Creepy Road

If survival games are your kind of thing, then you might find the somewhat out-there Creepy Road to be worthy of your time. As one of the more interesting horror games out there on the major consoles today, Creepy Road has started to build up quite a combination of people who find it interesting. The game itself is quite simple; the world has lost its mind, and you need to help the somewhat unhinged Flint Trucker make his way to his love, Angelina.

And to get you from A to B, you have nothing but some shotgun shells and the ambition to fight through the minions of all evil to try and save your beloved. Is it any good, though?

Fun in short bursts

Creepy Road is the kind of game that, for the first few hours, can feel somewhat intoxicating. You can get carried away with the macabre atmosphere, the (at times) humour, and the general style of the game. However, you will begin to find that the more time you put into the game the more likely you are to begin to lose patience with its rather annoying quirks.

The stylish nature of the game is very impressive, but you begin to realise that much of the potential of this game lies unfulfilled. It lacks the polish that it needs to work well, and what should have been a smooth and fun 2D side-scroller becomes somewhat dull if you play it for more than a few hours at a time.

It looks great, it feels excellent to begin with, but a few levels in you will begin to notice some pretty dire repetition and a lack of invention with some of the most important features in the game. If you have ever played side-scrolling shooters like Metal Slug, you are sure to find something worth playing here.

A loss of good value entertainment

The problem with Creepy Road is that it is good, but it could have been really good – or better. The game has you manage your way through all manner of horrible people and beasts, blasting and beating your way through a litany of freaks, monsters, and despairing demons. It is a comical thing to do, and the awesome art and the hand-drawn nature of the presentation really does stand out from a mile off.

The attention to detail on the art and the theme is very impressive, but the actual gameplay could have used the same TLC. Within a few levels, you will have found the grandeur of the design has worn off and what is left is a rather tired game that can be somewhat buggy, with bullets flying through enemies and contact boxes being all over the play.

Pros

• Great visuals that really stand out in the industry; unique and enterprising.
• Awesome attention to detail on even the smallest of enemies.
• Atmosphere can come in peaks and troughs, but works well at its best.
• Fun enough when played in short and sharp bursts.

Cons

• Lacks the polish and the gameplay depth that the art design deserved.
• Nowhere near enough depth to keep you playing beyond one or two runs.
• Gameplay lacks the freshness needed, and can be needlessly buggy.