Shank!

I first discovered Shank by accident. lurking in the PSN store. This 2-D side-scrolling beat ‘em up (dev’d by Klei and released by EA) had me hooked from the get-go. It’s cartoon style graphics and over-the-top violence just about made me want to smother myself in honey and M&M’s…that’s how deliriously happy I was. Shank is basically old school gaming with a hyper-modern twist. It’s beautifully designed with this kind of grainy, gritty grindhouse feel to it and the storyline follows that kind mexploitationist vibe too. Best: the story is actually part of the game, so you feel like you’re playing a comic book. Sure, it’s your basic revenge story…a little El Mariachi meets Wolverine but hey, the story’s in the telling right? Check out the trailer.

 The gameplay is super easy to pick up and there’s something deeply satisfying about cutting down a bastard with a chainsaw…after pumping him full of bullets and maybe feeding him a grenade. Shank does 2 things well: entertainment and playability. And in a world of so-so so-called top level releases, it’s a breath of fresh air (even though it’s around 2 and a bit years old). If you’re looking for a seriously fun gaming experience, you need to get this baby today.

MOISTNESS ALERT!

There’s a sequel, bitches.

How awesome does that look? And you know I’m gonna review this one. Someone pass me the honey.