The Baconing
Encyclopedia
The Baconing is an action RPG
video game developed by Hothead Games
. It was published by Valcon Games
on the Xbox 360
and independently on all other platforms. It was released August 30, 2011 for PlayStation 3
via the PlayStation Network and August 31, 2011 for Mac OS X
and Microsoft Windows
via Steam and for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade
. It is the third game in the DeathSpank
series, and follows the character DeathSpank in his quest to defeat the AntiSpank, and evil incarnation of himself.
The game received mixed views from critics. Most critics enjoyed the game's humor, and those who did not noted that players who enjoyed the humor from the previous two games will enjoy The Baconing. Critics were divided as to aspects of gameplay. Some thought that the game had too many repetitive quests, while others felt that gameplay was tightened in comparison to the previous two DeathSpank games.
, and DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue
. As with the previous games, this title is an action RPG. The game can also be played cooperatively, with the first player controlling DeathSpank and the second having a choice to control of four sidekicks. Hothead Games addressed a concern from fans about fetch quests, a quest which involves retrieving an object for the person giving the player character the quest. The player can now have the character execute a shield bash to push enemies away. This ability can also be used to reflect incoming arrows back toward enemies.
To promote the game Hothead Games ran an Ask DeathSpank questionnaire on game's official website. Fans could submit their questions to be answered by the game's protagonist. It was released on August 30, 2011 on the PlayStation 3 as part of the PSN Play promotion on the PlayStation Network. The Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 versions were released on August 31, 2011.
reports a score of 61/100 for the Xbox 360 version and 66/100 on the PlayStation 3. Review scores varied from a 40% approval rating given by Taylor Cocke of Joystiq
to an 85% rating from Game Revolution
's Nick Tan. The majority of scores fell in the 60—70% range.
Several reviewers praised the game's colorful characters, humor and voice acting. Will Herring of GamePro
commented in his review that The Baconing has "clever writing and great voice acting throughout". Eurogamer
's Christian Donlan called the game's writing "witty stuff" and added that "the script can't wait to shoot off on strange tangents". Tom Mc Shea of GameSpot
also praised the game's cast and called them both "oddbal" and "amusing". Nick Tan of Game Revolution
felt that the dialogue was over-the-top and enjoyable as well.
Critics were divided on the gameplay aspects of The Baconing. Game Revolution's Nick Tan noted that the combat system had been upgraded from the previous two titles, and that the addition of a shield bash mechanic helped when enemies crowded the player character. He also praised the new ability to choose between one of four characters for cooperative gameplay. GamePro's Will Herring, however, felt the gameplay was repetitive and that the fetch quests did not feature enough variety. Though Christian Donlan of Eurogamer had some critical remarks in regards to gameplay he did note that the game is "a fiercely likeable time-waster." IGN
's Kristine Steimer recommended that players consider playing DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue first, as their opinion would be a good judge towards interest in The Baconing.
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
video game developed by Hothead Games
Hothead Games
Hothead Games is an independent video game developer and publisher based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Hothead is best known for its role-playing/adventure video game series, On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, based on the Penny Arcade webcomic...
. It was published by Valcon Games
Valcon Games
Valcon Games is a developer and publisher of video games based in Bellevue, Washington, United States.The company was founded in 2005 by Colin Gordon and Glen Halseth, both former members of Kemco. Valcon publishes games that are overlooked for the US market and also localize games from other...
on the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and independently on all other platforms. It was released August 30, 2011 for PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
via the PlayStation Network and August 31, 2011 for Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
via Steam and for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
. It is the third game in the DeathSpank
DeathSpank
DeathSpank, , is a comedy action role-playing game by game designer Ron Gilbert. It was developed by Hothead Games and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released on July 13, 2010 on the PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network and on July 14, 2010 on the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade...
series, and follows the character DeathSpank in his quest to defeat the AntiSpank, and evil incarnation of himself.
The game received mixed views from critics. Most critics enjoyed the game's humor, and those who did not noted that players who enjoyed the humor from the previous two games will enjoy The Baconing. Critics were divided as to aspects of gameplay. Some thought that the game had too many repetitive quests, while others felt that gameplay was tightened in comparison to the previous two DeathSpank games.
Synopsis
The game opens with a bored DeathSpank, the series protagonist. Having defeated all of his foes in the land, he decides to try on all six mystical Thongs of Virtue at once, and in doing so inadvertently creates an evil incarnation of himself, the AntiSpank. DeathSpank must then travel the land to destroy five of the six Thongs of Virtue in the Fires of Bacon. Once he is successful he can defeat the AntiSpank and bring peace to SpankTopia.Gameplay
The Baconing borrows much of its gameplay from the two previous titles in the DeathSpank series, DeathSpankDeathSpank
DeathSpank, , is a comedy action role-playing game by game designer Ron Gilbert. It was developed by Hothead Games and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released on July 13, 2010 on the PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network and on July 14, 2010 on the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade...
, and DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue
DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue
DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue is an action role-playing game by game designer Ron Gilbert and is the sequel to DeathSpank. It was announced on August 23, 2010. The game adds new environments, modernized weapons, increased boss fights, and a new multiplayer character...
. As with the previous games, this title is an action RPG. The game can also be played cooperatively, with the first player controlling DeathSpank and the second having a choice to control of four sidekicks. Hothead Games addressed a concern from fans about fetch quests, a quest which involves retrieving an object for the person giving the player character the quest. The player can now have the character execute a shield bash to push enemies away. This ability can also be used to reflect incoming arrows back toward enemies.
Development and marketing
The Baconing was announced on May 25, 2011 for the Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. DeathSpank was dropped from the game's title, though it is a continuation of the DeathSpank series. Producer Mike Inglehart stated "This new title isn't DeathSpank 3 or DeathSpank: The Baconing, instead it should be thought of as The Baconing." Inglehart elaborated by saying that "this is a standalone experience that will appeal to fans of the DeathSpank character, but also to gamers everywhere who love unique and engaging video games." Inglehart also clarified that the DeathSpank prefix was not removed due to copyright or trademark issues.To promote the game Hothead Games ran an Ask DeathSpank questionnaire on game's official website. Fans could submit their questions to be answered by the game's protagonist. It was released on August 30, 2011 on the PlayStation 3 as part of the PSN Play promotion on the PlayStation Network. The Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 versions were released on August 31, 2011.
Reception
The Baconing has received mixed reviews from critics. The game holds a score of 69.10% for the PlayStation 3 version and 64.89% for the Xbox 360 at GameRankings. MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
reports a score of 61/100 for the Xbox 360 version and 66/100 on the PlayStation 3. Review scores varied from a 40% approval rating given by Taylor Cocke of Joystiq
Joystiq
Joystiq is a video gaming blog founded in June 2004 that has since become one of the most successful sites within the Weblogs, Inc. family of weblogs. It is the centerpiece of WIN's own network of video gaming blogs, which also includes a blog dealing specifically with the popular MMORPG World of...
to an 85% rating from Game Revolution
Game Revolution
Game Revolution or GR is a gaming website created in 1996. Based in Berkeley, California, the site includes reviews, previews, a gaming download area, cheats, and a merchandise store, as well as webcomics, screenshots, and videos...
's Nick Tan. The majority of scores fell in the 60—70% range.
Several reviewers praised the game's colorful characters, humor and voice acting. Will Herring of GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
commented in his review that The Baconing has "clever writing and great voice acting throughout". Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
's Christian Donlan called the game's writing "witty stuff" and added that "the script can't wait to shoot off on strange tangents". Tom Mc Shea of GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
also praised the game's cast and called them both "oddbal" and "amusing". Nick Tan of Game Revolution
Game Revolution
Game Revolution or GR is a gaming website created in 1996. Based in Berkeley, California, the site includes reviews, previews, a gaming download area, cheats, and a merchandise store, as well as webcomics, screenshots, and videos...
felt that the dialogue was over-the-top and enjoyable as well.
Critics were divided on the gameplay aspects of The Baconing. Game Revolution's Nick Tan noted that the combat system had been upgraded from the previous two titles, and that the addition of a shield bash mechanic helped when enemies crowded the player character. He also praised the new ability to choose between one of four characters for cooperative gameplay. GamePro's Will Herring, however, felt the gameplay was repetitive and that the fetch quests did not feature enough variety. Though Christian Donlan of Eurogamer had some critical remarks in regards to gameplay he did note that the game is "a fiercely likeable time-waster." IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Kristine Steimer recommended that players consider playing DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue first, as their opinion would be a good judge towards interest in The Baconing.