With the new South Park game launching today, we have seen the first reviews hit and they’re mostly positive. Obsidian have had a shaky track record with their games in the past, so it’s pleasing to see this turn out to be one of the best reviewed game in the veteran RPG developers history. The main strength of the game seems to be the traditional South Park humor, which is said to be on par with the writing on the television show. The game’s presentation has also been championed, and it seems to be the most authentic South Park experience you can find in gaming.
Some of the divisiveness in the reviews seems to come from the critics opinions of the humor, with people who don’t watch the show feeling like they are not in on the joke. Most reviews recommend you are a fan of the show before you consider buying. The main criticism of the game seem to be it’s length, with the game clocking in at roughly 12-15 hours, which is pretty short for an RPG. Another negative, brought up in multiple user and professional reviews, is the over-reliance on old jokes. With references to Man-Bear-Pig and other South Park episodes the game contains a lot of fan-service, which some players may enjoy. However people seem disappointed in the lack of new ideas and the constant rehashing of older show memes.
With strong reviews from the press, I can’t wait to get this game when it comes out in Europe. Hopefully the censorship int the EU version of the game doesn’t detract from the experience. Obsidian have a history of shipping buggy games, but so far no major issues have been reported. Launching today in America, it’s going to be interesting to see how fans of the show react to it. Are you going to be picking up a copy, or are you put off by the game? I’ll be playing it when it comes out in the UK on Friday.