Probably one of the coolest games i've played.
Yes i said coolest, a complement it is but as for everything else i can't help to say 15 dollars is to much for a 3 hour game if so even something like Deathspank (an episodic series) is to much. But staying on this comparison Shank's story mode is lengthen at 3 hours with the co op counterpart of shank being this completely different game, showing a back story and obviously new levels which makes it all so great. If you were to play Shank in it's entirety from by your self to with a buddy on the couch that would average up to be 6 hours the length of everything you do in another recent 15 dollar game.. Deathspank. Weird how that works hu?
Regardless of length and what your getting out of this blood quenching action game, what makes it good to get my rating of 3.5 out of 5? Well it's different to say the least. Shank it self it a simplistic game per say linear enough for your average "person who plays games occasionally" to pick up and possibly have a blast. It's a brawler thats varied enough in it's weaponry and combat to actually motivate you to beat it, beat in one sitting then probably come back to it with co op.
Shank is a tale about a dude called "Shank" (Wait Deathspank is a tale about a dude called "Deathspank") that wants revenge and save his female companion, how interesting.. nothing out of the ordinary because whats great about this game is running through silhouettes and doing kick ass combos with guns grenades chainsaws and your damn knife.
But how you do it is frustrating.. Shank's not a particularly intuitive game to play while much of the action boils down to lashing button mashing the controls can feel counter productive when you want to perform specific actions, Dodging - which requires a simple tap of the right stick in three- dimensional characters action tittles - is awkward, requiring a directional press alongside the block button. Likewise, grapple and dive moves feel like two commands to many it's not a comfortable set up.
That and it's repetitive absurdly redundant to were you get from an obstacle to another swarm of idiots who get there kicks from beating the shit out of gringo's down the street showing sexy cleavage, then fighting, fighting, and look omg a cut scene appears to only be introduced by more enemy's and taking it out your ass with a delicious boss.
If that sounds good to you then maybe this indie action packed cliché of awesome western adventure is your thing.
As for my closing comments, Shank has an interesting western setting (which i probably should have touched on more) but other then that it lacks personally and any depth to make it appeal to a broader audience then strict action brawler fans. Good enough to make me not regret spending 15 dollars on it, but that isn't going to apply to everyone and as for right now sales are showing if this is the big hit.. and well it just isn't.. Good game, A cool game but not a great game. Which is a damn shame to.
So rather then buying this how 'bout spending 10 dollars on Scott Pilgrim? Anyone.. someone, come on guys.
Ps. You can hop on to XBLA Or PSN Store and download the demo for free.
