It's gory, it's messy, and it's hilarious!
If you answered any of the above questions "yes," then Madworld is probably the game for you, because you will be able to all that, and more, to your adversaries throughout the course of the game. So come expecting an absolutely hilarious, over-the-top, gore-fest when you start playing, and don't expect it to stop until you've thrown your last enemy off a building.
You'll play as Jack, a very popular contestant on the uber-violent show Deathwatch, who is working his way through a diseased and violent city on his way to being the number one ranked contestant on the show. And while in the beginning it seems like that is as much story as you're going to get, it quickly becomes apparent that just about every person, including Jack, has some ulterior motive. The entire story develops very well as a result, and it gives you real meaty backstory to go with all of the heavy violence.
Another aspect that starts slow is the graphics, which will take a little getting used to. It feels like one big mess in the beginning, because there's so much black and white you'll think you're looking at a picture of a zebra herd. This changes, however, and once your eyes adjust you'll appreciate the style. Platinum Games did a beautiful job of giving the entire game a heavy graphic-novel feel while keeping the game playable. So while you'll occasionally miss a power-up or a set of stairs, it won't be a frequent problem.
What you hear is just as important as what you see in Madworld, but not for the reasons you would expect. Sure, they did an excellent job making sure that you hear every broken bone and the sound of flesh being torn asunder, but it's the commentary that will have you rolling on the floor laughing. Greg Proops and John DiMaggio's constant banter add the extra layer of comedy needed to keep things on the lighter side.
It's the comedy and variety that helps keep the whole experience novel and fresh. Sure, the first time you grab a sign post, jam it through someone's eye, slam a barrel over their head, and then toss them into a moving train, it's funny. The thirtieth time you do it, it isn't. But thanks to the aforementioned banter, the art style, and constant variety of deathtraps in the environments, it never really turns stale. It plays more like a constant highlight reel than it does a series of repetitive motions, so you don't go on autopilot during gameplay.
There's really only one serious issue here, and that's the game's length. Even with some restarts, you'll be through the game in about five to seven hours, and this is where some gamers will be thrown off the trail. Thankfully, there's some serious replay value to be had here in the form of multiplayer, new weapons, hidden areas (that you will probably miss the first time), and most importantly, a higher difficulty level.
Simply put, your first play through is going to be relatively easy. Your adversaries won't put up much of fight in terms of you grabbing and tossing them wherever you want. They're not pushovers, but it doesn't always feel like much of a fight, either. Once you unlock hard mode, they'll start dodging, using more weapons, and just generally slapping you around every chance they get, so you end up with a lot more challenge (and more fun) the second time around...not to mention the incredible satisfaction of finding new ways to kill your opponents.
Anyone looking for an insanely funny, over-the-top, mature gaming experience will find it here, no question. But gamers who only play a game through once, and those who adverse to large amounts of blood, should stay away as it will be too short and violent for their tastes. Don't be put off if this is a title you've been waiting for, though, as this one turned out to be everything that was promised.