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Metareview: South Park - The Stick of Truth

Sinan Kubba
Updated ·3 min read
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There may be friendly faces everywhere, but the South Park: The Stick of Truth launch trailer is prolifically NSFW, and it's slightly spoiler-y - but it's also pretty great. The game's not bad, either, according to our three-and-a-half-star review, which said, "If you can also forgive the repetitive nature of combat and some uninspired quests, it's worth taking up arms – or dildos – for The Stick of Truth's hilarious, disgusting adventure."

Of course, we're not the only kid in the class. Head below the break for a sampling of what others had to say on The Stick of Truth.

  • Giant Bomb (5/5): "The Stick of Truth is the best South Park game by a country mile, but even removed from the franchise's dismal history with video games, it's also just one of the funniest games I've ever played. It pays tribute to the series' long history of memorably offensive jokes while also delivering an original story hilarious enough to stand on its own. Even more importantly, its gameplay is in no way an encumbrance to your enjoyment. Obsidian has fashioned an honest-to-god RPG out of the South Park universe, one with enough depth and longevity to hold your interest even when the comedy takes a breather."

  • IGN (9.0/10): "The Stick of Truth makes one thing abundantly clear: I never want to play another South Park video game made without Trey Parker and Matt Stone's direct, intimate involvement. With a controller in your hand, you are almost literally – gloriously – playing a 14-hour episode of South Park. There's much, much more here for series fans than the uninitiated, but it's a light but good quality role-playing game in its own right. It is, in a way, Season 18 all by itself. It is funny, shocking, self-effacing, and pretty much everything I could ask for from a South Park game -- even if it's mostly a one-and-done experience."

  • GamesRadar (4.5/5): "Though some elements of South Park: The Stick of Truth are poorly explained, and you might find yourself growing tired of the combat by the end of the 12-hour journey, Obsidian's RPG is an absolutely fantastic, surprising experience. It's great for those willing to favor story and comedy over innovative gameplay--and still a damn fun time for anyone interested in a light, open-world RPG. Instead of a game trying to be South Park, it actually feels like you're playing South Park, and playing South Park is... well, it's pretty fucking kick-ass."

  • The Escapist (4/5): "Even though it does threaten the player's resolve at times, The Stick of Truth is still a surprisingly enjoyable title, and the first South Park game to truly feel like it has some real soul behind it. Rather than the litany of Family Guy and Simpsons games out there, this isn't just a reel of out-of-context references to the TV show, strung lazily together in the hopes of coaxing a nostalgic smile. While there are indeed many nods to South Park episodes, they've been woven quite nicely into the plot, propelled by original content that is genuinely funny in its own right. Plus, there are just enough jokes made at the expense of video games and live-action roleplaying to keep the geeks among the audience happy."

  • Shacknews (6/10): "As an RPG, it's hard to recommend South Park: The Stick of Truth, given that there are a number of more polished titles that offer deeper battle systems and much larger worlds. As a South Park game, however, this is easily at the head of the class, nailing the show's humor at just about every turn. Even with its shortcomings, South Park fans owe it to themselves to play through The Stick of Truth's story, as it's paced and structured very much like the show's classic three-part episodes. This is very much a game for fans of the show only."

[Image: Ubisoft]