South Park: The Fractured But Whole

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 574 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 407 out of 574
  2. Mixed: 112 out of 574
  3. Negative: 55 out of 574
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  1. antoniosobrinho
    Oct 27, 2017
    10
    Really great game. Ultimate South Park experience. The games combat was improved. Very interesting mechanics. This game is an absolute blast from start to finish.
  2. shlammer
    Oct 26, 2017
    10
    This game is a top notch entertainment package for the mature audience with a good sense of humor - especially made for South Park fans - and an all around solid good game with so many fun options. Built on Snowdrop (engine) with both casual and strategy players in mind, this (avg) 20 hr game has a greater replay value and consistency in design than the first installment.

    Audio (10/10):    This game is a top notch entertainment package for the mature audience with a good sense of humor - especially made for South Park fans - and an all around solid good game with so many fun options. Built on Snowdrop (engine) with both casual and strategy players in mind, this (avg) 20 hr game has a greater replay value and consistency in design than the first installment.

    Audio (10/10): Immersive music, authentic voice, with hysterical sound effects. The much needed social commentary, situational variety and well rounded comedy are exemplified by an excellent audio kit, original voice actors, and professional game score that picks up and dips with on-screen action.

    Graphics (10/10): Seamless animation, design and visual effects. South Park design, hand-drawn character animation, cleaner than ever lines and overall achieves exactly the goal of appearing like an episode of the show. Attention to detail adds to comedy and immersion, and exploring the different specials and actions will keep you busy for days.

    Gameplay (10/10): Authentic. Light RPG, immaculate content depth, satisfying puzzles and locations. Enemy variety a huge plus, combat can be played as a short or long game (based on difficulty setting which can be changed at any time, even mid-combat). Accessibility of the open world is clean and charming, character customization and abilities are well made and endless, XP progress and Artifacts are evenly distributed, collectible items are never painfully hidden or require any backtracking, and the consistency of story all make for a seamless play-through for main and side quests.

    Fight the construct of an elitist consumerism bent on a singular perspective, and buy this game!    … Expand
  3. dewdar
    Oct 25, 2017
    8
    Stick of Truth was one of the best licensed games I have ever come across. It is pretty hard to top such a great game, as for the gameplay and the story campaign.

    Good news is the developers have worked hard on the gameplay aspect of the game, and it really payed off. As someone who is not much into RPG games I was really into the combat system and game progression. I was pleasantly    Stick of Truth was one of the best licensed games I have ever come across. It is pretty hard to top such a great game, as for the gameplay and the story campaign.

    Good news is the developers have worked hard on the gameplay aspect of the game, and it really payed off. As someone who is not much into RPG games I was really into the combat system and game progression. I was pleasantly surprised to see new features in the combat system which I already enjoy from previous installment. Some of the added features in the game has other already mentioned, like environmental impact on the opponents. Another thing worth mentioning is the scripted parts in a lot of the battles which can be entertaining, it can have its own cons as well. Some fight are slightly changed making it feel like it's a "BOSS" fight, giving new refreshing experience.

    Exploring with puzzle elements is a great welcome. Collectables are back and not just rehashed previous material, which keeps the game fresh. Game manages to show new stuff you haven't seen in the show, while being faithful to the source. So throughout the game will not feel other than like you're a part of South Park story.

    However, the game is far from being perfect. Fortunately, there are no major problems with the game. Some of the scripted scenes, when you fight against enemies, which I mentioned previously, can be annoying. Some battles can be very hard and feel unbalanced, imagine playing same thing all over again and watching the same scene again and again... worst part is, that it's probably Kyle's cousin who's appearing... Another minor issue I have with the game is the interaction with the environment, sometimes the button for interacting with other won't appear and you will have to try again by going away from object and back. Another time I was baffled with QTE, the game cannot give clear instructions if you're supposed to press or hold buttons.

    Part which I really did not enjoy is the farting (no pun intended). When a lot of abilities of the character are depending on farting, the joke gets old really fast, and unfortunately it overstays its "welcome".

    As for the story, it all subjective. A lot of people will probably complain how the game has more references to the newer stuff, and if you haven’t watched last season’s it's understandable if you don't understand jokes or find it funny. In my opinion Stick of Truth had a better presentation and the story, but still it doesn't mean I did not enjoy this game experience. This story was great addition to the SP universe and I will consider checking the later DLCs for the game.

    So, in conclusion, it's a great game. If you enjoyed Stick of Truth and want come back to South Park for new adventures with slight updates of gameplay this game has you covered. However, if you're expecting "bigger and longer" game and story, I would suggest passing this one.    … Expand
  4. Mortalus
    Oct 24, 2017
    10
    This is an amazing game ! I finished it yesterday and I enjoyed every bit of it, I would like to highlight the side quest with semen and gay fish, I honestly cried from laughing. If you liked Stick of truth this is game for you by all means ! I was once again amazed at the absurdity of main villain and the end of the game. I also enjoyed combat a lot as you unlock new superhero powersThis is an amazing game ! I finished it yesterday and I enjoyed every bit of it, I would like to highlight the side quest with semen and gay fish, I honestly cried from laughing. If you liked Stick of truth this is game for you by all means ! I was once again amazed at the absurdity of main villain and the end of the game. I also enjoyed combat a lot as you unlock new superhero powers through the game and eventually you have every superhero unlocked (out of 12) and you can change your style whenever you want. As I previously mentioned for those who liked stick of truth, this is a must have !… Expand
  5. roundtablegamer
    Oct 24, 2017
    9
    The potty mouth 4th graders, Cartman, Kyle, Stan & Kenny are back. Matt Stone and Trey Parker bring us another adventure in the video game world rather than on the small screen. Does the new installment in this franchise hold up as well of the first one? Let us find out.

    South Park the fracture but whole picks up right where the first one left off. You are still playing the middle    The potty mouth 4th graders, Cartman, Kyle, Stan & Kenny are back. Matt Stone and Trey Parker bring us another adventure in the video game world rather than on the small screen. Does the new installment in this franchise hold up as well of the first one? Let us find out.

    South Park the fracture but whole picks up right where the first one left off. You are still playing the middle age’s game for about five minutes, during this time it will give you a quick over view of the new combat system. At the end of those five minutes, you run in to Cartman, who has switched games to superheroes. Once the game switches over, you start at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to your popularity. You will then have the story of the game explained to you; you are looking for missing cats in
    South Park in order for a reward so you can fund your super hero franchise. There is two sides of the super heroes, the coon and friends & the freedom pals who are in a civil war. In the story line, they are making fun of the marvel cinematic universe. As you progress through the story you find out there is more to it than just finding the cats for a reward there is a darker side to it than just what meets the eye.

    The Game Play in South Park is just about the same as the first installment but a little bit more in depth, especially when it comes to the combat. This time you move along a certain amount of spaces along a grid to reach your target. Each move you do has a different range of attack, which adds a nice variety to the combat. Don’t worry about going in alone it never happens. On your side you can have up to three different sidekicks like The Coon, Captain Diabetes, The Human Kite, Mosquito and much more. Each of them offering their unique abilities to help you on your journey throughout South Park. A few of the new additions to the game play is crafting, you can build costumes, consumables and more. Throughout your adventure, you will pick up artifacts, which gives you more strength for your attacks it is highly recommended especially towards the end of the game when you need a might of 500 for some missions otherwise you will have a difficult time completing these missions. South Park is a mix of open world; turn base combat, RPG game. When you are travelling through the world you will run in to characters who will assign side missions to you this will help you get new artifacts and level up.

    South Park the Fractured But whole is a proper and wonderful sequel, keeping the humor of the show, adding more to the combat and exploration. I loved by 18 hours of game play I completed the story was able to complete all the side missions except for two of them and get all the collectibles & I hope a third one comes out this is one title you don’t want to miss this year.

    Score: 9/10

    Reviewed by ICE at Gamers of the Round Table    … Expand
  6. dty
    Oct 24, 2017
    9
    Disclaimer: Review is from an extreme South Park fan.
    If you love South Park, you will love this game, simple. Much like The Stick of Truth this is all any fan could ever ask for from a South Park game. All the humour is there, all the references, its just exactly what you'd expect from South Park, it's absolutely awesome. Gameplay wise it's great fun, regardless of being South Park I    Disclaimer: Review is from an extreme South Park fan.
    If you love South Park, you will love this game, simple. Much like The Stick of Truth this is all any fan could ever ask for from a South Park game. All the humour is there, all the references, its just exactly what you'd expect from South Park, it's absolutely awesome. Gameplay wise it's great fun, regardless of being South Park I loved the combat, I played on the highest difficulty and found it both challenging and satisfying to win. I would of given this game a 10 if it wasn't for quite a few bugs that I ran into.    … Expand
  7. Forve
    Oct 24, 2017
    4
    Played around 5 to 7 hours. I can handle boring quests, but only if they come with healthy dose of humor, which is not the case with this game. This is basically the first game without good jokes and writing.
  8. SiltyDoubloon
    Oct 24, 2017
    10
    If you're a fan of the show, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up. Even though this one is not as good as Stick of Truth because the game is a bit dull in the first half but it picks up the pace in the 2nd half. Get it. You won't regret it for sure.
  9. SaintJames012
    Oct 24, 2017
    7
    To say Fractured but Whole is an improvement to Stick of Truth is somewhat of a mixed statement. In many aspects of the game, FbW indeed improves over its predecessor, but in other aspects the game falls short of the expectations that SoT laid down as a foundation.

    Gameplay: When it comes to combat, the game took away the basic turn based RPG element and replaced it with a tactical    To say Fractured but Whole is an improvement to Stick of Truth is somewhat of a mixed statement. In many aspects of the game, FbW indeed improves over its predecessor, but in other aspects the game falls short of the expectations that SoT laid down as a foundation.

    Gameplay:
    When it comes to combat, the game took away the basic turn based RPG element and replaced it with a tactical turn-based RPG system. This, for the most part is an improvement over SoT, as it now adds a more complex and defined strategic feel to the game. Characters always have been the focal point in both games, but when it came to combat, for the most part party members in SoT more or less blended together, as you could switch any of them out and still maintain any of the basic styles of play. Now, with an actual grid to play on, party members now have a more diverse moveset that allows them to not only interact with the player through dialogue, but also party synergy. That is not to say that they are completely diverse. An issue with the FbW is that many of the classes still feel the same. 2 specific characters (not named for spoilers) are the same type of hero, and so their moveset is more or less identical. These aren't the only party members who have this issue either. While this allows for you the player to play whoever you want in regards to show favorites, it does mean that the difference between one character and another is pretty limited.

    Story (no spoilers):
    The story of FbW takes place a little while after SoT, and the neighborhood children decide to do away with the Tolkien-esque world and enter into the world of superheroes. As the new kid, you were not living in the neighborhood when the main characters of the show created Coon & Friends, so you must put away your crown as the ruler of the fantasy world and dawn the cape of a rookie sidekick in order to regain the power you once had. Dialogue-wise, the game offers just what you would expect from South Park, as cutscenes and narrative points bounce back and forth between hilarity and shock & awe. The only issue with the story really comes from the lack of originality in the sidequests. Most of the side quests that you happen upon in this game are glorified fetch quests, asking you to either find or place something around the town of South Park. This can and will get old very quickly, and offer little in the way of reward worth having.

    Shortcomings:
    One of the major issues that FbW suffers from is the over reliance on what has been established in the past. While it does have alot of original comedy to hold you down, much of the easter eggs, fetch quests, main plot points, and even a sizable portion of jokes are call backs to the show. While this has worked for the first game, the issue is that as a second game, some of the jokes have already been told and are simply being told again. Combat is also very repetitive. While the first chunk of the game offers refreshing fights and interesting boss battles, there comes a point where everything that was going to be shown has been shown. I can't tell you how many times I have gone into combat thinking it to be a boss battle only for it to be a simple fight where the enemies simply re-spawn after defeating the first wave. In addition, once your character becomes overpowered, every fight becomes meaningless, as the loot dropped from the battles offer nothing new or exciting. This in essence, becomes the moment combat becomes a chore rather than a challenge. The enemies outside of bosses are repetitive as well, as every single one, from sixth graders to crab people have the same basic move set. There is no required change of strategy when fighting any enemy that is different from another.

    Conclusion:
    South Park: The Fractured But Whole is not a perfect game. It does not deserve a 10, nor is it really a legitimate competitor for any Game of the Year awards. Much of its luster is simply a rehash of what made Stick of Truth such a fun experience, and while Fractured but Whole is undoubtedly a fun experience, it simply is not different enough, or have a level of depth needed to make it that much better than its predecessor.    … Expand
  10. peepeetime
    Oct 23, 2017
    9
    It's South Park. If you like the show then you'll likely love this. If not, then it won't be for you. Like The Stick of Truth, I'd say all the "side quests" are pretty much mandatory (minus the yaoi and memberberry collection ones) to get the most out of the game.
  11. Classikalcase
    Oct 23, 2017
    7
    For South Park Fans, this is a must buy. Many great story lines in this sequel.

    If you are looking for a robust, hard, and depth RPG, look else where.

    This game is more of a rental, as you can grind out the game within a weekend.

    7/10 from a South Park fan.
  12. Tre251
    Oct 23, 2017
    10
    I got the gold edition for £54.99 when it was that price on pre-order back in mid-2016, now it is £74.99! that's crazy! So happy I preordered the game and saved £20! The game for the price I paid at least is very good all DLC and extra content included. the Gold edition DLC is not related to the storyline ark so you won't be missing out as much as you may think.

    There are a few dialogue    I got the gold edition for £54.99 when it was that price on pre-order back in mid-2016, now it is £74.99! that's crazy! So happy I preordered the game and saved £20! The game for the price I paid at least is very good all DLC and extra content included. the Gold edition DLC is not related to the storyline ark so you won't be missing out as much as you may think.

    There are a few dialogue bugs I must admit but I have almost completed the game and it has only crashed once. I get no black screen like some steam users are saying they get but then again I have the Uplay client and not the steam version installed.

    Games humour is very funny and the combat is not just one turn you, one turn your enemy like the stick of truth, it is mixed with obstacles and moving danger zones etc makes the game combat more epic as you rank up XP and move along the world.    … Expand
  13. wewantwar
    Oct 22, 2017
    9
    If you are a fan of a show, watched more than 16 seasons+, played and enjoyed Stick of Truth, then you will definitely like this one, because it's much more bigger and better. I am near the completion and my time is around 20 hours, well, i should mention that i also did most of the side quests. I am guessing that when i actually finish the game my time will be around 22+. What else should i add?
  14. robertpetrea23
    Oct 22, 2017
    8
    As a lot of people said, the game is good, but not great. It's a fun playable South Park episode, but it's no Stick of Truth (plot or mechanics wise). I wish a lot more areas were open for exploration but I guess Ubisoft gotta get that sweet sweet Season Pass/DLC money. I hope that the Casa Bonita and Bring the Crunch DLCs will redeem it somewhat. Unfortunately it looks like no Canada isAs a lot of people said, the game is good, but not great. It's a fun playable South Park episode, but it's no Stick of Truth (plot or mechanics wise). I wish a lot more areas were open for exploration but I guess Ubisoft gotta get that sweet sweet Season Pass/DLC money. I hope that the Casa Bonita and Bring the Crunch DLCs will redeem it somewhat. Unfortunately it looks like no Canada is in store, as opposed to what the guy on the border wall was saying (but fingers crossed anyway). I give it a solid 8, because I'm a big South Park fan (old and new episodes alike) but it's more in the 7.0-7.5 margin to be realistic.… Expand
  15. ourtimehascome
    Oct 22, 2017
    1
    For fans of the television show, it's probably a worthwhile venture. For anyone else, the humor most likely wouldn't be enough to sustain an enjoyable experience. I haven't watched the show since the first few seasons, and if this game is any indicator as to the animation's current quality, I am very disappointed. The most important part about South Park is the humor, and unfortunately itFor fans of the television show, it's probably a worthwhile venture. For anyone else, the humor most likely wouldn't be enough to sustain an enjoyable experience. I haven't watched the show since the first few seasons, and if this game is any indicator as to the animation's current quality, I am very disappointed. The most important part about South Park is the humor, and unfortunately it falls flat, which is surprising considering its entire purpose is to parody popular culture. The gameplay is even more trite than the story, though not by much. It is a turn-based RPG, but lacks any depth. It becomes repetitive quickly, and its only saving grace is its authenticity to the show.… Expand
  16. Majinvash
    Oct 21, 2017
    7
    Waiting for the funny.
    Really not sure where the super high scores are coming from. Maybe from people who haven't played Stick.
    I am 2hrs into it and its just a bit dull. I am going to keep playing as it must get funny at some point. By this time in the last game I was crying with laughter at almost ever turn. The combat is about the same but somehow slightly less fun. Dunno, its    Waiting for the funny.
    Really not sure where the super high scores are coming from. Maybe from people who haven't played Stick.
    I am 2hrs into it and its just a bit dull.
    I am going to keep playing as it must get funny at some point.
    By this time in the last game I was crying with laughter at almost ever turn.
    The combat is about the same but somehow slightly less fun.
    Dunno, its ok.. Its just not great compared to the first one, of which i was a huge fan and played it through a few times with different classes.    … Expand
  17. SuperkenGaming
    Oct 21, 2017
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. South Park The Fractures But Whole
    A Step in the wrong direction
    The Fractures but whole takes place the day after the stick of truth ends,
    This time you play once again as the new kid as the children of south park split into a civil war over who’s super hero franchise will make the most money..
    The game starts with letting you choose 1 of 3 classes, though your class isn’t as important as it may seem in the beginning as the story progresses you’ll be able to add more classes and pick and choose your 4 moves to bring into battle…
    The game takes place once again ins south park, this time around south park to me felt less alive, and much more of a video game hub world.. As it along with the story missions themselves are less varied…
    since your character stats are attached to artifacts this time that you plug into your DNA strand... exploration felt less necessary if I wasn’t interested in new cosmetics that added nothing to the battle system…
    Artifacts are obtained from fights and leveling up, and can be crafted from recipes you buy or find in chests…
    Crafting is where exploration comes into play the most as you have to craft consumable items to use in battle, but again I didn’t need consumables too often so this didn’t entice me to explore.. I had plenty by just opening the occasional chest id notice while playing through this 17 hr. story…
    improved over the stick of truth in my opinion are the jokes as they’re much more current and less inside jokey like the stick of truth…
    if you have a twitter you’ll be in on all of this games jokes..
    speaking of social media, doing tasks and leveling up will let you take selfies with characters to gain coonstagram followers, this will also help level you up as will fighting and collecting to open more slots for artifacts…
    I also like level progression more this time as you’re not switching through different modes.. You’re just scanning an item and calling in the right character you help you progress…
    Different this time is while the game is still turn based...
    instead of feeling like Pokémon, there is a grind based combat system that I’m not a fan of
    I like that in the grids there are red zones warning you something is about to happen and you have to try your hardest to move your party out of that zone..
    But when it comes to playing with the grid, things just get overly complicated with the different rules of each characters different move and sometimes larger characters are had to tell which grid they’re on
    every character in south park feels unique. All with their own attacks with different status attacks, but the direct and space they can attack just get confusing which had me canceling, moving and checking, until I positioned them in a spot I could attack my enemy…
    Most of the characters are pretty straight forward, but a few are definitely awkward to deal with…
    Farts are also a part of combat this time as you can use them to skip an opponent’s turn or pause time for some free damage…
    There’s also a meter that fills up as you take damage.. Filled fasted if you can recover some health by pressing x when you’re attacked... and this allows you to pull off a super move that can do massive damage to one character or light damage to all characters but with status effects for example…
    but I felt matches were a little too unpredictable in story as new characters would come into the fight frequently.. Never really letting you know how close to the end you are... so id hold onto these moves a lot of the time never getting to use them…
    The best part of this game is easily in its character… the story is ridiculous and the writing is great…
    the grid based combat is good.. but it’s not great like the turned based combat in the stick of truth…
    the game does sequel bait, and if the game stays turn based, I have in the next one they go back to the style in the stick of truth… both in combat and variety in the delivery of the story…
    I give South Park The Fractured But Whole
    a 7.5/10    … Expand
  18. normanwall
    Oct 21, 2017
    1
    Bugs, inexcusable Ubisoft DRM and poor optimization really hampered what could be a great game.

    The amount of content is amazing, graphics and sound are great but it has really been let down by working with Ubisoft.
  19. KittyWhisky
    Oct 21, 2017
    7
    THE FRACTURED BUT WHOLE - the long-awaited sequel to the best comic games. The game has changed. Unfortunately, something has not gone in her favor.

    The game became more bland. No humor and funny situations like in the first game. You pass the continuation on autopilot. well, that battle system is still good and does not let go of the screen. The joke is, some are funny, but funny    THE FRACTURED BUT WHOLE - the long-awaited sequel to the best comic games. The game has changed. Unfortunately, something has not gone in her favor.

    The game became more bland. No humor and funny situations like in the first game. You pass the continuation on autopilot. well, that battle system is still good and does not let go of the screen. The joke is, some are funny, but funny situations just yet. No dwarves. no aliens, but there are many jokes about farting. The game makes fun of the superhero franchise and does it well. But funny situations not enough.

    Gameplay is turn-based. And it's not bad! You'll get used to it. Pataias more tactics and diversity to battles. For example, you can push the enemy to the object and it will receive additional damage, and can not do. The battle was much harder. Sometimes the battle to be unnecessarily hard.

    The interface has changed, it became less clear. Also removed are the characteristics of the clothing. Now clothing is just appearance, which has no effect. as we no longer have orueta. At all. but pumping is. In the world you find artifacts or create their own. from artifacts depends on your level. The developers have replaced one on another. This is a controversial decision, but I accepted it.

    We also have the ability of your cool, which vary greatly. But fear not, we will be able to choose one class, and in the end we will reveal in General all classes. It is not clear why.

    THE FRACTURED BUT WHOLE ambiguous sequel. Much simplified, the story is not as funny, but there is a deeper battle system and a good irony. Yet I keep feeling that there's a lot I haven't told you. The first game was more varied storyline and more funny.    … Expand
  20. elLewy
    Oct 21, 2017
    9
    Really enjoyed the first instalment of the game. This one is even better. Although the game is very similar to the first, it's humour returns. I can guarantee there's something in this game to offend everyone. The combat mechanics are good, however in my personal opinion I did prefer the first. Customisation of the character is really cool, including the choosing of specific powers at theReally enjoyed the first instalment of the game. This one is even better. Although the game is very similar to the first, it's humour returns. I can guarantee there's something in this game to offend everyone. The combat mechanics are good, however in my personal opinion I did prefer the first. Customisation of the character is really cool, including the choosing of specific powers at the beginning. The one thing I am extremely happy with is the lack of glitches or bugs I have come across, there is none. The game has been made to perfection, and South Park fans or not will thoroughly enjoy this. Makes for more fun when my character is running around in an Assassin's Creed costume. Definitely worth the buy.… Expand
  21. mikepatyaev
    Oct 20, 2017
    8
    Really great game. like everyone else has said, it feels like a south park episode, but with really fun trpg battles like tactics ogre. Customization is cool and it's awesome to become immersed in south parks world. gud game gud game
  22. Goo4you
    Oct 20, 2017
    7
    The game is great, it looks great, the sound is great, it's like you are playing an episode of South Park!

    That is literally the same line people wrote about the stick of truth, it shouldn't be the crowning jewel complement for the fractured but whole (TFBW). Sadly it is. Everything you enjoyed about the first game is back here. For a person that owns a ps4 pro and really nice LG 4k    The game is great, it looks great, the sound is great, it's like you are playing an episode of South Park!

    That is literally the same line people wrote about the stick of truth, it shouldn't be the crowning jewel complement for the fractured but whole (TFBW). Sadly it is.

    Everything you enjoyed about the first game is back here. For a person that owns a ps4 pro and really nice LG 4k screen, it really feels like i'm walking around the town and interacting with everyone. As far as I know there isn't any uprezing or HDR support, but still the palette is so clean and framerate is so crisp, I'd be dammed if there wasn't something going on behind the scenes.

    The voice acting is perfect, just like the first game, but I found the humor a bit more "neanderthal" here than in both the prior game and the show as well. Matt Stone and Trey Parker are thoughtful with their humor. They just know when and where to twist the knife. In the stick of truth they did this, not so much in TFBW. There were just a few too many "on the head" jokes that made me wonder how hard they worked on this title vs the 1st.

    Combat like the first game is serviceable but is used more a plot device than a tangible need to continue the game. You "battle" some random fights here and there, but really the actual ones deal with marquee characters from the series and usually end beyond the player's control due to being scripted to end that way (Kyle's cousin for example). If i'm supposed to feel like a "superhero" then let me power up or something.

    Leveling is kind of a slog. It's not bad, but it's not great. Collecting is the main focus but at the same time also includes a ton of tedious backtracking or remembering certain things so when you finally get the item you needed from the 1st time you were there pops up, you can go back and grab it. Unfortunately, this leads to a lot of let down as generic crafting items are the only thing that was awaiting you this whole time. The toilet pooping makes a return, but really, kind of a waste of time.

    It's worth your money, if you enjoy the show or loved the 1st game, just don't expect too much beyond being a good follow up. It doesn't rock the craddle much.    … Expand
  23. akukul
    Oct 20, 2017
    8
    It's still mandatory for every South Park fan, but not as good as The Stick of Truth. New combat system is way better than in the original game, you also gain access to more skills and attacks than before. On the downside, game is less funny than The Stick, I never found myself laughing super hard like I did with the first game, also everything happens in South Park, so no more trips toIt's still mandatory for every South Park fan, but not as good as The Stick of Truth. New combat system is way better than in the original game, you also gain access to more skills and attacks than before. On the downside, game is less funny than The Stick, I never found myself laughing super hard like I did with the first game, also everything happens in South Park, so no more trips to Space or Mr Slave's digestive system. There were minor problems with camera on bigger arenas. I'd give the stick 9, TFBH is a solid 8.

    If you don't like South Park, you won't like this game as well, because it's basically playable, 15hr long episode of the show.    … Expand
  24. Kraks
    Oct 20, 2017
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Is it much like a South Park season wrapped up into a game? Yes.

    Is it the South Park that we used to know and love? No, not at all. Gone are the DGAF Days of Matt & Trey and now the show and this game have embraced the newer writers fully. PC Principal not long ago would have been funny for being PC, but now it is an attack on White Frat Boys and little more. The PC aspects are actually thoroughly embraced throughout the game. The more SJW your actions (Which let's be frank, you really don't get any choices in this "RPG"), the better the outcome.

    Let's speak a little about this being called an RPG. The first one didn't really deserve the title either, so that isn't new, but it seems to be worse this time around. The game has as much depth as a 20 page Choose Your Own Adventure book, yet maintains a $60 price tag reminiscent of much deeper AAA titles like Dragon Age 3, Fallout (any of them), etc.

    The jokes just aren't really funny this time around, and that is where The Stick of Truth has it beaten in spades: that game was hilarious. This one is a 8 hour fart joke with endless fan service. I'll admit the Mitch Conner portions had me laughing, and Classi wasn't bad either, but that's about it. The satire that South Park was famous for is mostly gone for heavy handed BLM and SJW Themes like "All police are so racist they are feeding blacks to demons".

    The technical issues are fairly well known by anyone looking into getting this: black screens for 4k players, crashes for a few, and complete character hang ups that require you to restart the game to move forward. They aren't really that bad for a major release, to be fair.

    Overall, I give the game a 5/10. It just wasn't very funny, and when you pair that with the utter lack of depth and the $60 price tag, the game just doesn't deserve accolades or recommendations.    … Expand
  25. LinboCritic
    Oct 19, 2017
    6
    South Park: The Fractured But Whole is definitely a fun experience for South Park fans and casuals alike, but it sorely misses the mark for fans of gaming and its excellent predecessor, The Stick of Truth. If you are expecting a hit, hold on to your money. The gameplay as a whole fails to immerse the user with compelling choices or any sense of meaningful progression. Instead it is filledSouth Park: The Fractured But Whole is definitely a fun experience for South Park fans and casuals alike, but it sorely misses the mark for fans of gaming and its excellent predecessor, The Stick of Truth. If you are expecting a hit, hold on to your money. The gameplay as a whole fails to immerse the user with compelling choices or any sense of meaningful progression. Instead it is filled with absolute clutter and horrifying design decisions that make the world feel barren and monotonous. When comparing this game to the absolute monsters of 2017, there's no way one can justify its price. The Fractured But Whole is woefully dismaying to anybody that expected the sequel to live up to the first.

    In The Stick of Truth, there are only four character classes, However, as you progress, you must make choices between learning and upgrading different skills, acquiring perks, and ultimately making the character your own. Each of the equipment pieces you obtain would have not just statistics, but a set of perks unique to them. This is wildly different in The Fractured But Whole, which eventually allows the player to simply mix and match whatever power from whatever archetype they want. The game gives no incentive for you to immerse yourself in a role, and instead gives the player absolute free license to do whatever they want. You don't feel like a kid playing a super hero, you just feel like a toolbox that is able to pick whatever power and configuration they think is convenient.

    The player is pretty much thrown face first into an open-world setting, pretty much allowing the player to go wherever they want and explore South Park to their heart's content while barring a few passages behind Zelda-esque "puzzle" walls. The problem with this open-world setting compared to a game like say Breath of The Wild or Skyrim, is that the world is small. No matter how you spin it, South Park is a small dinky town, and that is immediately felt as the player tries to push the boundaries and take a dump in every one of their neighbor's toilets. But what did the Stick of Truth do to make the setting of South Park so great? It gave you a more linear path through the various different settings of South Park with plenty of contextual meaning. You journeyed through the sewers to rescue a family of turds and into 8-bit Canada and fought off giant rats behind doors only gnomes may enter through. In contrast, what was the point in letting the player in TFBW enter Tom's Rhinoplasty? Just to buy some wrinkles and open some gold drawers and maybe laugh at a few pictures of David Hasselhoff?

    Finally you have the clutter. Clutter is a poor attempt at flavor, things that make the setting feel alive and interesting. Examples of clutter include the toilet minigames, the numerous Zelda-esque puzzles, Big Gay Al's cats,, and forcing the player to watch the increasingly tiresome animation of hamsters being shoved up butts whenever an exposed live wire demands it. There's about five component items that actually are unique and serve a purpose. The rest of the components are literally just names of the items and a category they fit into. There's no Terrence or Philip doll, there's no nazi armbands, or GSM Buttons. The majority of items you pick up in this game are simply names, until it goes in your pocket when it then ceases to have a name and becomes simply scrap.

    Of course the game has a lot of good points. The visual presentation is excellent and true to the show. The humor is also authentic but definitely toned down in certain departments. There's no shortage of potty humor and sex jokes, but in terms of bigotry and political jokes which I also believe are mainstays of the South Park franchise, there are relatively fewer than in The Stick of Truth. I also enjoyed the combat a bit, but was definitely disappointed that while it did offer more strategic depth, most of the battles were not challenging. It just all became too simple at a point too soon. It makes you wonder why they felt the need to add more strategic depth at all.    … Expand
  26. Hayden_Gman
    Oct 19, 2017
    9
    Really great game. like everyone else has said, it feels like a south park episode, but with really fun trpg battles like tactics ogre. Customization is cool and it's awesome to become immersed in south parks world. gud game gud game
  27. Olira
    Oct 19, 2017
    9
    Love it! I am super annoyed by all the "negative reviews" that are just people **** about Ubisoft/Bugs. I have played this game since the day it came out, zero bugs. It is engaging, funny, and a great next chapter in the series. Even the most negative reviews on steam all start "The gameplay and story are great, they even improved the combat system... BUT whine whine whine uPlay". It'sLove it! I am super annoyed by all the "negative reviews" that are just people **** about Ubisoft/Bugs. I have played this game since the day it came out, zero bugs. It is engaging, funny, and a great next chapter in the series. Even the most negative reviews on steam all start "The gameplay and story are great, they even improved the combat system... BUT whine whine whine uPlay". It's insane to downvote such a good game for that.

    I have had ZERO issues running it on uPlay, it's not full of bugs, it's not bloated with anything. It runs smoothly, it's hilarious, the new combat system is a big plus. I have dumped several hours into it and i'm not even half way through.

    The only cons for me would be the price and the day one DLC. I think that should have been included for such a steep price tag that isn't really justified. This game is just like Stick of Truth, there isn't anything ground break or brand new about this that it is worth almost $100. To be fair I purchased my copy from Green Man Gaming for $50. Well worth that price tag.

    This is a fun game, great sequel to the first and is just like being in a super long episode of SP. There are tons of throw backs for die hard SP fans and just an all around engaging game. Combat system is great now, and it's really a fun game. Get over your Ubisoft hangups and unwind by playing a comedy game that really delivers.    … Expand
  28. rstad
    Oct 19, 2017
    6
    Let's start with the good in this game: the gags and cut scenes are written and voiced by Trey and Matt. I laughed out loud a few times at the absurd, over the top nonsense on the screen. The problem with this game is that the cut scenes are where all of the enjoyable content is. Everything you do to advance the plot seems more tedious than in SOT. The new puzzle solving system isLet's start with the good in this game: the gags and cut scenes are written and voiced by Trey and Matt. I laughed out loud a few times at the absurd, over the top nonsense on the screen. The problem with this game is that the cut scenes are where all of the enjoyable content is. Everything you do to advance the plot seems more tedious than in SOT. The new puzzle solving system is unnecessarily long and quickly annoying. The new grid based combat system is okay and is used a couple of times in interesting ways but for the most part tends to just be slower than in a JRPG style.

    I think the worst part is the world seems emptier than in SOT. As in, less content than SOT despite repeated production delays. I kept waiting for new areas to open up like with 8 bit Canada or the sewers in SOT but it just doesn't happen (but BTW day one DLC is available for purchase!).

    In conclusion, a slight disappointment. If you're a huge fan than you've probably already bought it. If your not, wait till this thing is $10 in 2 years if you play at all. Maybe someone will piece together the cut scenes into an episode like video. Then just watch that instead. The gameplay here is just not worth $60.    … Expand
  29. ProReviewDotEXE
    Oct 19, 2017
    4
    With a game like South Park, bringing the funny is everything and it barely manages to do that. Compared to the Stick of Truth, the humor really falls flat. Gameplay is nothing revolutionary and while the South Park feel is there, it isn't anywhere near as well presented as Stick of Truth managed to do. If the Stick of Truth is one of the funnier episodes from older seasons, Fractured butWith a game like South Park, bringing the funny is everything and it barely manages to do that. Compared to the Stick of Truth, the humor really falls flat. Gameplay is nothing revolutionary and while the South Park feel is there, it isn't anywhere near as well presented as Stick of Truth managed to do. If the Stick of Truth is one of the funnier episodes from older seasons, Fractured but Whole is one of the less funny episodes from last season.

    If memberries over South Park and lame topical jokes are your thing, then Fractured but Whole is for you. If you are looking for something to really bring the biting wit of South Park then you may have to wait for something else or check out The Stick of Truth.    … Expand
  30. xavia91
    Oct 18, 2017
    6
    The SP content is nice and all but as a game it isn't that good. After a short period of time it already feels like you have been playing forever, repeating things over and over again. Fighting is not fun but tedious.
  31. shatnermaster
    Oct 18, 2017
    7
    This game is one of the better games I've played this year, however I believe this game could have been better. When I saw the trailer during E3 like all stick of truth fans I was foaming at the mouth; i was so excited about how we would get a more strategic combat system and just the idea of playing as a super hero was amazing enough. The game developers promised so much and theyThis game is one of the better games I've played this year, however I believe this game could have been better. When I saw the trailer during E3 like all stick of truth fans I was foaming at the mouth; i was so excited about how we would get a more strategic combat system and just the idea of playing as a super hero was amazing enough. The game developers promised so much and they delivered on all accounts. While this game was entertaining I did not feel as engaged as much as i did in the first game.

    The game has many strengths such as the combat. The number one thing I believe the developers focused on was the combat system. Fighting through waves of enemy's felt great and rewarding as you gained experience. In the beginning of my first play through I would find myself screwing myself over due to my poor choices in character placement; but as you progress through the game you learn through punishment which can demolish your team if act naive.

    The main issue I had with this game was that the game itself was too short. I felt as if there was a huge opportunity missed as i watched the end credits go by. The game was enjoyable and witty but being fun and amusing isn't all i was expecting from this game.

    In short, this was worth full price and i would recommend it to a friend.    … Expand
  32. vgmkyle
    Oct 18, 2017
    7
    Now that they've decided to full price the South Park experience, with an additional $40 season pass and Uplay (yuck) required (yuck!) you would have to be a diehard fan or rich to not have a fractured bank account for a game that is indeed fully-fledged but still looks like an indie.
  33. MoultonHawk
    Oct 18, 2017
    8
    I'm new to the franchise, because I sold my PS3, anticipating the PS4 and that was one of the last big games to come out for the PS3. So I loaded both the SOT & the FBW at the same time and went thru the two intros and played about an hour each, so take that into consideration. Right away I noticed that the SOT appeared to be a better laid out game, looked better, made more sense, knewI'm new to the franchise, because I sold my PS3, anticipating the PS4 and that was one of the last big games to come out for the PS3. So I loaded both the SOT & the FBW at the same time and went thru the two intros and played about an hour each, so take that into consideration. Right away I noticed that the SOT appeared to be a better laid out game, looked better, made more sense, knew what I was doing. FBW was confusing I thought I was supposed to pick a side I just was on Cartman's side all the sudden. It was hard to follow, and I just thought the SOT appeared to be a home run and the FBW seemed more like a ground rule double. I'm looking forward to playing them both. I actually wanted to go reverse order to save the SOT as a gift for later because it is so awesome, but that seemed silly. I'm sure the FBW gets better. I was cracking up the whole way with SOT and didn't laugh much at all in the FBW honestly, but again, just an hour in each. I read someone that said FBW is a UBI game with a South Park skin, not sure what that means exactly, but that would make more sense, not as hands on with the South Park Crew maybe? BTW the SOT is a 10/10, just loving it.… Expand
  34. badgerryan19
    Oct 18, 2017
    9
    Great game! I think the games combat was improved, but still kept that basic feel to it that anyone can get into. The games menus look a lot slicker and are easy to navigate through. The addition to just hold down a button to see the map was a great addition that the first one somehow didn't have in the first place. Also the gender quests are absolutely hilarious and the classes you canGreat game! I think the games combat was improved, but still kept that basic feel to it that anyone can get into. The games menus look a lot slicker and are easy to navigate through. The addition to just hold down a button to see the map was a great addition that the first one somehow didn't have in the first place. Also the gender quests are absolutely hilarious and the classes you can mix and mash. The games funny and gags are more focused on the super hero part rather than just having all out absurdity like the first game. I do not feel this game is better than the first, but with that said the first game was my GOTY in a weak 2014. I do like that they did the super heroes rather than continuing the mythical from the first game. The game has a lot more to do and a lot more places to explore and it was fun to get every item and look behind every nook and cranny. I hope they continue this franchise. Being mythical first, super heroes second. I believe they can easily transfer into the Ninja stage like one of the episodes, and I believe they will since I think they teased it with some of the enemies. I feel you kinda have to be a fan to really get the majority of the references and jokes, but with me being a mega fan I loved everything about it even though it wasn't as good as the first.… Expand
  35. downliner
    Oct 18, 2017
    4
    Normally when you make the sequel to something you try to make it better somehow than the first but considering how long this has been in development and not to mention the Oculus Sniff (the add on you were supposed to get with this game) not even being released the whole South Park show has become a politically correct pile of **** I suspect the £50 price tag is once again the gamerNormally when you make the sequel to something you try to make it better somehow than the first but considering how long this has been in development and not to mention the Oculus Sniff (the add on you were supposed to get with this game) not even being released the whole South Park show has become a politically correct pile of **** I suspect the £50 price tag is once again the gamer paying for Ubisofts mistakes. Wait for a sale for this one because its just not that good. Certainly not £50 good.

    And to cap it off Day 1 DLC, Quests locked behind paywalls and Microtransactions in a single player game! This is what happens when you give publishers an inch.    … Expand
  36. thelittlecoon
    Oct 18, 2017
    10
    The Fractured But Whole improves on its predecessor while changing up the humor to fit the superhero story and it works really well. One of the funniest, most enjoyable games I've played in the past few years and I'm just getting into it.
  37. Dreizehn
    Oct 17, 2017
    10
    Ultimate South Park experience, this game is so hilarious I can't wait to go through all the story. I totally recommend this! Fans of the series won't be disappointed
  38. gdmatt
    Oct 17, 2017
    7
    Some changes have been made to the combat system when compared to Stick of Truth, which you'll either love or hate. The rest of the game is what you'd expect from South Park. While that's not a bad thing and fans of the series will get their money's worth here, it would have been nice to see some more variety that what we have come to expect.
  39. hadessama
    Oct 17, 2017
    9
    If you like the previous one, you gonna like this. The battle system has changed, but the joy is the same. You feel like inside a south park episode! The last game was about RPG and medieval, now its about superheroes ;D
  40. ToxicGent
    Oct 17, 2017
    5
    The feeling of the previous game really invites you in but the changes and additions make it hard for me to enjoy. The little things like seeing each item i pick up with a picture really helps bring the world to life where as here it all may as well be labeled scrap. The change in fighting really turns off any feeling of participation for the most part, as you can fail every prompt andThe feeling of the previous game really invites you in but the changes and additions make it hard for me to enjoy. The little things like seeing each item i pick up with a picture really helps bring the world to life where as here it all may as well be labeled scrap. The change in fighting really turns off any feeling of participation for the most part, as you can fail every prompt and still be fine. The lack of variations in the beginning was a let down and the amount of choices later a little too much, making me think the game isn't trying to shine as much as it is trying to remain relevant for a longer time than stick of truth. As someone who pre-ordered this game and replayed stick of truth a few times, this game is not worth the money. The game looks fine but is not at all what i expected or thought they would make ever. Least excited .… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

71
#71 Best PS4 Game of 2017
38
#38 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
21
#21 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 74 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 57 out of 74
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 74
  3. Negative: 0 out of 74
  1. CD-Action
    Jan 10, 2018
    70
    The Fractured but Whole might be a better game (mainly thanks to significantly improved combat) but The Stick of Truth was a better South Park by a long shot. The Stick was brimming with humor and creativity (remember the 8-bit Canada?), this one is a forced compilation of jokes that are mostly either lazily rehashed (City Wok’s owner mispronouncing words, they took our jobs, poof! It’s gone and many, many more) or shallow. Where’s the show’s brilliant satire!? I’m not just disappointed by the fact that Parker and Stone botched this. As a die-hard fan of the show I’m simply embarrassed. [13/2017, p.46]
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 2, 2018
    80
    Return to South Park with an improved combat system and superheroes instead of Elves. It's still entertaining, but the first game (included in the pack) was more hilarious and had better side missions. [Issue#280]
  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Dec 15, 2017
    70
    Its not the game its forerunner was, but The Fractured But Whole's accessible combat tactics and occasional rib-ticklers ensure most players will have a good time. [Christmas 2017, p.96]
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