*Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Ubisoft, cert: 18*
If you like filthy, satirical South Park, you'll love this game
After The Book of Mormon's success, the creators of South Park are finally getting the acclaim their filthy, but always satirically on-the-mark, cartoon deserves. Having proved with the lovingly mocking World of Warcraft episode that they understand games and their fan base, *South Park: The Stick of Truth*, delivered with developers Obsidian, brings this sensibility to a well-crafted open-world RPG.
Thrust into South Park's world, you're a new kid, forced to pick a role as warrior, mage, thief or Jew as you join the Kingdom of Kupa Keep (thereafter, inevitably, referred to as the KKK). The combat is rewarding, turn-based fare, while looting is a joy for fans. You can wander into the town's buildings, discovering references to classic episodes – Cartman's Coon costume, his mum's sex toys – which can then be traded for money to buy more appropriately inappropriate items.
It plays fantastically well, looks as good or as bad, depending on your viewpoint, as the cartoon, and the humour is spot on – if lacking the topical bent of the series. The only slight sour note is the apparent self-censorship by Ubisoft of the game in Europe. But if you like South Park you'll love this, and for everyone else there's whatever the manatees can come up with next for Family Guy.
Rating: 4/5 Reported by guardian.co.uk 6 hours ago.
If you like filthy, satirical South Park, you'll love this game
After The Book of Mormon's success, the creators of South Park are finally getting the acclaim their filthy, but always satirically on-the-mark, cartoon deserves. Having proved with the lovingly mocking World of Warcraft episode that they understand games and their fan base, *South Park: The Stick of Truth*, delivered with developers Obsidian, brings this sensibility to a well-crafted open-world RPG.
Thrust into South Park's world, you're a new kid, forced to pick a role as warrior, mage, thief or Jew as you join the Kingdom of Kupa Keep (thereafter, inevitably, referred to as the KKK). The combat is rewarding, turn-based fare, while looting is a joy for fans. You can wander into the town's buildings, discovering references to classic episodes – Cartman's Coon costume, his mum's sex toys – which can then be traded for money to buy more appropriately inappropriate items.
It plays fantastically well, looks as good or as bad, depending on your viewpoint, as the cartoon, and the humour is spot on – if lacking the topical bent of the series. The only slight sour note is the apparent self-censorship by Ubisoft of the game in Europe. But if you like South Park you'll love this, and for everyone else there's whatever the manatees can come up with next for Family Guy.
Rating: 4/5 Reported by guardian.co.uk 6 hours ago.
