Following on from its impressive reveal prior to the beginning of this year’s E3, Agents of Mayhem has been a title that’s managed to pique many people’s’ interest despite the flurry of announcements vying for the attention of the gaming public ever since.
A lapsed Saints Row fan, but still a proponent of its self-referential humor and downright ridiculous set pieces, the stage was set for me to be reeled back into Volition’s world — hook, line, and sinker. The 40 minutes of hands-on time started in typically eclectic fashion — a hallmark conducive with that of the extended Saints Row universe — as the Agents of Mayhem are briefed with their mission to rescue a sentient A.I. K-Pop star named Aisha from falling into the loved-up clutches of Steel toe, a professed ‘techno fetishist,’ as it were.
Taking place in downtown Seoul, a party of three ‘heroes’ were deployable from a selection of four. Hollywood was first on my radar, a prototypical Johnny Cage-esque figure exuding a sizeable dose of confidence and an even bigger assault rifle. Next up was Rama, an archery specialist who didn’t seem to suffer fools lightly; and lastly was Hardtack, a brutish figure with both a shotgun and a nifty teleportation harpoon that thankfully nullified the shortcomings of his primary weapon’s range. There was of course Fortune, a duel-wielding ex-sky pirate, but my allocated time didn’t allow for a real comprehensive play through of her various abilities. Regardless, it’s safe to say that they’re diverse enough to add an extra flavor to proceedings. Make no mistake, however, as is to be expected, Agents of Mayhem is a game that’s cut incredibly close to its big brother, Saints Row — for better and for worse.
@page
While the diversity of the cast and their immediate interchangeability is a commendable and fun trump card for Agents of Mayhem to champion, its gameplay mechanics don’t seem to bring anything of real substance or note to the table beyond what one would expect. Sure, we’ve got serviceable third-person combat and some souped-up abilities to expend upon the various enemies on-screen, but there seems to be a distinct lack of ideas where all of that’s concerned. Once you marry that with the relatively uninspired locales — the demo displaying some closed off streets and a rather dull science facility — and the spotty AI spawning (it’s of course an Alpha build) it becomes difficult to figure out just how this game might elevate itself into something truly special. The main focal point of the moment-to-moment gameplay does seem to surround your ‘Mayhem’ attack; an overpowered ability that’s utilized by charging your ‘Special’ meter. Once ready, players can unleash a barrage of centralized pain to any foe dotted around the vicinity.
Hollywood’s ‘Mayhem’ attack, for instance, involves him donning some shades, delivering a one-liner, and then wreaking havoc by way of meteor-esque explosions all throughout the surrounding area. It’s a fun aside, sure, and the fact that all of the Agents have them does make for some colorful variety and interplay but it’s hard to tell if that’s enough to carry the gameplay beyond the first couple of hours. And since the demo consisted of nothing more than a lot of one-button hack modules, blowing up terminals and ‘‘clear out all of the enemies’’-type objectives there was little to set it apart from games of similar ilk. But then again, perhaps it doesn’t need to.
Because what really makes Agents of Mayhem stand above its simplistic gameplay is that patented Volition sheen and humor. Each character very much employs the stylistic workings of an action figure, and their amoral mindsets provide fuel for a story as absurd as this one to work. We’ve been promised over-the-top spectacle, big personalities, and an outside-the-law mentality for the ‘heroes,’ so there’s hope yet that the lacklustre gameplay won’t sour what could be an entertaining weekend title. Simply put, if you’re in the market for more Saints Row-esque madness but with a more concise structure and cast of even wackier characters, then Agents of Mayhem is one to put on your radar.