Destroy All Humans! | Xbox One Review
Destroy All Humans! was a series that flew past my radar back when it originally appeared on the PS2 and original Xbox back in 2005. I was always intrigued by the concept, particularly the humor, but never once tried any of the games. When I learned that Black Forest Games was remastering the original under THQ Nordic, I was immediately intrigued. Although the game’s mechanics still feel like a game from three generations ago, it looks like something from today.
Earth Brains are Easy
The comedic tone of Destroy All Humans! will either sell you or turn you away, depending on your personality. It’s not a narrative to be taken seriously, by any stretch of the imagination. It’s very tongue-in-cheek, and it’s up to you whether or not that works. For me, I fell somewhere in between. I appreciated the silliness when it came to the story, but found the missions to be a bit much. Let me explain.
You play as Crypto, an alien sent from Orthopox 13 to harvest brain stems from humans on Earth. Apparently, these are necessary for Crypto’s species to survive extinction. That’s not his only reason for coming here in 1959, however. Crypto is also searching for his clone, who was sent to Earth on a similar mission back in 1947.
The intentional absurdity of this game feels dated for me, personally, but I can see the appeal for others. Crypto’s voice, performed by J. Grant Albrecht, reminds me of classic Jack Nicholson, which might explain why the game feels out of place. That’s not to say the voice acting is bad; quite the contrary, actually. The overall humor just feels like it’s no longer a novelty as it once was. But to each their own, I suppose
We’ve Got…Cows?
The gameplay in Destroy All Humans! is even more of a product of its time than its story. You control Crypto in third-person as he traverses a 1950’s Earth. You’ll use stereotypical alien weapons from that era of sci-fi to zap humans and harvest their brain stems. You’ll use an anti-gravity ray to herd cows into a corral. You’ll even have an opportunity to pilot your space ship and wreak havoc on all who stand in your way. For me, this was fun for a little while, but soon wore off its welcome. Other missions include sneaking around in public disguised as other humans, but these don’t offer much more excitement for very long.
Where this game’s strengths lie are in the quality of its remaster. More often than not, remasters like this one feel like they merely threw a coat of paint on the original. This one, however, looks like a game out of the current generation. If it weren’t for the outdated gameplay, I wouldn’t have believed that this released originally over fifteen years ago. If I had been a fan of this original game, this would have been exactly what I wanted in terms of visuals.
Destroy All Humans! Final Verdict
Take what I say about the gameplay for Destroy All Humans! with a grain of salt. Although it wasn’t for me by today’s standards, I truly believe that had I played this one originally, I would have a different feeling about the remaster. The visuals, although far from realistic, are top-notch and perfect for what its trying to be. I just wish that the gameplay had grabbed me a bit more. If you’re a fan of the original game, this is a no-brainer. But if you’re like me, and this is your first experience with the franchise, I’d recommend sticking with a fresh game.
To hear me talk more about Destroy All Humans!, be sure to check out Ep 305 of The Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 1:03:40.
This review is based on an Xbox One copy of Destroy All Humans! provided by Evolve PR for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation 4 and Windows.
Destroy All Humans!
$39.99
