DC4

I almost gave up on Drawn to Death entirely after the first few matches. I didn't know how to use my characters abilities, or know what many of the weapons did and where they were located. Combine some of that with the initial "eyeball shock" of all that is going on with the hand drawn notebook styling world, and I was almost completely ready to shut it down and forget it even existed. It wouldn't have been that big of a deal, It was a free PlayStation Plus game, no money lost. But... then I got some kills, and some more kills, and more. Slowly I began to master my characters abilities and learn the map layout, effortlessly going on kill streaks that had me hitting that share button more than I usually do. And I got hooked! There's something about this 4 player shooter that brought me back to the good old days sitting around one TV with 3 other friends playing Conkers or Golden eye. The trash talk and raw competitive play had us having some of the best times in our gaming lives and Drawn to Death feels so similar to those good old days. I read and hear other opinions on the game, some comparing it to this game or that game, but I was somehow reminded of the old N64 days and the games I mentioned. Drawn to Death has scratched that itch for me and I genuinely haven't had so much fun in a multiplayer shooter as I have been having with this game. The game itself is straight forward. Pick a character in which has its own special abilities and play style, set up your desired choice of guns and enter each map with the goal of demolishing the other players. Game modes include TDM variants for 2v2 gameplay, and a mix of modes perfect for 1v1 or 1v4 matches such as organ donor and death match. Each mode plays different than the other allowing a fun mix of style and play for players to take part in and enjoy. Unranked matches offer a good place for people to play casually and learn the ropes, while the ranked match lobbies offer a fun and challenging twist to winning matches for players who want a little bit more bragging rights. Each win in ranked gives you a star or two, depending on if you finish first or second, which grants you stickers for your character profile that indicates where you are on the ranked tower. Each loss takes away a star which could have you dropping down a peg on the tower. I really enjoy ranked matches. There is a slightly more competitive edge there and it's rewarding to get new stickers for bragging rights. Graphically, this game is something totally different than what most are accustomed to. It's not full of lush green vegetation, beautiful skylines and "ehr mher gherd" lighting effects. But instead is a hand drawn, pen drawn style you'd find on many teenagers notebooks from their high school years. Hell, at 32 years old I still remember doodling some ridiculous characters while bored to death in class. The style is original, and while seemingly overwhelming at first, is actually really beautiful in its utilization. The art is just plain fun. There is so much to see and read and explore, which is crazy considering the fact that during that time you are frantically blasting away at enemy players and just trying your best to stay alive. Reading a line written in the sky and trying to figure out what it has to do with the overall setting is challenging but satisfying all the same. This game really has depth in its art. It would be hard to believe mixed into all the absolute bad-assery that is #DrawnToDeath, is that there is a story hidden within it. But there is! And what that story is in fact is something each player will get pieces to as they notice and find things strewn all across this game. From the menues to the maps themselves, this game is rich in little Easter eggs. David Jaffe and the crew at Bartlet Jones Supernatural Detective Agency have made a fantastic game. You can tell that this small rag tag group of talent really put their heart and souls into this entertaining game. It's violent, it's crude, its rude and it's savage. Everything I could ever have wanted in a "in your face" multiplayer shooter/brawler. Is it for everyone? Probably not. Some "critics" reviews, it seems, just want to hate it for hating sake. Some are obviously just absolute garbage at multiplayer shooters. (Cough cough everyone at IGN). However this game, when given the chance, is an absolute gem in my gaming collection. I highly recommend those on the fence to really give it a go. Play with a friend. Learn the characters play style. Experiment. This game has the potential to do big things. New characters, maps, weapons etc. all possibilities given time. This is just the beginning folks. And I'm liking what I see. ;)