After having my X-Box repaired, I was in dire need of a new game. Wednesday, I decided to pick up a little Tim Shafer number I had been looking forward to called "Brutal Legend". You may have heard of it. Pounding through the metal landscape in my car and commanding legions of metal heads against hair bangers, emos and the like was satisfying til the end when I beat it on Saturday. I had already fallen in love with Jack Black's performance as it had me bursting in laughter through the better part of the adventure. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find how powerful the moments I didn't laugh would be.
Shafer is known for producing side-splitting narratives for his games but in Brutal Legend he really loves this music and it shows through the writing. I felt attached to the characters and I experienced emotions of sadness on more than one occasion. I cheered for Lars. I got mad at Eddie. I felt sorry for Ophelia. There's something about the medium that can tug at my heart strings like no other.
I believe part of it is do to a philosophy I like to call "dramatic relief". In an epic war movie we love to hear the main character make a joke to ease the tension. We laugh because, compared to the dramatic tones surrounding it, the moment is funny even if it wouldn't seem that way otherwise. Many movies will joke from beginning to end and although they would not all benefit from this philosophy, they miss out on an opportunity. Throughout Brutal Legend I learned to laugh with the characters but when something goes seriously awry, the moment is that much more dramatic. Drama x comedy = emotional response.
The lame gaming journalism site IGN complained in a review for Brutal Legend that the jokes began to die down near the end of the game. I applaud it. Just remember (especially all you creative folks): Comedy and tragedy are two sides of the same coin.