First Brutal Legend video is ... well, it's brutal

by Christopher Grant { Oct 16th 2007 at 8:33PM }

The marketing for Tim Schafer's latest game is in full swing and – even though the game designer can't talk about the game himself (check out Double Fine's blog to watch him squirm) – the Game Informer cover and now video trailer sure as shinola confirm its existence. It turns out Brütal Legend is appropriately titled; the trailer is full of axe-assisted dismemberment on the part of protagonist (and rock roadie) Eddie Riggs.

So let's run down the checklist: Rockin' metal soundtrack? Check. Buckets of violence? Check. Overwrought mythology? Check. Bitchin' Hot Rod with flame exhaust? Check. Demon wings? Check. Sexy metal babes? Check. All in a video game format? Very check.

Wait a second, this game wasn't designed by Tim Schafer at all. No, it was designed by the collective fantasies of every teenage boy who's ever lived ... Schafer's just the tool they'll use to see their vision writ large.

Tags: BreakingNews, Brutal-Legend, Double-Fine, Tim-Schafer

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Diego Molano @ Oct 16th 2007 8:41PM

Considering Tims other work, it would be great if it was a action packed point and click adventure. I would probably prefer it on Wii because of how great Zack and Wiki looks. Has a platform been announced?

Joop @ Oct 16th 2007 9:59PM

The tags here and the wiki entry say PS3 and 360. That could be the only ones announced though, and more than a few titles have moved into Wii territory. This one doesn't look too graphics intensive, after all.

Deviation @ Oct 16th 2007 8:44PM

Yes, please.

RoboChamp @ Oct 16th 2007 8:47PM

Sorry, but considering that trailer, if it was setting up to be point and click, I would be severly dissapointed.

That said, holy crap, I am now officially excited for this game. Everything about that trailer was just.. awesome. I want more!

whymog @ Oct 16th 2007 8:47PM

I'm really hoping that, since Double Fine got a new publisher, this game has a shot at being commercially successful. Tim Schafer has the golden touch, he just doesn't have the right people marketing his games.

Thierry @ Oct 16th 2007 8:49PM

That's it, 2008 game of the year.

Raikage (NDF - PK THUNDER RING) @ Oct 16th 2007 8:54PM

No... that's taken...

Ninja Gaiden 2 GOTY CONFIRMED!!!

Mr. Kietzmann said so...

Jojo @ Oct 16th 2007 8:50PM

I had to laugh out loud at that video. I'm looking forward to this.

Agent4187 @ Oct 16th 2007 8:52PM

Brutal Legend and Tim Shafer, how awesome are you? Let me count the ways.

playwhutyalike @ Oct 16th 2007 8:55PM

I just crapped myself after that video.

kingrottenboy @ Oct 16th 2007 8:58PM

you can see Jack Black's influence is more than just a voice for the main character, this looks like a tenacious D videogame, anywas it looks pretty Kick Ass but I wonder what the gameplay will actually be?

Icarus @ Oct 16th 2007 8:57PM

Props for Mob Rules !!!! I didn't know Tim Schafer liked Black Sabbath =]

commen-cents @ Oct 16th 2007 9:04PM

i already played god of wars hell stage... but it does look interesting

Joop @ Oct 16th 2007 10:03PM

No amount of /facepalm can fully express how I feel about your comment.

commen-cents @ Oct 17th 2007 4:42PM

what did i say? whats wrong?

DomoBraden @ Oct 16th 2007 9:04PM

The only thing that about this trailer that seems disappointing to me is the music. Axe the heavy metal and replace it with some death metal and I'm completely sold.

Although I definitely respect heavy metal for the changes it brought to the music world, it's just not very...well, BRUTAL. It can't be a TRULY brutal legend without some brutal death metal. (Brutal Death Metal is actually a sub-genre, BTW.)

Besides that, I have high hopes for this game. With SuperFine and Tim Schafer developing this, there's no way it could be bad. They could make a game about watching paint dry and it would still be stellar.

Taco_Hell @ Oct 16th 2007 9:15PM

You fail for not thinking Dio with Black Sabbath is brutal.

Taco_Hell @ Oct 16th 2007 9:16PM

You fail for not thinking Dio with Black Sabbath is brutal

Taco_Hell @ Oct 16th 2007 9:17PM

damn double-post, sorry about that.

Yourself @ Oct 16th 2007 10:02PM

Much agreed. Although I think maybe Iron Maiden could fit with this game, no other non-thrash/death/grind really could. The trailer feels like it should've had Raining Blood in the background.

generic @ Oct 16th 2007 10:33PM

Yeah! Stupid normal non-brutal metal that doesn't sound like someone coughing in your ear for an hour.

DO YOU FOLKS LIKE COFFEE?!

DemonGSides @ Oct 17th 2007 2:42AM

Real coffee.

From the hills of Columbia.

rellik_san @ Oct 17th 2007 4:27AM

You sir are an idiot, if it was a Nordic setting then maybe Black Metal... but it isn't its based solely on that American dream of being in a British heavy metal band, like Sabbath, Maiden, Priest, Zepp, Def Lep...

Infact come to think of it, apart from Queensryche and Dream Theater has America actually ever done anything good for metal... and no Metalocalypse doesn't count.

Sean @ Oct 17th 2007 10:31AM

@rellik_san

...a little band called Metallica.

DomoBraden @ Oct 17th 2007 11:28AM

@rellik_san - This is an a quote from the plot description that is given on the games Wikipedia page, (which doesn't mean that it's fact per say, but it's the only information I've been able to find outside of this cover and trailer):

"The game begins one night before a gig. As Riggs is tuning a guitar an accident happens and Riggs starts to bleed, his blood dripping onto his cursed belt buckle, which bears a strong resemblance to Motörhead's Snaggletooth emblem. Before he knows it the beast on his buckle has come alive and transported him into a Heavy Metal and Nordic fantasy inspired alternate history where demons have enslaved humanity."

So according to this IT IS a Nordic setting.

The entire point of my post was that I personally would prefer some sort of death metal on the soundtrack. I have no problem with heavy metal, I just happen to favor death metal. I don't see how that makes me an idiot. Liking or disliking a particular genre does not make someone an idiot, as it's entirely a matter of personal opinion.

In the end it doesn't matter what the soundtrack is, that's not why I'm buying it. And I WILL buy it.

rellik_san @ Oct 17th 2007 6:49PM

@ Sean: Puh-leese, metallica haven't produced anything of worth since 'And Justice for All'.

@ Domo-Brandon, Yeah I'm sorry for calling you an idiot, I was over exited by the trailer and wasn't thinking straight. :(

Anyway, fair enough, some Immortal and Panzer Division Marduk would be a good addition to the soundtrack, especially in later parts of the game I'd imagine.

Also when you said Black Metal, I thought you were one of those "YOUR NOT KVLT OR TROO IF MORE THEN 2 PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OF YOU!" people... the kind of BM fan I can't stand.

colin @ Oct 16th 2007 9:06PM

is that a big toothy vagina @ 1:01

danny. (fdf.) @ Oct 17th 2007 9:29AM

Too obvious to be an accident...

Diego Molano @ Oct 16th 2007 9:10PM

i think itll come out on 360 and PC first. Then ported to the ps3, and the wii probably wont get it.
I just looked up interviews with tim and he kinda doesnt dig nintendo. Which I think is a mistake, because it has the potential to be a very unique experience. Imagine slicing through bad guys with your axe/wiimote,....pretty boring right?..itll be just like Mark of kri with waggle. Now imagine a Grim fandango hybrid of exploring the depths of hell, running into characters like hitler and having funny dialogue with them using the point and click wiimote way, and then riding off on your motorcycle...wiimote sideways, slicing through bad guys like link on a horse in TP.

TRT-X @ Oct 16th 2007 9:13PM

Am I the only person who finds the phrase "Rated RP" a bit oxymoronic?

Joop @ Oct 16th 2007 10:10PM

Well, technically, RP is an actual rating since it means the game has been submitted and is currently in the rating process...so it means a bit more than just "unrated".

Pink Lemon @ Oct 17th 2007 12:24AM

I think the word you're looking for is redundant.

TRT-X @ Oct 17th 2007 9:57AM

No. Redundant would be that the two words mean the same thing. I was looking at it as "How can it be rated if it's pending?"

Joop cleared up the difference between unrated and rating pending though. Thanks!

Pink Lemon @ Oct 25th 2007 9:48PM

Isn't he pointing out the fact that it says Rated: Rated Pending, that's what I got out of it.

Hell, what do I know, I own a 360.

Pink Lemon @ Oct 25th 2007 9:50PM

Oh, it's you.
Like I said, I own a 360.

Shagittarius @ Oct 16th 2007 9:19PM

Tits man!

Gavin @ Oct 16th 2007 9:23PM

Tenacious D is old news...now it is all about Dethklok but I think they would approve.

plyx @ Oct 16th 2007 9:28PM

You fail at rock.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Oct 16th 2007 10:00PM

Dude. Tenacious D is the fucking shit. Never diss the D.

Brandon Johnson @ Oct 16th 2007 9:34PM

So an action adventure game? If so I'm so there. To be honest I might get the game if the music is anything like the trailer.

TrojanGuy @ Oct 16th 2007 9:36PM

lol that looks awesome.

Banana Kid @ Oct 16th 2007 9:38PM

Jack Black kicking ass and rocking out? Check.

Me buying this game? VERY CHECK.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Oct 16th 2007 9:46PM

THAT WAS FUCKING AWESOME

Shattercross @ Oct 16th 2007 9:54PM

I played Psychonauts and loved it, I love metal and I think Jack black kicks ass- I'm buying this game.

btw, I wouldn't make any premature negative assumptions about the game based on an Fmv trailer with stock music.

Russell @ Oct 16th 2007 11:20PM

It's not "stock music." Dio's music is vital to the vibe and the intention of the game. It's not going to be a game about death metal (as awesome as that would be - I would love to see some Bolt Thrower, Nile or Necrophagist on there), it is a game about Judas Priest and Candlemass (!).