Brutal Legend Catch All

Has anyone tried installing the game to the hard drive? Would that improve the performance any? I know this helped slightly with GTA IV.

Since I'm a bit farther into the game, I'd like to explain some of the RTS elements.

In ground battles, you'll basically point in a general direction and command them to attack. The player doesn't have direct control of them like in Overload. Charge, defend, move or follow. Eventually, the player will be able to select individual units for a specific task. All the player does is select the area, select the units and order them to attack. I've only used this twice so far so I don't know how often this will occur. Most of the time, pointing and fighting is all you will be doing.

The larger battles can get confusing. Unfortunately, Eddie has to be hovering over the troops in order to send them somewhere. So if you just created a few units, they won't go anywhere unless you go back to the base. I have had trouble selecting certain targets. Usually, getting closer helps. But soon, Eddie is allowed to use something called the Recall Flag. Place this flag on a location and all units, including the recently created ones, will gather there automatically. Now all one has to do is create the units, plant a flag, land and fight with them. If the enemies come from another location, take the flag over there and replant it. The Recall Flag makes these battles much easier to control and the player will be able to do more fighting than RTS micro-managing.

Well, that's all I have to say about it. I'm having a blast in both the open world and major fights.

Rexneron wrote:

Has anyone tried installing the game to the hard drive? Would that improve the performance any? I know this helped slightly with GTA IV.

The first thing I did (the first thing I always do now) is install it, so I can only compare it to what I've read. I haven't experienced any marked chugging or pop-in that some reviews described, though I haven't had any big RTS battles yet (though I'm prepared with the recall flag already). There's some screen tearing during cut scenes, but I would say that's been it.

Damn GTA4 appeared on Games on Demand the day after I thought to myself, "Why isn't a big seller like GTA4 on GoD? If GTA4 showed up on GoD I'd buy it in an instant". Thankfully BL is winning the mindshare battle.

OzymandiasAV wrote:

No, I understand (and agree) that it's a terribly written review and that it would probably hospitalize Wordsmythe if he were to ever read it.

That being said, I would rather tear down the review itself and criticize the 1UP editorial process (which seems to be have completely left town after the 1up-ocalypse) than descend into GAF-esque criticisms of the guy's taste in music and/or culture.

This thread is about Brutal Legend, and by extension, metal.

Metal does not know level-headedness or reason. Metal knows only blunt destruction.

*Legion* wrote:

This thread is about Brutal Legend, and by extension, metal.

Metal does not know level-headedness or reason. Metal knows only blunt destruction.

Speaking of which, why does Justin still have a head on his shoulders.

DECAPI-TAY-SHUNNNNN!!!!!!!!

To continue my story: Stopped by UPS this morning, they looked all over for the game, said it was scanned again as on it's way out, so they would call me when it arrived as I told them I'd be at work for the remainder of the day. Later my wife called and explained that the UPS guy remembered which order/package/address it was going to after having helped search the truck with his boss (who I spoke with) this morning, and he had searched the truck again in front of her and couldn't find my package. Thanks UPS, you lost Amazon a sale-- I immediately called the Best Buy across the street, asked them to hold a copy for me, and wrote Amazon to inform them that UPS had all but lost the item and that I'd rather just cancel the order entirely. Picked it up at BB, and I'm about to throw the disc in the player now. \m/

*Legion* wrote:
OzymandiasAV wrote:

No, I understand (and agree) that it's a terribly written review and that it would probably hospitalize Wordsmythe if he were to ever read it.

That being said, I would rather tear down the review itself and criticize the 1UP editorial process (which seems to be have completely left town after the 1up-ocalypse) than descend into GAF-esque criticisms of the guy's taste in music and/or culture.

This thread is about Brutal Legend, and by extension, metal.

Metal does not know level-headedness or reason. Metal knows only blunt destruction.

Sigh. Don't you hate it when everyone kind of gets a joke, except that one guy who takes it way way too seriously? Dude, I hate that, and that is so not Metal.

You know, by every right I should like this game. I love metal. I love tim Schaefer. I'm fond of Jack Black. I love RTS and blood and swearing. I killed a man with my guitar on the way in to work today. Granted, I had just come back from the dentist, but I digress.

I find myself thinking "I should just switch my preorder over to Dragon Age." I don't know what happened to my interest in the game. I'm going to sit on it for a week, come back to this post and see if people still feel the same way about it.

A corollary: Slayer's new album comes out next month!!

WipEout wrote:

I immediately called the Best Buy across the street, asked them to hold a copy for me, ...

I have just about the opposite story. I preordered at the local BB to get the cool album cover. Too bad they failed to actually set aside their preorders... sold out by the time I arrived in the afternoon. Grr.

At least I got to keep the cover.

The game almost got off on the wrong foot with me when I was forced to restart a checkpoint right at the beginning due to a bug, but it quickly redeemed itself. Yup, it's definitely a Tim Schafer game. After only a little over an hour of play I've already laughed quite a few times. Even purposely killed myself during the "bridge collapsing" sequence a couple times to ensure I heard all the dialogue bits he says before you die.

How do you release the dragon skulls from the leather restraints in the open world areas? I've been just assuming that I haven't unlocked the way to do that yet, but I want to make sure.

kuddles wrote:

How do you release the dragon skulls from the leather restraints in the open world areas? I've been just assuming that I haven't unlocked the way to do that yet, but I want to make sure.

I thought the same thing unfortunately, but:

Spoiler:

you just have to hold X for the guitar power chord. I tried everything except that.

Well, at least I know while it's still early in the game. Thanks!

I think that's the only negative I have so far. It sometimes seems too vague for some things as to what it expects me to do. But maybe I'm just used to hand-holding and a big glowing "Press A" icon.

I do love the HUD-less interface, including using the blinkers on the car instead of some glowing arrow over the terrain or something.

Rezzy wrote:

EDIT: Which brings me to the question I'm researching before I continue... Does anyone know how many of each collectible are in the various areas?

I'm assuming you mean a breakdown of the distribution between areas, and not just the general quantities that are displayed on the STATS tab?

kuddles wrote:

Well, at least I know while it's still early in the game. Thanks!

You're lucky! I discovered that and the Legend smash thing shortly after unlocking the next area, which makes the first area

spoiler wrote:

[color=white] a nightmarish DARK hellscape littered with fierce enemies. Did I mention it is Dark? I mean really dark. The areas under the bridge were totally black. [/color]

So I loaded the previous chapter and for the last couple hours I've been statue and legend hunting.

In hindsight, had I read the manual I would have known about the Dragons. However I SWEAR I tried the smash move on the Legend and assumed I was simply missing the appropriate solo.
Oh well.

EDIT: Which brings me to the question I'm researching before I continue... Does anyone know how many of each collectible are in the various areas?

Spoiler:

I found 61 dragons, 16 landmarks, 7 Forges, 16 Metal, 6 Legends, 66 Songs, and 14 Jumps in the first area so far.

Well, I just finished watching the credits roll. My final time was 11:24. I am so pleased with this purchase. How I feel right now reminds me of how I felt after completing Portal:

Short? Yes. Awesome? Hell f**kin' yes.

And now that's it's over, I want to continue. I want to explore the land and find all of the statues I missed. See, this is one of those games that I'll actually remember as time goes on. Brutal Legend will go on my list as one of the classics.

Here's to hoping the multiplayer has some legs. There's a reason I plan to buy this game on the 360 instead of PS3.

Skip to the end:

This is the best console RTS since last year's EndWar, which was the best console RTS since, well, Herzog Zwei. . . .

[Double Fine] had to go and re-invent real time strategy games.

Wait, I mean: Sure sure, but how does it compare to Giants: Citizen Kabuto?

larrymadill wrote:
Reaper81 wrote:

f*ck. THAT. I am buying this game today even though I never cared one whit about it before. Where I come from, umlauts are serious business.

Please someone photoshop, "UMLAUTS: SERIOUS BUSINESS" for me. I don't even know what that would be.

Also: can AP Erebus put a ü in the thread title?

WipEout wrote:

To continue my story: Stopped by UPS this morning, they looked all over for the game, said it was scanned again as on it's way out, so they would call me when it arrived as I told them I'd be at work for the remainder of the day. Later my wife called and explained that the UPS guy remembered which order/package/address it was going to after having helped search the truck with his boss (who I spoke with) this morning, and he had searched the truck again in front of her and couldn't find my package. Thanks UPS, you lost Amazon a sale-- I immediately called the Best Buy across the street, asked them to hold a copy for me, and wrote Amazon to inform them that UPS had all but lost the item and that I'd rather just cancel the order entirely. Picked it up at BB, and I'm about to throw the disc in the player now. m/

This is probably just my Amazon fanboism coming out, but I bet Amazon takes care of you.

So I went to three different stores yesterday and all three were sold out of Brutal Legend. Oh, they had the PS3 version, sure.

If the guy at GameStop had told me I should've pre-ordered to ensure I got a copy, I probably would've snapped, but instead he helpfully reminded me that Jack Black was in the game! And Ozzy Osbourne! So at least I learned a lot.

This game is fantastic. I drove by a cave/record shop/mosh pit. I think some head-banging moose lived there. Somehow that adds up to awesome.

Now I really, really want to good back and play Psychonauts. And Grim Fandango. And Full Throttle. I've got a hankering for a box of bunnies.

Gravey wrote:

:shock:

Wait, I mean: Sure sure, but how does it compare to Giants: Citizen Kabuto?

You know, my favorite thing Tom Chick ever wrote was about Giants: Citizen Kabuto.

Clemenstation wrote:

So I went to three different stores yesterday and all three were sold out of Brutal Legend. Oh, they had the PS3 version, sure.

So was my location, although I pre-ordered ages ago so I got my copy. Hopefully, that's a sign of the game selling well, not of retailers expecting a flop and not ordering many copies.

kuddles wrote:
Clemenstation wrote:

So I went to three different stores yesterday and all three were sold out of Brutal Legend. Oh, they had the PS3 version, sure.

So was my location, although I pre-ordered ages ago so I got my copy. Hopefully, that's a sign of the game selling well, not of retailers expecting a flop and not ordering many copies.

Or GameStop monkeying with their own supply chain to upsell pre-orders

If the guy at GameStop had told me I should've pre-ordered to ensure I got a copy, I probably would've snapped, but instead he helpfully reminded me that Jack Black was in the game! And Ozzy Osbourne! So at least I learned a lot.

Unfortunately, Gamestop is the only one that has a pretty sweet pre-order bonus. You get a special guitar with a bunch of added voiceovers, a new ability, etc. As much as I hate preordering anything from them, I had to do this one.

Sephirotic wrote:

You know, by every right I should like this game. I love metal. I love tim Schaefer. I'm fond of Jack Black. I love RTS and blood and swearing. I killed a man with my guitar on the way in to work today. Granted, I had just come back from the dentist, but I digress.

I find myself thinking "I should just switch my preorder over to Dragon Age." I don't know what happened to my interest in the game. I'm going to sit on it for a week, come back to this post and see if people still feel the same way about it.

Have you checked out the demo? I was totally in the same boat until I played the demo.

Podunk wrote:

Have you checked out the demo? I was totally in the same boat until I played the demo.

The demo was good, but for me it really only served to show the style. The game got a lot better after that section.

LiquidMantis wrote:

The demo was good, but for me it really only served to show the style. The game got a lot better after that section.

I agree with you, but prior to the demo I wasn't convinced that Schafer was going to pull off the style in a way that I would find appealing.

One thing that's surprised me about this game is the number of STALKER moments I've had from walking around the world. It's not just a cool landscape, it has a lot of cool creature interactions going on. My favorite is seeing the Razorfire Boars swarm as a herd and hunt down the Elk that wander too close.