South Park The Stick Of Truth

I’ve never watched an episode of South Park. I’ve seen clips on YouTube and seen plenty of images, but never sat down and watched an entire episode. We shall say it’s reputation preceded it, and I just wasn’t interested in watching a visually low budget animated series that seemed to exist purely to push the boundaries of what could pass for humour on TV.

But South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker must have hit onto something, because the show has been running since 1997.

Now I know some of the basics, the show revolves around a group of kids, four boys named Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman and Kenny McCormick. In the game you don’t get to play any of these guys, but this is probably a good thing as it keeps their characters intact. Rather you play the role of a new kid in town, and in typical RPG style, you get to create your character, choose it’s class and name it.

Not that you’ll get to keep the name, because as soon as you meet Cartman, he names you Douchebag. Yep, there’s the South Park humour. Not all the humour requires a R-rating however, as there is some quite clever uses of humour. Try to talk to one of the kids mum early in the game, and the kid will tell you not to talk to her because she isn’t important to the game, it’s pure gaming genius.

being an RPG, one of the mechanics of the game is the turn base combat, something I’ve never been a fan of. Whilst it works really well in Stick of Truth, it’s still not my cup of tea.

The most important thing however, for fans of South Park, is if the game actually feels like an episode of South Park, do you feel like you are actually a part of the TV show. From what I’ve read, and played, I can definitely say yes, it does. I can also probably say that, whilst not in the traditional sense, that I have now seen an episode (or two) of South Park.

The game sets out to look, feel and act like South Park, but to be an immersive, playable experience, and it succeeds rather well.

If you love South Park and turn based combat floats your boat, then Stick of Truth is for you. If you have a sensitive nature, and are easily offended, steer well clear of this one.

For me, personally, it’s not my cu of tea, but it deserves a rating based on it’s target market, so I’m going with four stars.

Reviewed On: XBox 360

Rating: R16 Violence, offensive language, sexual material and other content that may offend.

GAMEGUIDE rating:


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