23-Jun-2005 Every now and again, a game comes along that is truly comically inspired. And we don't mean the odd chuckle every now and again, but one that produces genuine laugh after laugh, surprise after surprise, When the Big M splashed the cash for innovative Brit developer Rare, the deal included one of the most humorous and comical characters to squeeze into a console's slot in recent memory. Originally an N64 title, Conker's Bad Fur Day starred the iconic squirrel burping, farting, drinking and swearing his way into the heart of every gamer he didn't massively offend. Live and Reloaded has been ages coming, but boy has it been worth the wait. And in an absolute masterstroke, Microsoft has delivered two stunning games in one Tediz-shredding package, comprising the original title (revitalised for today's consoles), and an all-new, all-out shoot 'em up.
Sceptics can scoff that BFD is simply the original game given a bit of graphical polish, but when the original's such a stone-cold classic we're not complaining. And it doesn't just look incredible - the controls are certainly more fluid than those of the original N64 version. The intro movie (clocking in at around six minutes) is the first taste of the game's irreverent left-of-field humour. Textures look gorgeous (from swaying grass to fantastic water effects and, er, sticky balls of poo), and character animations are slick and impressive.
The script is smattered with tons of neat self-referential and self-deprecating touches. And a generous helping of expletives and toilet humour, naturally. The sleazy squirrel is clearly the star of the show. Alcoholic, lecherous, yet immeasurably funny, he's complemented by a whole host of weird creations, from filth-spouting Scouse dung beetles to Gregg the grumbling Grim Reaper, with his irreverently amusing helium-pitched voice.
The game itself makes a successful platforming leap over to Xbox, and works remarkably well. Sure, there are still some inherent camera issues, but the sheer innovation and playability of the original shines through. Players work through each lush-looking environment, as Conker first struggles to find his way home, then fight the evil Tediz, minions of a comically oppressive Panther King. Each stage features entertaining, though not too taxing puzzles, which must be completed to trigger the next set of events. Controls are simple and intuitive, Conker's Bad Fur Day being one of the first game to use context-sensitive ones - hop on one of the help pads, and Conker will produce the object most likely to help you at that particular moment in the game.
Like the original, this update is a very solid title, not impossible but very tricky in places. Save for a few minor tweaks (there's less repetition during the Bull Shit stage, for example), the puzzles involve just as much exploration and lateral thinking. Unfortunately, some niggling problems are ported over as well, such as the often infuriating camera. Well-behaved for the most part, occasional challenges involve speedy jumps and changing direction, and the camera can't quite keep up. During the swimming stages, stray too close to a wall and it'll start shuddering and getting stuck.
So that's the bonus part. Because Rare has delivered, as part two of the package, one of the most impressive and enjoyable shooters of recent memory to partner its original platformer. Early looks at the game led us to believe this part of the title was solely for multiplayer enjoyment, but luckily that's absolutely not the case.
An extensive Campaign mode features the misleadingly named Dumbots, and includes all the best elements of team-based gameplay for the lone gunman, detailing the ongoing battle between the SHC (Squirrel High Command) and the evil Tediz. By setting the action over two eras (Old War and Future War), there's a huge variation of piss-taking humour on offer. Both the enemy and friendly AI in these campaigns are absolutely spot-on. Your virtual team-mates, when they're not in the middle of hilarious death throes, are surprisingly adept at working together. Each level features timed objectives, including CTF and other multiplayer-esque game modes. If an object needs to be destroyed, the heavy-duty Demolishers will step up, safe in the knowledge a Grunt or Sneeker class will be patrolling behind them, providing cover. And if you get a bit trigger-happy with the sniper rifle against enemies from a distance, they'll call in a Lone Ranger class of their own to deal with you.
Gameplay is fast and frantic, and the action never lets up for a second. Fur flies and stuffing gets knocked out, all in a blur of animal annihilation. This is one of the most chaotic, enjoyable, shooters we've played in a long time. Playing much like a full-on Live blaster, an intuitive and massively useful HUD keeps the experience sane. Comical names are displayed above each character's head, along with an energy bar. When you land a hit, red skulls are displayed above the enemy. This may seem crude and rudimentary, but believe us, is an inspired godsend right in the middle of a hectic battle. The amount going on on-screen at any one time is truly staggering, with explosions, massive electrical grenades, armies of marauding Ninjas and flaming Tediz flying all over the shop. The only downside is a bit of slowdown during the most hectic moments, but given the ferocity of the firefights, it's excusable.
Once again though, this is rock, rock hard. You'll be swearing to high heaven, throwing controllers around, and spouting more expletives than your foul-mouthed character (unfortunately not Conker himself, but a generic Squirrel/Tediz trooper). In a neat touch however, the Campaign ties in with Bad Fur Day. We get to see how the rather un-PC Von Kriplespac lost his legs, going on to become the Panther King's wheelchair bound inventor, and how the King himself left a legacy discovered in the Future War levels.
Another stroke of genius is the ability to play as either faction on each map. It's a real novelty to be storming a beach with your squirrel comrades on the one hand, then replaying the level as part of the evil Tediz, trying to repel the invaders. You can swap soldier classes at any point as well, which at certain points in the game is vital. Sometimes it's advantageous to snipe from a distance while your team-mates try to steal enemy plans, for example, then switch halfway through the mission to get stuck in and blow up the second objective yourself as a heavy weapons expert. If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing yourself, as they say.
Switching between each character's weapons is a simple affair, though try and do it at speed (or on the move) and it becomes somewhat trickier. Selecting a grenade is easy enough, but the animation of actually throwing it is painfully slow, and detracts from the atmosphere somewhat. That said, each character has the choice of two special abilities, conveniently accessed with a quick tap of the X-button, that also adds considerable depth to the game.
The multiplayer side of the game is right up there with the best of them, too. Up to 16 players can fight it out for either faction - look out for the full Live review in next month's mag - this is sure to Liven up your online experience if Halo 2 is becoming stilted and stale. Dumbots are replaced by human fighters, and again the impressive amount of variation, through character types, maps and game types keeps every match fresh. Split-screen co-operative mode is a right laugh too - a feature lacking in many shooters of late.
So what's not to like about the filthy squirrel's new Xbox game? Not a lot. And that's just the original Bad Fur Day. Factor in a visceral shooter splattered with as much humour as the original, impressive graphics, innovative puzzles, and more importantly, a cracking script, and you've got two fantastic party games for the price of one. It's a corker and no mistake!
Official Xbox Magazine staff
// Overview
Verdict
Rare finally delivers a game worthy of its pedigree. A wildly funny, charmingly crude and immensely playable title.
LOOK CAREFULLY and you'll find a smattering of amusing film and videogame references throughout the game, sometimes too subtle to immediately spot. Here our five of our favourite, more obvious, homages...
Similar to the ship in Event Horizon, this elongated map features time-warping effects.
On a lost colony in space? No one can hear you scream on this direct Aliens reference.
The Future War period is inspired by the landscape of Terminator 2. Watch those ships!
This barn boss is revealed as a Terminator, later rising from flames to the film’s score.
The Future War takes players to the Tediz’ Mars-like home planet, known as Doon!
// BULL SHIT
BFD ISN'T FOR the easily offended, or even for the weak of stomach. Different challenges involve some disgusting task or other, usually involving bodily functions. Here, Conker must try to produce enough excrement to satisfy a grumpy dung beetle. Not your everyday gaming challenge, is it?
...which obviously produces the goods through the poo grate. Nice.
She’ll go lap up the prune juice you’ve previously released...
Make way for the next one by ramming her into bits. Anyone for BBQ?
This cow’s looking a bit slow, so ram her to give her a prompt.
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
