![XBLA horror game Deadlight "is NOT a zombie shooter," says dev](http://www.oxmonline.com/files/imagecache/featured_content/deadlight-feature-300.jpg "XBLA horror game Deadlight "is NOT a zombie shooter," says dev")
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand review
Let’s settle one thing right now: 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand’s gonzo killing tour through a modern-day Middle Eastern city is even more high-fantasy than most JRPGs (catgirls included). If you’re willing to stomach the logic-defying weirdness of 50 Cent — and his chatty G-Unit cohorts — as some sort of RPG-toting, street-thug commando who can singlehandedly take on hundreds of military-trained badasses in gunships just to get paid, then you’re exactly the right gamer to appreciate Blood on the Sand as the pure dumb fun it is. After all, how could anyone be serious about a quest to recover a jewel-encrusted skull, used as payment for one of 50’s concerts, from some shady warlord? Only the crankiest of fussbuckets, we say.
Cramming together pilfered elements from both the Gears of War series and Sega’s The Club, Blood on the Sand’s action emphasizes the use of cover during gunfights and score multipliers earned by stringing together kills. Throw in online two-player co-op (your buddy suits up as one of three G-Unit members), and the result is fast-paced, shoot-’em-up, nine-chapter action that never slows down even for the sake of gameplay. During co-op, if you or your buddy are gunned down, you can be revived by your friend or vice versa — but you’ll never bleed out as long as they’re still alive. You’ll also auto-revive after a certain time has passed. We can’t stress enough that Blood on the Sand is meant to be played with a friend. If played alone, difficulty levels become unbalanced as the buddy A.I. plummets and grenadiers firebomb with uncanny accuracy.
And basically, without a friend, you’ve got no one to talk smack with about the deep questions this game poses: why the enemies all sorta look the same, why 50’s taunts are so-actually-not-taunts, how unintentionally funny the underlying “bros before hos” mentality of the “love interest” plot is, or just the overall cynicism of Blood on the Sand’s ridiculous premise. You’ll also have no one to remind you to leave your brain at the door and enjoy this game as it was meant to be taken — as a fairly well-built, over-the-top testosterone fantasy without all the fancy polish or (dare we say it?) smarts of, say, Gears of War, but still an incredibly satisfying shot in the arm for co-op addicts like us.
On Xbox 360
+ Fast-paced, over-the-top dumb fun built for online co-op.
+ Plenty of 50 Cent love for fans: videos, songs, and, well, him.
- Lacks overall polish; isn't very balanced or fun in single-player.
? Does "I didn't sign up for this sh*t!" qualify as a taunt? (No.)
6.5
Related
More like this:
TimWilliams
April 02, 2010 at 2:42pm
An interesting pairing for Mr Cent, I can't really imagine him taking his entourage to the middle East on a killing mission...then he'd have to leave all the comforts of his crib behind! Interested to give the game a go though!
micmic
March 10, 2010 at 12:33pm
very cool animation of 50 cent.. Hee is coming to Norway soon.. looking forward to that!
Eric James
February 16, 2010 at 6:32am
I can't believe, 50 cent in a game, It's going to be fun. Must try this game soon. Thanks for the review.
TeeNefarious
February 14, 2010 at 10:15am
......I'm still surprised that people actually parted cash for this fine example of pap/rap... And yes, I said it out loud...
Voice2012
February 06, 2010 at 3:11am
I own the 50 Cent game for original Xbox, and I liked it. It wasn't the best shooter in the world, and the computer AI on your side was dumb as a brick, while the bad guy AI was just CHEAP.....but it was fitty. For the music videos alone, it was worth my 20 bucks. I just always wished it would play on the 360....just so I could watch the music videos... I'll be picking this one up out of the bargain bin soon enough. It's time to kick @$$ and chew bubble gum.....and I'm alllll outta gum.
Tobby
November 18, 2009 at 8:26am
'Lacks overall polish; isn’t very balanced or fun in single-player.' I agree with this !Seo Academy
Xbox 360
astew1975
March 15, 2009 at 3:37pm
50 should just stick to rapping, oh he isnt good at that either....oopps my bad, did I say that outloud?. Killing isn't a means of retribution, but a means of pleasure!
Wapata
February 28, 2009 at 8:51pm
I agree wholeheartedly with Limmzz or whatever the hell his name was
Limzz
February 28, 2009 at 7:35am
Anyone who buys this should be shot. Same goes for anything made by EA.
Spybreak
February 27, 2009 at 1:29am
I was surprised that Xplay gave this a 4 out of 5 but I was even more surprised that they actually made another 50 Cent game! That got me thinking, who else could be a music guy in a video game and I wouldn't mind playing a Beastie Boys crew game haha.
Daze Of War
February 26, 2009 at 7:59pm
I still can't believe they made a sequel to a stupid game like this. I may still play it one day for the achievements but I still can't get over how big of a joke this is.
xpects the xpctd
February 26, 2009 at 11:44am
I saw a review for this on TV, it may be over the top crazy, but I might at least try it. It looks insane, someof the funnest games give you over the top powers. Even though Too Human is far from perfect, people can still enjoy the massive amount of power they get. Power like that can make a mediocre game even better.
Connect with OXM Online
Featured Content
A major battle in the Infinity Ward war has ended as Activision...
The Reclaimer Saga will run for the next decade, will have multiple conflicts and...
This month's issue
Features
Crysis 3 announced!
Reviews
Trials Evolution, Devil May Cry HD Collection, South Park XBLA
Previews
Assassin's Creed III, Halo 4, Deadlight, and more!
OXM Twitter Feed
- OXM: Activision & EA have reached a settlement. After 2+ years, is the Inifinity Ward Modern Warfare 2 drama finally over? http://t.co/GTkXOgxj3 hours 35 min ago
- OXM: New XBLA game JAM Live Music Arcade lets you have fun mixing songs. The playing part? That's another story... Review: http://t.co/jpHpmHbb6 hours 3 min ago
- OXM: Halo 4 info blowout! More multiplayer and Spartan Ops details, first info on the Limited Edition, and tons of screens! http://t.co/y51o35KX6 hours 42 min ago
