The digital delights of Sony’s scrumptious PlayStation Network service know no bounds. Aside from letting punters compete in online gaming, stream films, browse the Internet and more, its premier attraction rests in the copious supply of downloadable games ripe for the picking. From PSN exclusives to PSOne Classics, minis and plain old add-on content, Sony’s online space is chock full of goodies battling it out for your hard-earned digital dollars.
Welcome back to another installment of Inside PlayStation Network, where every Monday – Friday we’ll pluck a PSN release—be it new or old—and put it in the spotlight for a thorough dissection. Fancy getting a new PSN game but don’t know what one to plump for? Perhaps this feature will help. Didn’t realize that a game was available in your region until now? We’ve got you covered. Or, perhaps you were musing over what those lucky Japanese folk were tucking into over in the Land of the Rising Sun? You can be sure our coverage will extend to those rare regional exclusives as much as those firmly embedded on the public consciousness.
Today, we shine the spotlight on Deadliest Warrior: The Game.
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Developer: Pipeworks Software Inc.
Region(s) available: North America
Players: 1-2
Based on the Spike TV show of the same name, Deadliest Warriors brings together some of history’s most fearsome combatants together for an all-out bloodbath brawl to the death. Ever wondered who would win out of a Spartan and a Ninja? Well, Deadliest Warriors has you covered. The perfect recipe, one might say, for a videogame adaptation. Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened, with Pipeworks bringing a brutal and decidedly more realistic interpretation of the show to PS3 and Xbox 360 in the form of Deadliest Warriors: The Game.
Players can pick from a total of weight combatants, which bar one exception have all been plucked from the show’s first season. Specifically, you’ll be able to choose from the Apache, centurion, knight, ninja, pirate, samurai, Spartan and Viking. Each fighter boasts a distinct technique to employ in battle, though all possess the ability to wield short, medium and long-range weapons. You’ll need to master each style in order to figure out each character’s strengths and weaknesses.
For example, the knight possesses a high defence thanks to his armor, though is somewhat slow and lumbering. Conversely, the Apache is nimble and able to zip around his opponents, though suffers from low defence and as such must rely on evasive tactics. All manoeuvres have been motion-captured, lending a fine degree of authenticity to the proceedings. As mentioned, Deadliest Warrior is pretty realistic and exceedingly violent to boot, with bouts able to end on a single throw of a long-range weapon and dismemberments and buckets of claret abundant throughout. It’s almost like a spiritual successor to Bloody Roar – at least, from a gameplay perspective.
Of course, all the blood and dismemberment has more going for it than just show. Players can gain a tactical advantage if they incapacitate an opponent with a well-placed swing, making it impossible for their crippled victim to retaliate. Fights are more than just mindless button-bashing affairs, with players forced to inject a bit of strategy into their attack plan in order to maintain defence while finding the right time to strike. Locking horns with human opponents is where the game truly shines.
Aside from monitoring your health, you’ll also have to keep an eye on your stamina gauge, which depletes as you keep your guard up. Stay blocking for too long and your enemy will stagger you, leaving you highly susceptible to counter attack. In terms of game modes, Arcade is the most prominent of the line-up, pitting your warrior against eight opponents. Players unlock extra weapons and armor as they progress, which can be equipped for future use. Survival and Training complement the single-player offering, while the multiplayer portion takes the form of online battles and local competitive play.
Tune in again same time tomorrow as we take another gander Inside PlayStation Network.