Review: Shank
Game: Shank
Format: Xbox Live Arcade, Playstation Network
Developer: Klei Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts
It’s perhaps surprising that more games haven’t drawn on the imagery of exploitation movies, given the genre’s prevalence of striking images and over-the-top violence, both of which are fully present here. Shank joins AM2’s passably entertaining Wet in the “Grindhouse” category and, like that game, seemingly draws its influence far more from modern filmmakers Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino than from the down-and-dirty acts of cinematic vandalism that inspired them (how I long for a game inspired by Cannibal Ferox; Ilsa: She-Wolf of the S.S. or Eugenie: The Story of Her Journey Into Perversion). Unlike Wet however, Shank has a focused approach to action gameplay and a striking aesthetic of its own.
Combat follows a familiar light/heavy/ranged attack pattern, as well as grapples and a pounce maneuver cribbed from Raven’s generally excellent X-Men Origins: Wolverine tie-in. As in Wolverine, pounce is invaluable for closing the distance between Shank and dangerous gun-toting enemies on the opposite end of the screen, as well as for escaping from a frantic melee brawl. A number of weapons become available as the game progresses, starting with twin pistols and a chainsaw, and eventually expanding to include shotguns, machine pistols, twin machetes, a katana, and a length of grimy chain wrapped around Shank’s fist.
Boss fights are generally short and sweet, revolving around tricking the boss into opening himself up to a devastating grapple attack.
These weapons are freely hot-swappable, allowing for varied mix-and-match tactics: soften an enemy up with a few knife slashes, fire them into the air with a chainsaw uppercut and then juggle them with the shotgun. Access to weapons opens up a range of experimental strategies and, make no mistake, these will need to be mastered if you’re to survive some of the massive brawls that occur in the later levels.
The game also offers up athletic, high speed platforming sections involving wall-running, pole-swinging, and climbing. It all has a pleasant flow to it, but ultimately serves only as a brief palate-cleanser between the brutal knife-fights.
The game offers occasional stylisations such as these scenes silhouetted against the setting sun.
Two player local co-op is also included, and takes the form of a separate campaign set in the past, before Shank was betrayed by his gang of Hispanic ninja perverts. As revealed in our interview with Klei Entertainment, there is no online co-op, which is a minor disappointment. Welcome as this extra content is, it can become a little chaotic and cluttered, with characters flying left-and-right flailing wildly, and too-little differentiation between player characters and enemies.
Review Round-Up
GRAPHICS – 5/5 – Stylized, engaging character designs, brilliantly animated with flair and grace. A joy to see in motion.
SOUND – 3/5 – Well-designed sound effects and an evocative Los Lobos-informed soundtrack. Voice work is reasonably well-acted and amusingly macho. Special mention must go to the villain, who has a lustrous ponytail, cravat, and speaks almost entirely in trite aphorisms.
STORY – 3/5 – Shank’s tale of vengeance is admirably concise, ensuring it doesn’t overstay its welcome. Influence has apparently been drawn from “golden age comic-books and graphic novels”, though the only particular evidence of that is a passing similarity to the works of Frank Miller and Jack Kirby. The strongest resemblance in both art design and plot is to Robert Rodriguez’s excellent Mexploitation films like El Mariachi and From Dusk ‘Til Dawn.
GAMEPLAY – 3/5 – A generally well-judged mixture of athletic, high-momentum platforming and flexible, free-form combat. Boss battles are interesting and well-differentiated, if occasionally a little clumsy. Combat invites button-mashing, but contains a greater complexity than it first suggests.
LONGEVITY – 3/5 – Easily finished in a couple of hours, depending on how much trouble you have with some of the bosses. The independent co-op mode extends the game’s life a little further, as does the hard mode, which makes enemies a little tougher and removes mid-level checkpoints. Get killed and it’s straight back to the beginning.
OVERALL – 3 Choked Mexican Gimps out of 5
Striking and stylishly presented, Shank remains something of a blunt instrument in its gameplay. Level design is generally uninspired and platforming feels fairly superficial, but the meat of the game is in the combat, and that much is robust and broadly entertaining. It may ultimately have more style than substance, but this is true popcorn entertainment nonetheless.
Shank is available to download now on Xbox Live Arcade for 1200 Microsoft Points (about £10) and on the Playstation Network for £9.99.
- Elliot Mears
Somewhat agree and disagree with the review. On the whole it’s spot on, after all the game in terms of gameplay does nothing new, in fact it’s gameplay is down right ancient to say the least, AND perhaps at 1200 points it’s A LITTLE overpriced…
BUT! For me the game is still a really fun romp and whilst it lacks depth in it’s gameplay, for 1200 points you get 2 fairly long and brilliantly written stories (multiplayer and singleplayer), an unlockable system and an interesting, unique graphical style that includes some beautiful cut scenes.
Lacks stuff in the gameplay department but still a great game.
I’ve played through the first level on PS3 (uk account newbs) and really enjoyed it. It’s simple, bloody fun.
Anyone else struggle with thefinal boss? I’m finding it a little frustrating
I did too, until I realised that you need to avoid attacking him, and just try to parry him. When he does his lungey move, doge past him and wack him two or three times in the back. If you go ahead and try to attack him he will destroy you.
The thing I found most annoying was that there is a very clear point for there to be a checkpoint after the middle cut scene, but they don’t use it.