Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death

 PC
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 86 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 47 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 86
  3. Negative: 12 out of 86

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  1. Matseb2611
    Aug 23, 2015
    9
    I'd say this game is quite underrated and even underpriced. It's a pretty standard formula of action adventure games akin to the likes of Darksiders, God of War, and Devil May Cry, and it might do everything that's been done before, but it does so very well and manages to stay fun throughout.

    The gameplay is nicely balanced between combat sections, platforming, puzzles, and mini-games.    I'd say this game is quite underrated and even underpriced. It's a pretty standard formula of action adventure games akin to the likes of Darksiders, God of War, and Devil May Cry, and it might do everything that's been done before, but it does so very well and manages to stay fun throughout.

    The gameplay is nicely balanced between combat sections, platforming, puzzles, and mini-games. You're never doing the same thing for too long, which keeps the experience fresh and entertaining. As you progress through the game, your weapon acquires different forms (scythe, twin daggers, whip, and hammer), which are useful in different situations and you can switch between them at any time. In addition you also learn some very powerful spells which are good at clearing out large crowds of enemies.

    Overall the difficulty I felt was balanced perfectly. There were no unexpected difficulty spikes and most of it was a smooth ride. In the last quarter of the game it gets a bit challenging, but it does so gradually and reasonably. Only one section involving a certain collapsing underground bridge felt a bit cheap since it gave me a lot of insta-deaths, but that section was pretty short.

    I really enjoyed most of the mini-games, such as the first-person shooting sections where you have to mount a turret and shoot down helicopters, or even flying one yourself, or sliding down the cliffs and dodging obstacles. No overcomplicated mechanics. Just simple and fun mini-games to give you a small break from fighting and platforming.

    The plot is somewhat cheesy and lighthearted, but the main character is quite likeable, and his frequent dialogue exchanges with his sidekick, the Mask of Death, are all very funny. The length was also quite spot on for a game like this. Took me about 10 hours to beat it on Normal.

    My only serious critique for this game would be the occasional crashes to desktop that I got (and it seems there are some other people who get them too). It wasn't too bad, since the game has very frequent checkpoints, so you don't lose a lot of progress, but it's still a bug.

    I'd say if you enjoy action adventure games and seek something to give you heaps of entertainment, then I'd highly recommend this game. I got it for merely £4 (~$6), which is its full price on Steam and enjoyed it way more than some games which I bought for a higher price.    … Expand
  2. popalazarou
    Nov 10, 2013
    10
    If you like non stop action and good graphics then get into this. Its a great game which is very addicting. I was so surprised how much i liked this game. I think the magazine reviews are to harsh. This game will grab you as soon as you start playing. Its only 3 quid on steam, what a bargain. Hope they make some more episodes of this game
  3. belairjeff
    Jun 22, 2014
    8
    I got this game for $1.00 from the Summer Steam Sale. And all I can say is that I was delightfully surprised and impressed with his game. Hilariously over-the-top plot and funny/awful dialog throughout. I beat the game in one 7 hour sitting. It's definitely worth that sale price.

    I recommend this game to any action game fan looking for a cheap fix.
  4. Slipper
    Sep 28, 2013
    10
    Just great. this is one really awesome game. Fun to play, action packed, beautiful graphics, very good sound effects and soundtrack. Combat system is easy to learn, but controller is highly recommended. For the price of 13.99 euros this is well done investment To bad that there is no co-op, then it would be just unbeatable comparing to some other big budget games. Keep up the good workJust great. this is one really awesome game. Fun to play, action packed, beautiful graphics, very good sound effects and soundtrack. Combat system is easy to learn, but controller is highly recommended. For the price of 13.99 euros this is well done investment To bad that there is no co-op, then it would be just unbeatable comparing to some other big budget games. Keep up the good work ZootFly bring us more awesome games.… Expand
  5. attallah
    Sep 22, 2013
    9
    Very action packed, stupidly good, and by stupid, I mean an enchanting action-packed experience, well done, good story-line, hot characters and explosive-game play
  6. demiurge
    Sep 25, 2013
    10
    Well, that was a genuine surprise! Who'd think an under-the-radar game would be so gratifying and fun. Did anyone try the credits? Gotta love the effort. OK, now back to GTAV...
  7. coupdegrac3
    Sep 24, 2013
    8
    14€ for a action adventure that brings 7-10 h of gameplay? sounds good right?
    well
    the animation are pretty and the soundtrack isnt anything special
    the story isnt srs at all. the game doesnt take itself srs at all but that makes the game fun
    the combat was also pretty fun
    the controlls are ported from consoles so i would recommend a gamepad
    but its cheap and brings alot of fun
  8. cicala
    Sep 27, 2013
    10
    People may not know about the developer ZootFly but boy will this put them in the spotlight. For an XBLA game/port it is brilliant in almost all categories. The voice acting is somewhat lacking but the game makes up for it with it's fast paced gameplay, simple yet awesome visuals and overall Presentation with brilliant cutscenes, and the cinematic quality is on par with AAA games.
    The    People may not know about the developer ZootFly but boy will this put them in the spotlight. For an XBLA game/port it is brilliant in almost all categories. The voice acting is somewhat lacking but the game makes up for it with it's fast paced gameplay, simple yet awesome visuals and overall Presentation with brilliant cutscenes, and the cinematic quality is on par with AAA games.
    The combat is very closely related to DmC 5 and the God of War series but that is what many games use as a template nowadays.    … Expand
  9. Zitomir
    Sep 24, 2013
    10
    AWESOME game!!! AMAZING! Really like the story and the way it leads you through. The graphics is also very nice, I know that this is not like games form crytek but the gameplay is simply great!
  10. dillos
    Sep 23, 2013
    10
    very good budget game i must admit i'm surprised of the quality of this game a lot of action for your money and good voice and graphic i wait the 2 episode
  11. Vedran
    Sep 24, 2013
    10
    Ok I installed the game tomorrow and I have to stay I'm still playing it. It's superb! Absolutely addictive and I give it 10/10 because it deserves it.
  12. Skiff
    Mar 31, 2014
    9
    I picked this up on the steam sale for a couple of bucks, and it's a hell of a buy. Brawlers aren't really my thing, but MB:ML is a lot of fun, and it's got a fair whack of character. It moves quickly and feels epic.

    I like how it kicks you straight into the game at the start - and there are some nice meta jokes throughout "who the hell designed this?!". The combo trainer is pretty    I picked this up on the steam sale for a couple of bucks, and it's a hell of a buy. Brawlers aren't really my thing, but MB:ML is a lot of fun, and it's got a fair whack of character. It moves quickly and feels epic.

    I like how it kicks you straight into the game at the start - and there are some nice meta jokes throughout "who the hell designed this?!". The combo trainer is pretty nifty, although I often ended up button mashing.

    There's some interesting platforming and good enemy variety. The turret sections were a bit lame however, and the associated sound assets were pretty poor. It also lack graphics options and little things - like an in-game achievement menu and proper save slots.

    Otherwise, an excellent and it would seem critically under-appreciated buy.    … Expand
  13. TheBaconWalrus
    Jun 23, 2014
    10
    Sassy black men. Simple as that. You cannot go wrong with sassy black men in video games. 10 out of 10 game of the year, every single year. Long live Marlow Briggs.
  14. art-kandy
    Dec 23, 2014
    10
    A wonderful game. Its energy is magnificent. It's a pity that it is one of the underestimated games.
    I've bought this game on Steam with big discount but as a result this game is worth much more price.
  15. 99dolar
    Feb 3, 2017
    8
    This game is one of the best unknown games on the market. I had no expectations about this game before i started playing. But i saw what's coming; a great action-adventure game with great combat and great graphics. I recommend this game to everyone.
  16. VidGamingFather
    Jul 27, 2022
    8
    My Video Review is available here:
    https://youtu.be/z2D_yhb9lDE
    Was this attempt for low budget God of War successful or should you better forget about it? I have found many positives in the game - well developed story with many cutscenes and slow motion cuts, enjoyable fighting with many combos, funny minigames, presence of RPG elements, reasonable difficulty, solid controls, good    My Video Review is available here:
    https://youtu.be/z2D_yhb9lDE

    Was this attempt for low budget God of War successful or should you better forget about it? I have found many positives in the game - well developed story with many cutscenes and slow motion cuts, enjoyable fighting with many combos, funny minigames, presence of RPG elements, reasonable difficulty, solid controls, good level design, nice graphics and atmospheric sounds along with solid dubbing of main characters. One can also find some negatives here like not so charismatic main characters, just a basic platforming with sometimes clunky controls, too limiting skill upgrades and low variability of environment. As Marlow Briggs is the lone wolf in the style of good old action movies there is no local multiplayer and that game itself is not very suitable for family playing due to its violent character.

    Pros:
    - story
    - fighting part
    - minigames
    - RPG elements
    - difficulty
    - level design
    - graphics
    - sounds
    - price

    Cons:
    - charisma of main characters
    - simplistic platforming part
    - limiting skill upgrades
    - variability of environment

    For a very low price you will get fast paced B-Movies-like action with a sense of humor that changes the game styles in a smart way not to become repetitive too soon. I have really enjoyed the time spent by playing Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death and I am therefore giving it Thumbs Up and VideoGaming Father’s index 8 out of 10 - recommended.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Eurogamer Italy
    Dec 4, 2013
    60
    At times funny and at times not, Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death is a pretty decent action game with a serious lack of inspiration. Even with all its deficiencies it is a nice indie clone of God of War, but it could have been much more than just that.
    Read full review
  2. Hooked Gamers
    Oct 29, 2013
    58
    Marlo Briggs and the Mask of Death is an action packed, brain-dead, budget thriller and if you are looking for a cheap release for all that repressed adrenaline, you will definitely be able to find worse things to do with your money. If, however, you are looking for a challenge to your intellect or a test of your skills, look elsewhere. The only thing Marlo Briggs will challenge is your patience.
    Read full review
  3. 3DJuegos
    Oct 3, 2013
    65
    Marlow Briggs is not a bad game, but it lacks polish and gets repetitive quickly.
    Read full review
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