DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue

In a lot of ways, I enjoyed T.O.V. even more than I liked the first one. This sequel seems better put together and has slightly more personality.

DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue is no doubt more of the same stuff but it's a more of the same we like because it's damn fun. To make things crystal clear, if you enjoyed the previous installment you will also love DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue regardless of dejavu feelings, but if you didn't go crazy about the franchise before, you will not change your mind. The overall quality is just the same, excellent as much as cheap: a solid, lengthy 6-8 hours adventure, tad harder than before but even more fun.

The game world is larger this time around, and there is ultimately mode to see and do in this game than the original Deathspank.

It's just as addictive, just as pretty, and I dare say it's even a little funnier.

With a rehashed battle system and a story very loosely tied together by tight underwear, Thongs of Virtue is not as cohesive nor as innovative as its predecessor. But it feels overbearing to criticize an unflinchingly goofy 15-hour adventure that couldn't take itself any less seriously if it tried.

DeathSpank sends up conventions brilliantly. A must for fans of the first. [Issue#232, p.87]

A strange beast, this: funny and addictive and crass in equal measure. Seen as a sequel it can feel a little like a lazy cash-in, but seen as the latest episode in the life of DeathSpank it's well worth picking up.

With the amount of quests and one-liners packed into this downloadable package, you will definitely have your money well spent with Thongs of Virtue, which will land you with about 10-15 hours of game time.

It has no real new features in comparison with the first release, so it may dissapoint some players, but it retains the original's strenghts.

Unfortunately, the truth remains that because of its lack of remarkable or memorable gameplay and aesthetics, combined with mostly lukewarm humor, there are many more games that players will spend $15 on before even considering Deathspank.

Thongs of Virtue is the second half of Deathspank. Billing this as a sequel is a bit disingenuous, but thankfully Deathspank's structure was quite good to begin with, and the humorous presentation remains delightfully distinctive.

The larger scope of Thongs of Virtue makes it a great second entry, but when comparing it to the first, the lack of improvements put it in a bad position. It's definitely still a worthy title but it would have been even better had there been more time between releases and some much needed improvements were made.

A perfect product for all the fans of the firts chapter: questing is sometimes too easy, cooperative is lacking depth and some polish is missing, yet it's still a ton of fun.

There's a bit more quest variety, but that's really about it in terms of changes. So, if you're itching to get your hands on more DeathSpank, Thongs of Virtue is more of the same, in the best way possible. It's just as well written and silly as its predecessor with just as much charm.

The conclusion to DeathSpank's tale doesn't veer far from the original, but that doesn't make it any less fun.

The fantasy setting of the first game has been tweaked...but it's still the same crisply imagined carnage we already love. [Issue#51, p.109]

Appropriately many have labeled Thongs of Virtue as simply DeathSpank 1.5.

There's still good fun here, and it's exceptional value for money, but perhaps hold off until the lustre of the first game has faded a smidgen, when this retread will likely appear a little less than what it is: merely a very good – if perhaps unrequested – retake.

Quotation forthcoming.

Sure, the poop gags are a little wearisome, but a sprinkling of the old Gilbert magic makes it a worthwhile ride.

For the perfectionists out there, there are tons of missions to accomplish and most gamers will never have to touch a fortune cookie.