Have you got time to kill for Charlie?
I have to admit I was a bit confused about the name āCharlie Murderā until I started playing the game, itās a punk side-scrolling beat-em-up with weapons in an anime style that looks like something from Newgrounds/Flash style, but itās unique in its design and it stands out for it. It doesnāt break convention when it comes to the design of the traditional side-scroller and has boss fights aplenty as well as 4-player online/offline co-op added to the mix.
Having said that though, it does have RPG elements where you level up your skills and health as well as buying weapons and tattoos which act as buffs to your character. Itās basic in its design, but itās executed well on the whole. The controls are great and while the story isnāt really up to much more than ārescue Charlieās girlfriendā from a rival band, itās a good enough motivation…just how many times have we rescued Princess Peach now?
The game has a grim and dark atmosphere, which matches nicely with the whole āpunk bandā thing, but overall Charlie Murder feels like a game Iāve played before a number of times. Thatās not a bad thing and itās reasonably priced for what it is, it just doesnāt hold any surprises.
The Verdict
Charlie Murder is a decent side-scrolling beat-em-up with good RPG elements and is great via online co-op, but thereās nothing new here besides the artistic edge and dark tone. Despite that though, itās an enjoyable experience and one thatās worth stumping up the cash for.
