventures along the way. Similarly to other media featuring the character, the game includes self-referential humor and numerous fourth wall breaks.
Upon release, the game received mixed reviews, being praised for its humor and plot elements while being critiqued for deficiencies in its gameplay. Deadpool, along with most other games published by Activision that had used the Marvel license, was de-listed and removed from all digital storefronts in 2014. The game was re-released on November 18, 2015 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam to coincide with the release of the 2016 film based on the character and included all original DLC. On November 16, 2017, the game was once again removed from digital storefronts due to licensing issues. [2]
Deadpool is an action hack and slash, third-person shooter video game. Gameplay mostly consists of fighting enemies using both melee weapons and guns, with new combos becoming available to Deadpool as he progresses through the story and obtains upgrade points. The game frequently breaks the fourth wall by having Deadpool verbally interact with the player based on their skill and progress. [3]
By default, Deadpool is armed with both guns and swords, but he also has access to giant hammers, plasma guns, and a range of other weapons. A short range of teleportation moves are possible as well. As he slowly falls apart while sustaining damage, players must avoid further damage in order to recover. [3] The game also features several stealth segments, where Deadpool is able to eliminate enemies silently with either his melee weapons or guns, though gun "stealth" kills will immediately alert all nearby enemies.
When Deadpool's pitch for "the most awesome game ever" starring himself is rejected by High Moon Studios, he sets off explosives at the studio, forcing them to cooperate. He even hires Nolan North as his voice actor. When the game's script is delivered to him, Deadpool, finding it boring, draws all over it with a red crayon.
Following the first few lines of the script, Deadpool sets out to assassinate corrupt media mogul Chance White. He slaughters White's mercenaries before tackling White out of his penthouse window and into the sewers (blowing the game's budget in the process by repeating the events for kicks). However, White escapes with the Marauders, forcing Deadpool to give chase. Along the way, he experiences the first of many glitches (the result of Deadpool blowing the game's budget) and is forced to call High Moon multiple times to coerce/bribe them into finishing the game. After killing Marauders member Arclight, Deadpool finds White meeting with Mister Sinister, who has Blockbuster kill him once informed that the mogul's satellites are under his control. Angered at losing his bounty, Deadpool kills Vertigo, knocks out Blockbuster, and confronts Mr. Sinister, who effortlessly reduces him to a disembodied head before leaving with Blockbuster.
After regenerating, Deadpool awakens to see X-Men members Wolverine, Rogue, Psylocke, and Domino, who are trying to foil Sinister's plot to conquer the world with his army of clones. Joining them, Deadpool flies the Blackbird to Genosha, Sinister's hideout, but crashes the plane, leaving the X-Men unconscious. While wandering through Genosha, Deadpool runs into Cable, who has come from the future to ensure that Sinister's plan does not succeed, as it will inadvertently destroy the world. However, a bored Deadpool ends the conversation by shooting himself in the head. He awakens later to find a note from Cable urging him to hurry or he'll miss an "incredibly large-breasted" fangirl. This motivates Deadpool to regroup with Cable, only to learn there is no fangirl. After Cable explains that a security tower is broadcasting a signal to keep the X-Men unconscious, Deadpool infiltrates it and discovers Sinister wired into it. Messing with the controls, Deadpool destroys the tower and kills Sinister, only to learn from Cable that it was just a clone.
Cable convinces Deadpool to help by telling him that his favorite taco restaurant will be destroyed along with the rest of the world if Sinister is not stopped. Deadpool reconfigures a Sentinel boot into a flying machine to take him to Magneto's citadel, only to crash into Rogue in mid-air. The pair land in an abandoned mutant prison where Blockbuster kidnaps Rogue, prompting Deadpool to try and save her while planning to seduce her. He briefly abandons his quest upon spotting Sinister, whom he kills, only to learn it was another clone. Eventually, Deadpool kills Blockbuster and rescues Rogue, who absorbs his regenerating powers via kissing to heal herself, leaving Deadpool temporarily weakened.
As Rogue battles Sinister's incoming soldiers, Deadpool is briefly killed when his dog, Mr. Shuggums, brings a grenade he threw back to him, and is reunited with his lover Death. She reveals that Sinister has been exhuming mutant bodies to obtain their unique DNA, and asks for Deadpool's help in retrieving the mutant's suffering souls so that they could pass on peacefully. Coming back to life, Deadpool finds himself in Genosha's catacombs, where he must help Cable kill Sinister's soldiers before going on a spirit quest to retrieve the souls for death. Once he succeeds, the catacombs cave-in, foiling Sinister's plan.
After reuniting with Wolverine on the surface, Deadpool goes to Magneto's citadel, killing Sinister's remaining soldiers, as well as clones of the Marauders and Sinister. The X-Men arrive to help, but Sinister easily overpowers them, only to be crushed by Deadpool's Sentinel boot. Cable confirms that this was the real Sinister, and Deadpool calls for the end credits. As the credits roll, Deadpool is thrilled with how great his game is and talks to High Moon's representative Peter Della Penna, who admits that he did not really blow their budget. Deadpool proceeds to do so by causing multiple explosions during the credits.
Deadpool was first announced at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con. [4] Only a teaser trailer was shown, without platforms to be shown. [4] Shortly after the announcement, an article was unveiled on Marvel's official website confirming the development of the game; the article was written from Deadpool's point of view, saying he hired High Moon Studios to make him a game. [5] Prior to the game's release, the lead designer of the game revealed the basics of the plot in an interview with IGN , saying Deadpool has taken over the studio and is in charge of the game's development. The game was created using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 technology, which also powers High Moon's Transformers: Fall of Cybertron . [6]
During High Moon's panel at Comic-Con, a censored version of the trailer was shown twice after an actor dressing up as Deadpool appeared on stage with the developers. Another marketing campaign started with billboards taking the appearance of graffiti covering advertisements for The Amazing Spider-Man , presumably made by Deadpool to crudely advertise his video game. GameSpot later released an advertisement of the game, with Deadpool giving a holiday greeting while telling people to pre-order the game, stating that it would be released in 2013. [7]
High Moon studio head Peter Della Penna revealed later in a press release that Daniel Way had written the story for the game, bringing his signature Deadpool humor to the title. Jokingly according to Penna, "we weren't actually planning on making a Deadpool game. But, Deadpool came by the studio one day, said he was taking over, and that if I didn't hire Marvel writer Daniel Way pronto and make the most amazing Deadpool video game, he'd break both of our arms and beat us to death with them. I have kids, so we're making the game". [8]
High Moon Studios announced a "watch and win" sweepstakes that ran during the Spike Video Game Awards, which aired on December 8, 2012. The winner of the contest would be flown to High Moon Studios and will appear as an in-game character in the Deadpool video game. [9] The winner appears in the game as a unique big-headed enemy that Deadpool mentions was supposed to be the pizza delivery man at the start of the game.[ citation needed ] The winner of this contest was Bill Salina, a Database Administrator from Atlanta, GA. He appears as the character Storm Thrower, who, as he is attacked, will name off pizzas.
The game was released for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360. [10] A full list of achievements had leaked via the digital distributor Steam. [11] The ESRB rating page was also updated to list a PC version of the game. [12]
Pre-orders were announced by several retail outlets. GameStop and EBGames released the Merc with a Map Pack DLC. Two new maps are also added, the GRT Plaza and Inside the Tower to Deadpool Challenge mode, and also two bonus costumes, the D-Pooly and Uncanny X-Force suits only for use in the unlockable Infinite mode where stats are tracked on a global leaderboard. [13]
On January 1, 2014, Activision's license to create games with Marvel comics characters expired, resulting in Deadpool and numerous other Marvel Games titles published by Activision to be removed from online storefronts such as Steam and PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live. [14] [15] [16] Activision no longer had a right to make downloadable content, trading cards, and patches to the game. Despite this, on July 15, 2015, Deadpool was made available for purchase on Steam for PC again. [17] The title was made no longer available to purchase from the Steam store again on November 16, 2017, but players who purchased it while it was available are still able to download and play the game through the Steam client.
On August 31, 2015, Activision announced that they would remaster the game for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game was re-released in November 17 in North America and Australia, [18] and November 20 in the United Kingdom. [19] It is unknown how Activision reacquired the rights to re-publish Deadpool, but it is believed that the re-release was timed to help promote the then-upcoming Deadpool film from 20th Century Fox, released a few months after the next-gen version of the game. [20] The game has since been delisted again.
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | (PC) 63/100 [21] (PS3) 61/100 [22] (PS4) 60/100 [23] (X360) 62/100 [24] (XBO) 57/100 [25] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Electronic Gaming Monthly | 8/10 [26] |
Eurogamer | 6/10 [27] |
Game Informer | 6/10 [28] |
GameSpot | 5.5/10 [29] |
GameTrailers | 5.5/10 [30] |
Giant Bomb | [31] |
IGN | 6/10 [32] |
Joystiq | [33] |
PlayStation Official Magazine – UK | 5/10 [34] |
Official Xbox Magazine (US) | 8/10 [35] |
PC Gamer (UK) | 60% [36] |
Polygon | 7/10 [37] |
Digital Spy | [38] |
The Escapist | [39] |
High Moon Studios showed an early demo of the video game to journalists at Gamescom 2012, where the game earned a nomination for Best of Show. Several sites wrote positive impressions of the demo that was shown at Gamescom and the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), including Joystiq and GameSpot . [40]
Deadpool received "mixed" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] Critics praised the humor, the original story, and faithfulness to the comics, but criticized the controls, combat, and repetitive gameplay.
411Mania said, "Deadpool isn't going to win any end of the year awards, but not every game has to." They appreciated its unique fourth-wall breaking gameplay sequences and humor, but criticized its repetitiveness. [41] GameZone called it "a fun little romp. If you can tolerate Deadpool's demented humor, you'll find a nice few hours of entertainment within the game". [42] The Escapist praised the combat system and humor, although claimed "it has its share of controller-throwing difficulty problems and hit-or-miss jokes". [39] Digital Spy said it was "far from a bad game, yet the developers' over-reliance on the appeal of the source material means it rarely shoots for the stars". [38] However, The Digital Fix said it was "Nowhere near as awesome as Deadpool would have you believe". [43] Edge called it "an indisputably poor game, one whose knowing winks and quips come off not as metacommentary but as tacit apologia for its litany of specific failings". [44]
Deadpool is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld, the character first appeared in New Mutants #98. In his comic book appearances, Deadpool is initially depicted as a supervillain of the New Mutants and X-Force, though later stories would portray him as an antihero. Deadpool is the alter ego of Wade Wilson, a disfigured Canadian mercenary with superhuman regenerative healing abilities. He is known for his tendency to joke incessantly and break the fourth wall for humorous effect.
Marvel Games is the licensing and publishing brand for video games based on Marvel properties, and is also the video game division of Disney Interactive. Before the incorporation of Marvel Games, video games based on Marvel properties released between 1982 and 1985 were handled by Marvel Comics Group, with Marvel video games from 1986 to 1998 being handled by Marvel Entertainment Group, while video games based on Marvel properties prior to the incorporation of Marvel Games were handled directly by Marvel Enterprises.
X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse is an action role-playing game developed by Raven Software and published by Activision. It is the follow-up to 2004's X-Men Legends. It was released in September 2005 for the GameCube, Windows, N-Gage, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and Xbox. It is set after the events of X-Men Legends and features the mutant supervillain Apocalypse as the primary antagonist.
X-Men: The Official Game is a 2006 beat 'em up video game developed by Z-Axis and published by Activision. It is a tie-in to X-Men: The Last Stand. The game covers the events between the films X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand, specifically following the characters of Logan, Iceman, and Nightcrawler. It also bridges the gap between the two films, explaining why Nightcrawler is not present for The Last Stand, and also introduces new foes for the game, such as HYDRA. The game uses several voice actors from the X-Men film series including Hugh Jackman, Alan Cumming, Shawn Ashmore, Patrick Stewart, Tyler Mane, and Eric Dane.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is a 2006 action role-playing video game published by Activision for various gaming systems. Developed by Raven Software, Ultimate Alliance is set within the fictional Marvel Universe and features many of the superheroes, supervillains, and supporting characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. It shares many similarities with Raven Software's previous Marvel titles, X-Men Legends and X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, in that it allows players to select from its vast cast to create the ultimate superhero team. The game features an original plot in which the heroes of the Marvel Universe must join forces to defeat Doctor Doom and his Masters of Evil and foil their plans for global domination.
Spider-Man: Friend or Foe is a 2007 action-adventure beat 'em up platform game, based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. The game borrows characters and designs from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, with a plot that is non-canon to the films and therefore taking place within a divergent timeline where the villains seen in the films managed to survive. It features two player co-op gameplay, where one player controls Spider-Man and another one of his allies. The storyline of the game revolves around P.H.A.N.T.O.M.s, dangerous creatures created by mixing symbiotes with holographic technology, which a mysterious villain plans to use to take over the world. This villain has also captured and brainwashed many of Spider-Man's foes to help him acquire meteor shards that will strengthen his army. After being recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D., Spider-Man journeys across the globe to retrieve these shards himself and recruit more allies to his cause.
Prototype is a 2009 action-adventure video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Activision. It was released in June 2009 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows. In July 2015, the game was re-released alongside its sequel as the Prototype Biohazard Bundle for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Separate versions of the two games became available in August 2015. In Prototype, players control an amnesiac shapeshifter named Alex Mercer as he attempts to stop an outbreak of a virus called Blacklight in Manhattan, which mutates individuals into powerful, violent monsters. Alex also attempts to uncover his mysterious past while coming into conflict with both the US military and a black operations force called Blackwatch. Outside of the main story, players can freely explore the game's open world and engage in several different side activities.
Ticket to Ride is a turn-based strategy video game, based upon Alan R. Moon's German-style board game of the same name, developed by Next Level Games and published by Playful Entertainment, Inc. The game started out as a browser game on November 15, 2004. In February 2017 Days of Wonder abandoned Linux support, although Xbox still seems to support the game having crossed it over to the Xbox One & Xbox X.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 is a 2009 action role-playing video game featuring characters from Marvel Comics. It is the sequel to 2006's Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, and the second installment in the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance series. The game was jointly developed by Vicarious Visions, n-Space and Savage Entertainment and published by Activision in September 2009. A port for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows by Zoë Mode was released in July 2016.
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is a 2008 action-adventure video game based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. The game was released in October 2008 across multiple platforms, and encompasses three drastically different versions: one released for Microsoft Windows, the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360, which features an open world and non-linear gameplay; one for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable, which is a 2.5D side-scrolling beat 'em up; and one for the Nintendo DS, a Metroidvania-style beat 'em up. All three versions have several common elements, such as moral choices that alter the narrative, the ability to summon allies during fights, and a similar plot, despite different characters being featured. Web of Shadows' storyline is significantly darker than most previous Spider-Man games, as it revolves around a symbiote invasion threatening Manhattan, which Spider-Man must stop with the help of several unlikely allies.
Singularity is a 2010 first-person shooter survival horror video game developed by Raven Software and published by Activision and released for Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is built on Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a action-adventure game based on the film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The game release coincided with the release of the film on May 1, 2009, for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, Wii, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable. A version of the game was also released for mobile phones. The game was developed primarily by Raven Software through the use of Unreal Engine 3. Its ESRB rating has varied widely across platforms, with the non-Nintendo console and PC versions being entitled the Uncaged Edition and receiving a Mature 17+ rating to provide players an opportunity to experience the uncensored graphic violence of the natural use of Wolverine's abilities, the Nintendo DS version receiving an Everyone 10+ rating due to its violence being tamed by reduced resolution and graphics, and the Wii, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions receiving a Teen rating by featuring standard superhero violence consistent with what was seen in the PG-13 rated film.
The X-Men are a fictional superhero team created by Marvel Comics that appear in comic books and other forms of media.
Blur is a 2010 arcade-style racing video game for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was developed by Bizarre Creations and published by Activision. Blur features a racing style that incorporates real world cars and locales with arcade style handling and vehicular combat. The game is a spiritual successor to the Project Gotham Racing series. Blur was the penultimate game developed by Bizarre Creations before they were shut down by Activision on February 18, 2011.
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is a 2010 action-adventure video game based on the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man, developed by Beenox and published by Activision. Players control four different versions of Spider-Man, each originating from a different universe in the Marvel Comics multiverse. Previous Spider-Man voice actors Neil Patrick Harris, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Dan Gilvezan, and Josh Keaton each voice one of the four Spider-Men. The Nintendo DS version of the game was developed by Griptonite Games and features only three Spider-Man variants.
X-Men: Destiny is an action role-playing video game based on the X-Men comic book series. It was developed by Silicon Knights. Written by Mike Carey, the writer of the X-Men: Legacy comic book series, it was published and released by Activision for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles.
Prototype 2 is a 2012 action-adventure video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Activision, and the sequel to 2009's Prototype. First announced at the 2010 Spike VGA Awards, it was released in April 2012 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and in July 2012 for Microsoft Windows. In July 2015, the game was re-released alongside its predecessor as the Prototype Biohazard Bundle for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Separate versions of the two games became available in August 2015. Prototype 2 shifts the focus towards a new protagonist, former U.S. Marine Sergeant James Heller, who seeks revenge on Alex Mercer, the protagonist of the original Prototype, after the death of his family during a new outbreak of the Blacklight virus in Manhattan, which was started by Mercer. Heller is infected with a strain of the virus that allows him to keep his humanity while granting him powers similar to Mercer's, including shapeshifting and consuming people, which he uses in his mission to stop Mercer and the Blacklight outbreak.
Spider-Man: Edge of Time is a 2011 action-adventure video game based on the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man, developed by Beenox and published by Activision for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and Nintendo 3DS. A Nintendo DS version was also developed by Other Ocean Interactive and features several alterations. The game was directed by Gérard Lehiany and Ramiro Belanger and is a standalone sequel to 2010's Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.
Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth is a video game developed by Ubisoft Quebec and published by Ubisoft for the Xbox 360 and the Wii U. The game is heavily based on the "Secret Invasion" storyline in Marvel comic books. The game was announced after the cancellation of the original The Avengers game based on the 2012 film of the same name, being developed by THQ. Battle for Earth was released in North America on October 30, 2012 for the Xbox 360, followed by the Wii U version on December 4. It was the first and currently only Marvel video game to be published by Ubisoft.
Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse is an action-adventure third-person shooter video game developed by Heavy Iron Studios and published by Activision. The game is based on the American animated television series Family Guy, primarily the episode "Road to the Multiverse", as well as the episode "The Big Bang Theory". The game was released in North America on November 20, 2012, in Australia on November 21, 2012, and in Europe on November 23, 2012, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Versions for Nintendo 3DS and Wii were planned but canceled. It was the first Family Guy console game since Family Guy Video Game! in 2006.