When it comes to the Watchmen, polarizing doesn't even begin to describe what people think of it. Some believe that it revolutionized the superhero genre while others believe it ruined the superhero genre. What it did, essentially, was both. On one hand, it brought about deeper, more meaningful storylines that reach into a more gray area morality of its characters. Introducing that darker side brought more versatile and interesting plot elements and deeper conversations. On the other hand, some took that as a free pass to make their characters complete assholes but have just enough of a friendly side to make people think they're good. They took it to mean that they could introduce horrible sexual or horrific violent acts into their comics and call it dark romantic art when it is obviously just fulfilling a more private kink that belongs in a more niche portion of the internet.
All of that depth of story and character along with the quality of filmmaking in the movie are not present in this game here. The controversy and the stuff you like about Watchmen are lost in this baffling example of a 3D beat'em up. There are cool elements present here, but that's all just surface level and only work if you really like these two characters. Obviously, if they were going to go with characters from the franchise, they at least picked one of the favorites. Rorchach.
It would have been nice to use Dr. Manhattan, but if they can't get the formula for a Superman game down, I sincerely doubt they're going to get another god-like superhero in this instance. Nite Owl II was the natural choice, being they were partners in crime fighting for a while. Still, 9 times out of 10, people wanted to play as Rorschach, and 2 Player was stuck with Mr. Owl.
It doesn't matter in the slightest in terms of gameplay. Where these two are known for their different fighting styles, only the bare bones of this is present. Nite Owl II uses his fighting skills along with an array of gadgets and technological weapons to enhance his fighting abilities. Rorschach used improvised weapons and different things to gain an advantage in a fight. In this game, you can pick up a weapon and use it for a bit. Beyond that, you fight and kick the crap out of everyone.
The special moves are just not enough to keep this game afloat. They're cool to look at and they bring about a good flow all the way up until they are just tired. Once you gain up all of your powerup meter, you enter into a speed-up ability for Rorschach and the only gadget that Nite Owl uses to fight, his electricity. Oh, you don't remember Nite Owl's electric attack from the movie and comic? Well, it doesn't matter, he has one here.
Yes, the graphics look pretty good and it's cool to play as Rorschach, but beyond that, you hit buttons. Once you've figured out the controls, and that you can roll away, you've won the game. All it does is just use gangsters and thugs with more thugs and more gangsters as you go along. Does it need more difficulty in that part of the game? Pile on more thugs and make it nearly impossible without running and fighting each of them one at a time as much as you can. That's the game right there. The best beat'em ups bring in cool technology, powers, powerups, bosses and settings. This one has cool settings... the rest of it is just button mash until thugs down, then repeat.
It's hard to recall anything about this game. The only reason I remembered it in the first place was that it went on sale with BOTH episodes on Steam. That's right, this game has two episodes so that it can squeeze just a little more money out of your pockets. Is it worth such a cheap price tag? Well, yes, honestly, it's still fun enough to keep you playing for a little while, at least until you get sick of seeing yet another mob of thugs and gangsters coming out of yet another door.
It's fun in a rough and tumble sort of way, but it also is mostly for small doses. Sitting through this entire game in one sitting is a big ask, especially if you're talking about both installments. They're not even that long. It's not even that big of a game, but it's still hard to keep going after you've already beaten down half of Manhattan. The game is generous enough to give you a Lost button that will point you in the proper direction, but even then, that just shows you how samey and copy/paste each level is. It's worth a playthrough if you get the game for around 2 Spacebucks. I'll let you choose but you need to choose right now. GO! DO IT!!! Virtua Combustion!
