Originals
OriginalsWhacked!
Posted by: kombo
The characters in the game fit in perfectly, and each has a background that places them into Whacked! with perfection. The characters include Lucky, a rabbit whose legs were cut off by a lucky charm factory; Eugene, a flightless quasi-penguin with schizophrenia; Toof, a monster with jaws like a steel trap and a mind…not so much like a steel trap; and Lucy, the…um…naked girl. You can also unlock the rest of the characters in the game, including Lance the lion, Charity the young, hyperactive, girl, and Otto, a lackadaisical couch potato with one supercharged chair. There’s also a secret character to be unlocked upon the completion of the game (but you’ll have to play through the game yourself to find out whom it is). The gameplay in Whacked! is simple, and therein lies it’s effectiveness. Whacked! does not make an attempt to fool gamers with all kinds of functions that each character can pull off just for the sake of proving what a developer can add in to a game in this day and age. Rather, Whacked! focuses on the simplistic elements of run, jump, and kill; the elements which made gaming popular 15 years ago, and the elements which when executed properly, still define some of the best games today. GRAPHICS Take a dash of evil, a dose of cartoon animation, and a serving of next-generation beauty that we’ve come to know and love, and you’ve got yourself an general idea of the graphics featured in Whacked! The game doesn’t overpower gamers with next-generation graphic muscle, but it effectively combines cartoon-ish and somewhat “dark†themes with simple, yet very pretty level and character designs. The in game graphics in Whacked! are as good as you could ask for. During gameplay there is an enormous amount of action as well as various items (including characters) on the screen. However, the game does not suffer from any slow down or choppiness. This is not surprising, considering the Xbox hardware, however when gamers deal with all the action taking place on the screen, especially in later levels, the graphics will be all the more appreciated. The graphics in the “commercials†are done in a cartoonish manner. The artwork is in and of itself humorous and innovative. The artwork adds to the humor within each commercial (making the commercials one of the best aspects of the game). As for the cutscenes, the graphics are smooth, and as pretty as any cutscene can be. Presto did a very nice, if simplistic, work on the graphics overall. SOUND Sound is one of the truly special elements in Whacked! Aside from the always lovely 5.1 surround sound support featured in Whacked!, the game also has a catchy-as-can-be theme song. The music within each stage is nothing spectacular, but with that said, it does reflect the mood of the gameplay effectively and keeps the tone of the stages upbeat, whether gamers are busting an opponent’s skull, or running around aimlessly while on fire. As far as sound effects go, they are absolutely fantastic. All the weapons effects sound as you would imagine (explosions, fire burning, items flying through the air, etc.). The voice work in Whacked! is also superb. Van Tastic sounds like your stereotypical game show host, Eugene comes across very well as he shows his repressed desires through dialogue with himself. Lucy sounds like the voice on a 900 number (uh…or so I’d imagine…). All of the elements of the sound play together so well, and really serve as icing on the delicious Whacked! cake. ONLINE Without a doubt, Whacked! is meant to be enjoyed with the Xbox Live service. To no one’s surprise, Whacked! runs like a gem on Xbox Live, experiencing no lag time, even when dealing with 4 characters located in different regions of the US, with plenty of on screen action from weapons, stars, and movement of background objects. The host of a game can choose from any of the available levels in Whacked! as well as any character he/she has unlocked. Hosts will also be able to select the game type, and how long the game will run, or how many stars will need to be collected in order for a winner to be decided. Just as in the regular game, players will compete against 3 opponents, and if a slot is left empty as the game starts, it will be filled with a computer player, whose difficulty the host can set prior to the start of the game. Of course, Whacked! is every bit as good, and then some, when played against three other human contestants, but lacks any stat tracking features. While this is a slight annoyance in the age of “who’s who among gamers,†Whacked! not being confined by a rankings system makes the game slightly more appealing for gamers looking for a simple, light hearted game with friends online. However, a lack of any rankings database can hurt replay value amongst some gamers, as it doesn’t necessarily give gamers a reason to play Whacked! as often as some other games, aside from the incredible fun to be had with the game (which more than makes up for any lack of a rankings system). REPLAY VALUE With the arrival of Xbox Live comes increased replay value, and this is no different for Whacked! The ability to play online with friends (or random folks) around the country adds a whole new dimension to Whacked! and makes it all the more enjoyable. Aside from the online portion of the game, Whacked! can also be enjoyed by four friends on a single Xbox, which will appeal to the gamers without the Xbox Live service, or for those who simply wish to talk smack to their friends in person. Surprisingly, the single player game in Whacked! is compelling enough to keep you coming back for more. Despite the repetition with which you’ll play the same mini games, the commercials, and the desire to discover what “the prize†is at the conclusion of the game will keep you coming back, even with multiple characters. Yes, despite the redundancy faced while playing this Whacked! many a time, there is plenty to keep you interested in the game for some time to come. OVERALL Whacked! fulfills a mandatory element of any strong online gaming service, and that is a game that is all about fun; no real competition, and more importantly, no cause to destroy your controller in frustration. When played offline, Whacked! maintains it’s charm, and adds an all new level of humor with it’s hilarious commercials that players are rewarded with upon successful completion of a stage. Whacked! is chock full of weapon, power-ups, artistic appeal, and well developed characters. Gamers looking for a game that doesn’t take itself to seriously, and doesn’t require a lot of patience or persistence to play, but gives you a rewarding experience full of action, explosions, and humor, then you’d be hard pressed to find a more suitable choice of game then Whacked! --Brett Jones
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