Idiots with no memory

Psychonauts was a mediocre platformer. Fighting against an awkward and outdated camera, jumping from platform to platform was tedious. The last level in the game, the Meat Circus, is not only timed, but also an escort mission that combines two horrible design choices into a cluster bomb of vomit. Controlling Grim Fandango sucked. He was difficult to turn and maneuver in static environments. The ending was rushed, and some of the puzzles were too obscure.

Are you people mental? Did you forget these problems in two masterpieces of video gaming?

Brutal Legend is under heavy criticism for not having the greatest "gameplay." These critics are idiots. Every Tim Schafer game has problems when it comes to the core foundations of controlling the character. It existed in Psychonauts and it existed in Grim Fandango. However, people gloss over these issues in hindsight while criticizing Brutal Legend... why? Because it wasn't what they expected.

Brutal Legend begins as a ho-hum God of War, Ninja Gaiden clone. Eddie Riggs, played by Jack Black, swings a guitar and an axe dealing fierce combinations of attacks. Rather than continue this design for the next 10 hours, the game opens up to introduce driving sections and, ultimately, real time strategy elements. Now, Eddie Riggs can command armies from the sky and still be able to drop to the ground to participate in the warfare with the old melee attacks or vehicle driving. The game does not exceed in any of these different tactics of control, but as with any Tim Schafer game, it is the sum of its parts that matters.

Psychonauts transcended platforming games via its ingenious premise of entering the minds of people, complete with their fears, and an art style that would make any animated design team jealous. The writing was sharp and wonderful. Grim Fandango marked the end of adventure gaming with its culmination of a Day of the Dead world with a film noir story. If made into a film, it would be heralded.

Brutal Legend has its issues. Yes, the controls are sometimes less than desirable. But, the game clips along with the same speed as so many classic Schafer games. And, ultimately, it is a memorable experience that will last after the short runtime. Critics are idiots.