Preview: None of the previous South Park titles have been up to scratch, but will SOUTH PARK: THE GAME finally capture the anarchic essence of Cartman, Kenny and company? We sure hope so…
All South Park games, without exception, have had one major flaw that prevented them from being good. Titles such as South Park 64, Chef’s Luv Shack – and many more not worth mentioning – have always lacked the quality and humor of the actual show itself. That’s because no South Park game so far has had any genuine involvement from the show’s creators.
Until now. For the upcoming South Park: the Game, series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are working closely with Obsidian Entertainment. This means that the development talent behind Fallout: New Vegas and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic will be teaming up with the anarchic minds behind South Park episodes like “Make Love, Not Warcraft.” This also means that, for the first time ever, a South Park game will actually look, feel, and make you laugh like the show. South Park: the Game may very well be the game that the show’s fans have been waiting for.
Parker and Stone may not be videogame developers, but they know a thing or two about games. Both are life-long gamers, and are now attempting to apply what they’ve learned to the South Park RPG. The game will begin with the kids of South Park, Colorado, taking part in some Live Action Role Playing. From there, the story will expand from a made up game into a real adventure. What this adventure will entail is unknown for now, but it will most likely be absurd and offensive. Just like South Park should be.
“Well damn it, don’t you have some smart-ass thing to say?”
As you play the game you will encounter many familiar faces including Stan, Kyle, Cartman, Kenny, as well as the rest of the kids, plus possible cameos by memorable characters like Mecha Streisand and Mr. Hanky. But in this ‘episode’ of South Park, you will assume the role of a new kid in town. This character will be completely customizable, and completely silent. This, according to the show’s creators, makes a protagonist more believable and relatable. Being mute won’t prevent your character from attempting to fit in and make friends with the often brutal kids of South Park.
Early on in the game Cartman will give you a choice of becoming a wizard, paladin, adventurer, rogue, or an “unconventional” fifth class created by none other than Eric himself. Yes, of course: the Jew. Each class will have different attributes – for example, a Jew class character will get stronger as his health gets lower. A summon system and elemental weapon enhancement will also add a certain level of customization to the fighting.
The style fighting sequences themselves will be borrowed from various other RPGs. Enemy encounters will be visible on the map, allowing for fist strike, ambush, or complete avoidance. Battles will be viewed from the side, while timed button presses and dynamic camera angles will be present in an attempt to make the battles more interactive. Perpetually shifting camera angles doesn’t sound like an attractive feature, but if integrated right it might help break up the monotony of combat. Don’t expect to encounter your typical RPG slimes: South Park’s “monsters” include gingers, goths, and various other nods to classic episodes.
“Respect my authoriteee!”
Although little has been revealed of the story yet, we do know it will have that distinctly South Park feel. In an interview with Game Informer magazine, project director Zane Lyon revealed that Parker insisted on quest- and story-lines that are unique to the South Park universe. “Cartman’s not sending you on a quest to defeat a giant bat creature, he’s sending you on a quest to go get Kung Pao chicken.”
The idea of “thinking small” is not something Obsidian Entertainment is used to. They’re a studio with a track record of developing vast, polished games. When it comes to South Park, though, part of the charm is in how home-made and “amateur” it looks. For South Park: the Game, Obsidian was limited to using only the approved textures provided by Stone and Parker. The show’s creators are also keeping involved in development to ensure the game follows their unique creative vision.
For instance, when Obsidian wanted to create fancy, shiny armor for the kids, Stone and Parker turned it down in favor of home-made, shoddy equipment. “Make it crappier,” Parker told the studio. In South Park, it just wouldn’t make sense to have nice armor. These are just kids using any household objects they can get their hands on like strainers, golf clubs, and rolling pins as armor and weapons. When Obsidian wanted to write in epic quests and locations like Ike fighting orcs in a cave, the creators firmly said no. “This isn’t South Park. This is just a generic video game.”
Parker and Stone have been adamant about Obsidian giving the game the same characteristic feel as the show. Small details like references to South Park episodes and collectible Chinpokomon scattered around the game world should pique any long-time South Park fan’s interest.
South Park: the Game could go either way. With the creative team from the series itself allying themselves with a developer of Obsidian’s standing, hopes are high – but the mediocrity of previous SP titles lingers in the memory. No matter what, Stone and Parker appear to be doing all in their power to ensure that this will be the first game that truly deserves to bear the name South Park.
South Park: The Game, from Obsidian and THQ, will be released in the second half of 2012 on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.
I’m actually excited about this game. Mostly because I like the tv series so very, very much.
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Emily King (February 22nd, 2012)