Charlie Murder
Game » consists of 5 releases. Released Aug 14, 2013
This side-scrolling brawler from the developer of The Dishwasher stars a fictitious punk band.
Charlie Murder Is A Great Name
Charlie Murder is a four-player brawler starring the members of a fictitious punk band called... Charlie Murder. Oh, hey, the front man's name is also Charlie Murder, and he's backed by Lester Deth on guitar, Tommy Homicide on bass, and The Rexecutioner on drums. The story behind the game is that Charlie's girlfriend--Skelekitten--has been taken by a rival metal band. So you'll have to beat up a bunch of dudes with crowbars and unleash special attacks to save the day.
The action doesn't seem to stray too far from the classic brawlers of the '80s and '90s. You can jump and attack, you can wield a variety of weapons, and you each have a special move that'll get you out of a bind by knocking down a group of enemies. These powers are based around each character's instrument of choice, so Charlie blasts his enemies with sonic waves from his singing, while the drummer makes a drum kit materialize and pounds nearby foes into submission, and so on. If you're playing multiplayer, you can pop those specials off simultaneously. I was left with the impression that doing so made the attacks more effective. The demo being shown at PAX East also contained a vehicle level, where players toss junk at motorcycle-riding bad guys. It looked like it could make for a neat diversion, similar to the motorcycle level in Renegade.
While it has the standard brawler feel, the game's art style is what makes Charlie Murder stand out. The game's sketched-out characters look pretty nice in motion and the enemies, some of which come packed with crowbars and knives, look like guys you'd want to really beat up... like zombies, or perhaps ninjas.
Look for Charlie Murder soon in the Xbox Live Indie Games section.
Charlie Murder is a four-player brawler starring the members of a fictitious punk band called... Charlie Murder. Oh, hey, the front man's name is also Charlie Murder, and he's backed by Lester Deth on guitar, Tommy Homicide on bass, and The Rexecutioner on drums. The story behind the game is that Charlie's girlfriend--Skelekitten--has been taken by a rival metal band. So you'll have to beat up a bunch of dudes with crowbars and unleash special attacks to save the day.
The action doesn't seem to stray too far from the classic brawlers of the '80s and '90s. You can jump and attack, you can wield a variety of weapons, and you each have a special move that'll get you out of a bind by knocking down a group of enemies. These powers are based around each character's instrument of choice, so Charlie blasts his enemies with sonic waves from his singing, while the drummer makes a drum kit materialize and pounds nearby foes into submission, and so on. If you're playing multiplayer, you can pop those specials off simultaneously. I was left with the impression that doing so made the attacks more effective. The demo being shown at PAX East also contained a vehicle level, where players toss junk at motorcycle-riding bad guys. It looked like it could make for a neat diversion, similar to the motorcycle level in Renegade.
While it has the standard brawler feel, the game's art style is what makes Charlie Murder stand out. The game's sketched-out characters look pretty nice in motion and the enemies, some of which come packed with crowbars and knives, look like guys you'd want to really beat up... like zombies, or perhaps ninjas.
Look for Charlie Murder soon in the Xbox Live Indie Games section.
Brawlers are nice if done right, it's just that most people have forgotten how to make them.
Also, I think the "brawler" category is a bit broader than people are allowing. There are plenty of popular brawler games, they just don't want to be called brawlers.
Played this when it was in peer review a couple of months back. That version was pretty good. I don't know it James Silva made more changes to it until now, but I don't know if it needed any either. Also thank you Jeff for talking anything about the indie games section. It's reputation isn't the best and hopefully these good games will make that change!
Oh, hey, the front man's name is also Charlie Murder, and he's backed by Lester Deth on guitar, Tommy Homicide on bass, and The Rexecutioner on drums. The story behind the game is that Charlie's girlfriend--Skelekitten--has been taken by a rival metal band. So you'll have to beat up a bunch of dudes with crowbars and unleash special attacks to save the day.
Reading this reminded me of Mayhem after their album Deathcrush was released.
Vocals : Dead
Guitars: Euronymous
Bass: Necrobutcher
Drums: Hellhammer
Coverage for Ska Studios is fantastic. Thanks for the heads up Jeff.
Diablo killed the brawler. It's one thing to mash a button until something dies, its another to mash a button until it dies and then pick up a sweet new axe that lets you mash on bigger dudes.
Want a great modern brawler, give it persistent RPG elements a la perks and a combat system similar to the pinpoint strike/counter system of Batman: Arkham Asylum.
I prefer Joe Murder.
There's been a severe lack of innovation and willingness to be bold in this genre, and I consider that shame. I still like the genre along with shooters. Capcom need a kick up the arse, they should be able to inject life into this genre easily, I can think of many ways in which they could.
Viewtiful Joe would work excellently in this format, spiced up with snazzy looking 2.5D effects, along with retro styled Mode 7 & Sega Saturn type pixel effects. An online co'op "Yummy Mode" would be essential of course, as well as an 8 bit symphony orchestral soundtrack. Any such game would need to refine upon some aspects in all four games in the series, and then combine them all into something wild and fun for up to four players online.
I wish Charlie Murder had a boyfriend instead of a girlfriend, but I am pretty fucking drunk right now. Also I am bisexual. Which is different from bus-sexual. Which isn't as funny as it was in my head.
" Someone should have made a Dethklok game like this. "amen.. thats totally a William Murderface rip off
Sounds like somebody couldn't get the Dethklok license.
I always wanted a Metalocalypse episode where the band funds research and development of an actual Murder Simulator. Maybe have a crazy ex-lawyer Thom Jackson try to fuck it up or something. Some jokes about the Florida bar and Tampa death metal maybe. Perhaps a twist at the end where folsk actually die in the multiplayer and South Korea slaughters everybody. Stuff like that.
Jamezila and Ska Studios are amazing. Love the Dishwasher and I made a game with zombies in it. Talk about one talented game creator (He's a one man studio who programs, does the art, and the music (his voice is the Zombies voice))
" I wish Charlie Murder had a boyfriend instead of a girlfriend, but I am pretty fucking drunk right now. Also I am bisexual. Which is different from bus-sexual. Which isn't as funny as it was in my head. "Cool story, bro.
Also, nobody mentioned Shank yet as another example of modern brawling done (seemingly) right.
Like RENEGADE, you say?? Ah, the memories of that game in arcades. The very first game I've ever played that taught me the concept of a "boss".
my last name is Murdter and the t is silent. (its because its swiss german) anyway its pronounced Murder. and My dads name is Charlie. So, Charlie Murdter. Finding about this game is sort of surreal.
Alright, well somebody already necroed this thread, so while everybody's here:
Jesus, this game still isn't out yet? They did a Quick Look Road Show of it like 13 months ago, and it was well into development. I know it's a small team, but how long does it take to make a sidescrolling beat 'em up with fairly simple 2D art?
So this is now a SOA 2013 release. Has anyone played this? They seem to be sticking to their artistic guns with the style. Sort of hand drawn with a "skteched" sort of vibe. Seems more colorful than the companies previous Dishwasher game, but I could be wrong. The companies previous games always did intrigue me but I never bought any. This is only 800 points ($10) so I might give it a shot. For the first time in a few years it seems that ALL 4 of this year's games look at the very least, mildly interesting!And no kinnect games! lol Also, I read that buying 2 of the 4 games gives you "a handful of souls" for another game. What does that mean?
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