The Baconing

Overall the quirky storyline and the witty dialogue help push The Baconing above the label of 'Another boring button masher'. Those that played the first two games may feel that they have had their fill of Spanktopia; but as a first time visitor, I found it to be a very enjoyable game.

Fun, but not quite funny enough, and it leaves us still yearning for the hearty chuckles and charm that came so effortlessly before. [Nov 2011, p.120]

If you haven't already delved into the Deathspank universe, The Baconing is definitely worth checking out for its humour and zany cartoony feel. However, those already familiar with Spanktopia should be advised that they have already played this game, it just went by a different name.

The Baconing is undoubtedly a solid, entertaining addition to the series, but over-saturation has made this once brash and energetic adventure feel slightly predictable.

Virtually no changes have been made between this game and the last in the series. While not wholly bad, unfortunate omissions like online play and a revamped combat system will leave fans of the series (and of action RPGs in general), wanting more. DeathSpank has a penchant for the epic, but so far his games have been average.

The Baconing is a good game, but a lack of innovation or worthwhile improvements stop it from being a much better one.

It's a fun game that fans of the original two are sure to enjoy, but there's absolutely no reason for anyone not fond of the first ones to play The Baconing, nor is there any reason for new players to jump in at The Baconing rather than the original game.

If you want more DeathSpank, or if you haven't tried him before, then The Baconing is old fashioned gaming with a comedic twist. But, if you've played the other games, don't expect too much different.

Questing and combat problems aside, there are some truly inspired environments here, like the interior of an obsolete super-computer and the home of a literally nuclear family. Those, combined with more tip-top voice acting courtesy of Michael Dobson, are enough to give some punch to this parody, even if the joke's starting to wear a little thin.

The Baconing is a fun game for fans of the series but it doesn't improve upon the original game.

For fans of the DeathSpank games, The Baconing will be 1200 Microsoft points well spent and continues on exactly where the second game left off but this doesn't mean new players will have to play the previous games to understand what's going on. If you like your bacon and thongs sprinkled with some fantastic humour, then look no further than The Baconing!

You should ask yourself if you are satisfied with more of the same. Were the two adventures of DeathSpank enough for you? The small changes can't cover up the signs of weariness that's creeping in this series.

The Baconing sags limply in a puddle of its own stale grease when it should sizzle: reheated leftovers from the previous two games, liberally seasoned with humour to mask the aging ingredients, in danger of becoming inedible.

A strong sense of deja vu and poorly balanced combat loom over The Baconing, but smart puzzles and humorous dialogue entertain throughout.

Well-designed puzzles mixed with a never seen combat difficulty: if all you want to do is play more DeathSpank action, then this will certainly do the job.

It's just so uninspired in so many ways. [Issue#77, p.101]

It'd make a great TV show, though. [Nov 2011, p.107]

With three DeathSpank games in a period of one year, Hothead Games wore out the formula very quickly. This hero needs some rest.

Funny characters and plot but repetitive and combat that lacks finesse.

The Baconing, while funny and entertaining, is not the strongest game of the trilogy. However the loot and combat combined with the price can make this a worthy purchase for many action-RPG fans.

The Baconing's witty, daft and fun, but also doesn't do enough to improve on the faults of the previous entries in the series, and in some cases pushes those issues to the forefront. The bacon is now well cooked and about to burn.

Still, it's a generally fun romp, so let's close on a high note: the ending sets the stage for a sequel with plenty of scope for fantastic areas. If Hothead continues to work on the gameplay side of things and gets the environment back up to par, we'll be in for something truly spectacular next time.

If all you want to do is play more DeathSpank, then this will certainly do the trick. For me, once was apparently enough.

It has some excellent bits, but we're exhausted by the series' rapid-fire release schedule. [Oct 2011, p.82]

It doesn't live up to previous DeathSpank games.

Its gameplay gets repetitive soon, and doesn't improve upon the original game, and the story is not as good, but it can still be enjoyable by fans of the original.