Brawl and Maul- Watchmen: The End is Nigh Reviewed

Platform(s): Xbox 360, PS3, PC via Steam
Developer:
Deadline Games
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. $19.99

Many were understandably doubtful when it was announced that the venerated comic series, Watchmen, was making the transition to the big screen. Alan Moore’s source material, with its twisting subplots, flashbacks, and existential subject matter, made an ideal graphical novel, but might not be easily translated to film. Although some were disappointed with director Zach Snyder’s efforts, I thought the film was phenomenal, and was a near-perfect adaption of the comic.

When I first heard about a Watchmen game was due to be released alongside the movie, I wondered how the developers would contextualize the comic and film’s atmosphere into an interactive diversion. With the release of Watchmen: The End is Nigh, a downloadable game for both the Xbox 360 and PS3, speculation has finished.

Instead of setting the game in the mid 1980’s, The End is Nigh focuses on the vigilante era of Night Owl II and Rorschach, circa 1972. A power outage at the Sing Sing prison initiates a riot, allowing notorious criminal Underboss to escape.  Now, the duo must track down those that helped the inmate escape, as well as apprehend the fugitive. Those expecting a pensive journey will be disappointed- Watchmen aspires to be nothing more than a competent brawler.

Players pick their protagonist of choice; Watchman supports local cooperative play but inexplicably, online play is missing. Gamers press the ‘X’ and ‘Y’ button (Square and triangle on PS3) for normal and heavy attacks. As the player progresses, the game allows additional moves from punishingly brutal finshishers to throws. While tossing foes displayed the game’s rag-doll physics system commendably, the game chooses the direction of the throw through a canned animation. While the title is extremely linear, it does throw a few variations at the player-some enemies are equipped with crowbars and clubs, which the player can acquire.

After slaying a hundred or so antagonists, fatigue set in for me. Although there are a handful of different looking enemies from inmates to guards, but they all attack similarly. Even the game’s single boss doesn’t display a radically different melee tactic. Players earns a few new combinations, but they weren’t required for success. Hammering on the normal attack followed by a barrage of heavy hits proved to be an effective strategy throughout the title.

With the exception of Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty, End is Nigh stands as one of the most impressive console games delivered via digital distribution. Typically, 3D-based DLC titles suffer from simplified graphic models and noticeable texture repetition. Fortunately, Watchmen avoids those pratfalls, and rivals the graphical fidelity of full-priced disk based software. Small, noticeable details include Rorschach’s shifting mask, and his tendency to tuck his hands into his overcoat pockets when not engaged in fisticuffs. With both console versions feature dramatic lighting, we found the Xbox version of Watchmen too dark. Both games struggle to maintain a 30 frame per second framerate, although the 360 version’s refresh rate is noticeably superior. The PS3 version displayed a bit of chop under certain lighting conditions.

Remove the Watchmen license from The End is Nigh, and you’re left with a competent, although pedestrian, brawler. The two to three hour play time is short enough to not induce fatigue, yet the twenty dollar piece may seem a bit expensive to the economic minded gamer. Still, those that yearn for a simple, brutal, brawler with lavish graphics and intuitive controls will likely find the first entry in the Watchmen series to their liking.

About Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

34 comments

  1. First.

    Can’t believe they want $20 for a three hour game. That’s BS.

  2. Well, what did the reviewer want from a Watchman game? A JRPG-styled adaptation?

  3. I stopped reading when you said the film was near-perfect.

  4. WTF does ‘Nigh’ mean and how is it pronounced?

  5. I love that bottom pic of Rorschach looking back at a guy he just mangled. That alone could interest me in the game.

  6. uh, what was ‘existential’ about the movie? I didn’t see anything like that.

  7. Tide, and Desert, who are your favorite Watchmen characters? I liked the review, good job.

  8. Well, I hope the game is better than the movie. I thought is was awful.

  9. Actually, a Watchmen RPG would be cool. I think they have a DC game with the characters, so we’ll see how that turns out.

  10. OK?

    I played the demo and really liked it. Good old fashioned beat em up, like they don’t make anymore.

  11. Nigh rhymes with ‘high’ and means ‘almost’.

    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nigh

  12. I bought this after getting all hyped up from the movie and regret it. No more DLC game that are more than $10 without reading a review first.

  13. Without discussing anything spoiler-ish, I’d say The savage nature of man was a theme of the film.

    Each character had a different moral code, also.

  14. I liked the Comedian despite his character defects. Who doesn’t love a war hero?

  15. I’d say it’s closer to ‘near’. Hope this drops to a reasonable price someday.

  16. Is is so expensive because it’s a Watchmen game? How many more episodes will there be?

  17. I balked at Penny Arcade Adventures at $20, and I’m going to have to do the same here.

  18. I’d encourage everyone to download the demo and play that. The full game doesn’t offer a whole lot more.

  19. I hope future episode give you different crime busters/minutemen.

  20. I thought the movie has more then decent. The game’s been getting consistently good, but not great scores.

  21. I don’t think more than 2, otherwise it would be more than $60!

  22. I would have bought the game for $15 but $20 is pushing it.

  23. I wish Sega would make a 3D Streets of Rage. Now that would be worth $20.

  24. What are some of the finishing moves?!?!

  25. Downloading now.

  26. Sequel is called End is Nigh Part II (rolls eyes)

    According to the ratings board, Rorschach and Nite Owl return in the second episode, dashing our hopes of playing as other characters in the Watchmen universe. Once again, Rorschach and Nite Owl will take advantage of rudimentary brawling skills to take down “bikers, gang members, and thugs.” The setting of the second episode seems a bit raunchier than the first, with players tracking down “a villain who has molested an actress appearing in a pornography film.” Players will then have to enter a strip club that contains caged dancers, peep-show booths and porno playing in the background.

  27. Agreed $20 seems greedy. Especially for a series.

    I think they should charge people $10 for the first and $15 for every one after. Get people hooked on it.

  28. Thanks, never really heard than expression before.

  29. I’m there for the porn.

  30. I almost loved the movie, but the game does nothing for me.

  31. or a rapist?

  32. The demo seemed like garbage, just a bad beat em’ up.

  33. I know it’s bad and overpriced, but the license is drawing me in. Maybe I’ll pull the trigger when/if it goes on sale.

  34. I really did enjoy the movie, and thought it was near panel to panel to the GN, but then the ending came. The game though was way too repetitive, ti looks great, but $20 for a game with clunky controls, and just beat em up, is not worth it. Good try though.