Watchmen has been a series that has constantly underperformed since its initial form as a comic book. There were high hopes for the movie, which did not turn out to be an all time classic.
The same can be said for the games. When people heard Watchemen would be a downloadable tittle, their jaws dropped. The graphics seemed too good to be true for a downloadable game. But actually, they weren't. The problem is not the visuals. It's the gameplay, which is the definition of repetitive.
The release of Watchmen: The End is Nigh, Part 2 is pretty confusing, so try to follow me. The End is Nigh, a prequel to the film, was first released exclusively in downloadable form in early March. Part 2 came out first on a retail disc, as a part of "The Complete Experience", which also includes Part 1 and a BluRay version of the movie. This retail package is only available on the PS3, for $50. As of July 30, you can pick up Part 2 on the PSN store for $15. Part 2 will not be available for the 360 until August 26 for the same price.
Got all of that? It doesn't really matter if you do, because unless you are a hardcore Watchmen fan, there is no reason to pick up Part 2.
The story in Part 2 picks up after the end of Part 1 and focuses on Rorschach and Nite Owl. For someone who is not a big fan of the Watchmen series, the storyline did not suck me in. But it seems like it does provide an extra level of insight about these characters that would be interesting to some people.
Watchmen: The End is Nigh, Part 2 is a straight up brawler. You have a couple of combo attacks and blocking maneuvers. There is almost no gameplay variety as you button mash your way through the three chapters.
The environments that you fight in are not as bad. They are varied in the first two chapters but start to feel repetitive once you reach the third.
The full retail package should be avoided, even if you haven't purchased Part 1. Since both parts equal about $30, you are paying $20 for the movie, which isn't much of a discount. The package is already discounted by 12% on Amazon, but I recommend you spend your money somewhere else.
Pros: Impressive graphics
Cons: Repetitive gameplay, all enemies feel the same, lacking any online options
GamePro Score: 2.5
The Info – Developer: Deadline Games, Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive, ESRB: M, Players: 2 (split-screen only), Price: $15
