Funk of Titans Review

   Getting the Funk Out

It’s really surprising to see that Funk of Titans was not released on the mobile platforms prior its Xbox One debut. From its simplistic design, controls, going all the way to its presentation, the first console effort coming from indie developer A Crowd for Monsters does not belong on a home console system. In fact, I feel like it would’ve benefited the developers a lot more if they would’ve chased the mobile market instead because Funk of Titans looks and plays exactly like the byte-sized kind of games you would find on your iOS or Android device, and not even its funky approach to Greek mythology can save it from its repetitiveness and tedium.

One of the most disappointing aspects I found while playing Funk of Titans was mostly due to my initial expectation. Before even booting up the game, I was convinced that it was going play like the traditional side-scrolling platforming experiences we have seen time and time again with games like Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario Bros. and Rayman, but unfortunately it doesn’t even come close to the amount of gameplay depth present in those games. Basically, Funk of Titans is an on-rails Platformer where the only inputs required entering to successfully get through a level are jumping and attacking the enemies — that’s it. The easiest way I could describe it is that it is a side-scrolling Endless Runner, except the levels come to an end at some point.

Essentially, you are playing through byte-sized, minute-long button timing exercises that are fun for first couple of levels, but repetitive and way too easy come the game’s final moments. You are barely ever challenged in Funk of Titans, which is exactly when you start wondering why it was even made for Xbox One when it uses the system’s absolute bare minimum. Was its 3D design too much to handle on mobile? I doubt it because there are so many better-looking games that can be played on a phone or tablet, but we are left with a very straightforward title in the end. I do admire it for its simplicity though, as anybody could pick up this game, understand its core framework and mechanics, and have a decent time with it, but simply pressing two buttons for the entire duration of an experience is neither the most exciting nor the most engaging gameplay element we have ever seen in video games.

Funk of Titans does not look like an Xbox One game visually, heck it barely even looks like a previous generation console title with its blocky character models and poor texture detail featured throughout its somewhat diverse 40+ levels scattered across three worlds. Though I have to admit that the colorful visual style that completely matches the tone the game is going after did catch my eye very quickly, there isn’t enough creativity presentation-wise to make it an engaging console game. Speaking of which, Funk of Titans’ menus are literally listed in the same fashion as a mobile experience, consisting of barebones options and a minimum amount of menu screens. Even the Funk music and enemy types are just uninspired, rehashing the same assets over and over again for the entire duration of the game. Putting it plain and simple – Funk of Titans is a title designed for the mobile platforms that somehow managed to make its way to the console space.

Although I did enjoy its ridiculous funky charm, the reason justifying the whole point of the game is just outright stupid and doesn’t really make any sense either. As Perseus, son of the father of all Gods Zeus, you are tasked with taking down the Music Titans of Pop, Rap and Rock with your Funk Fu skills and abilities before they turn the world into empty-minded dancing minions left without funky music to dance to. What does this have to do with running from one place to another, jumping from one platform to the next and collecting all kinds of collectibles? I have no idea, and so does the game apparently with its completely unnecessary implementation of other Greek Gods, who are just there to keep the whole mythology aspect of the game alive.

Speaking of unnecessary features, Funk of Titans’ boss fights are some of the most lazily designed sequences I have seen in a very long time. You may think it would be an epic platforming battle between you and one of the Music Titans once you reach these parts of the game, but it shifts into a whole other direction that deviates completely from its main focus. I understand that Funk of Titans wants to embrace the culture surrounding Funk music, but making Quick-Time-Event-only dance-off boss battles is not the way to go, at least in this day and age. They just feel like they were added at the last minute without even putting any effort into them. Additionally, much like the main game itself, they aren’t even remotely challenging as I was earning 98% and 100% scores consistently without even trying that hard. It doesn’t help that I had to sit through and listen to some horrendous renditions of Pop, Rap and Rock music, while watching Perseus’ repetitive Funk Fu animations.

Fortunately, the game does have some pleasant features that go beyond its main platforming mechanics, which add some variety and replay value to the levels. First off, each level has three challenges that can be completed consisting of collecting all of its 100 Vinyl Records, completing the level without getting hit by any hazardous threat and collecting the Pegasus Idol, which unlock a bonus stage filled with additional Vinyl Records to collect. Despite the fact that accomplishing those feats does not do anything significantly compelling other than showcasing that you have completed a specific level in its entirety, they do require you to replay them a few times as it isn’t as easy as it looks getting all the collectibles in a single run. As a matter of fact, some collectibles are unattainable unless you have a specific weapon equipped, which can be bought through the in-game store with the Vinyl Records you have gathered. I would’ve loved to see the three in-level challenges take on a bigger role that could’ve added to the replay value and length of Funk of Titans. The obvious idea would’ve been to have them required to move on to future levels, but, as you can probably tell, nothing of that nature is implemented.

However, you can’t just go out and buy the exact weapons you need right from the get-go as you’ll have to complete other Heroic side missions from Zeus, like killing certain enemy types for defined amounts or running for specific distances, to level up and unlock the gear you actually want. You can also unlock and purchase wacky headgear like a Batman-inspired cowl or the Stormtrooper helmet from Star Wars, though they do absolutely nothing in-game other than look absolutely silly. Despite the game’s strong replayability, it can be easily cleared out to 100% competition in a matter of 4-5 hours because of its lack of challenge, which is extremely underwhelming. Once you get your “groove” in Funk of Titans (which only takes seconds), you’ll notice that it doesn’t take that much skill or concentration to get through everything.   

VERDICT

Funk of Titans is not a game you would want to purchase for your Xbox One console – it is the perfect kind of game you would play on your phone when you have 5-10 minutes to waste. With that many exceptional games out there – and even better ones in the Platformer genre – there is no reason to waste your time on a $12 game (which could easily be sold for $2 or $3 on the App or Google Play store) that won’t provide any kind of challenge, satisfaction or investment out of the player. You could literally play through Funk of Titans with a single hand holding the controller and not have any trouble whatsoever, and that is not the way console video games should be played. I’ll admit that it can be mindless fun for a younger audience, but Funk of Titans is definitely not the kind of game you would go out of your way to get on your brand new Xbox One.