50 Cent: Blood On The Sand (Xbox 360) Review
Posted by Greg Bruno on 03.24.2009
Parental Advisory: I'm going to swear.
Title: 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
THQ & Swordfish Studios
Platform: Xbox 360
Also Available On: PS3
Wuddup, homie? 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand has hit consoles in a big way,yo. You know my boy FItty is all up in da Middle East instead of in da club…alright. That’s enough. I can’t keep that going any longer or my spell checker will implode.
Let’s start off by saying I’m not a huge fan of rap. I think there are insanely talented rappers out there that have incredible skills and awesome styles, but it just is not my cup of tea. That said, you do not need to be a fan of rap (or hip-hop, or whatever the kids are calling it these days) to enjoy BotS. Sure, it’s heavy on the rap and “gangsta” lifestyle, but it fits well with the game. I’m not going to dive too deep into the plot of 50 Cent’s latest adventure, simply because it’s…well…it’s just ridiculous. Long story short, Mr. Cent (And yes, they do call him that in the game) has just finished a rap concert in the Middle East. Looking for payment from a promoter who can’t pay up, Fitty heads out to claim the diamond skull as his payment. Along his way, he kills everything that moves, finds a sudden hatred for helicopters, some friends become enemies…some enemies become friends. Sure, the story is a bit…far-fetched, but the game is a blast.
Graphics
Graphically, BotS looks great. The Unreal Engine, as usual, gives the game an incredibly polished look and feel. The facial animations during cut scenes are especially well done. Explosions are top notch and characters look lifelike. The levels you’ll be blasting through are really well designed. You will rarely, if ever, feel as though you’re just repeating the same levels over and over. Sure, everything is brown, yellow, or brownish-yellow, but it fits with the setting of the game. 50 Cent himself looks especially detailed. From his tattoos to his massive, vein coated arms, you can see the developers spent a lot of time getting his on screen character to look right, and it paid off. Of course, Curtis Jackson may have been standing behind them the entire time making sure he looks jacked enough. Seriously, you’ll have nightmares about 50’s arms.
Character detail is great! Notice how the developers managed to capture the gentle side of 50 Cent.
Game Play
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand plays like a mixture of Gears of War and The Club. There’s an arcade feel to the running and gunning, as you rack up points for stringing kills together or completing mini-objectives within a time limit. Also, you’ll see the Gears similarities right out the door. 50 takes cover behind waist-high barricades, leans out behind corners, and blind fires. You’ll also notice the game will have you “slow walk while you talk to someone on your ear piece”. The health system is also very reminiscent of Gears. The hide-and-heal system is in full swing and works like a charm. Getting shot up too much? Just hide for 15 seconds and you will be good as new! This also applies to real life.*
One of the cooler features in the game is the ability to purchase new weapons, taunts, and close combat abilities. Collecting enough money and finding a pay-phone (like 50 Cent would ever use a Pay Phone) will give you the option to make purchases. The weapon system allows you to carry 4 weapons at a time which you can select using the D-Pad. It’s a nice feature to be able to carry different styles of weapons. For instance, you have a slot for hand guns, machine guns, assault rifles, and heavy duty.
My personal favorite detail of the game is the taunt button. Pressing down the left thumb stick will cause 50 to yell “BITCH!” or “Die Mother Fucker!” or the always effective, yet oh so simple, “Fuck you Bitch!” You can buy new taunts, which only add to the hilarity of the function. Insulting your enemy after blasting their necks open gives you a point boost. I’m starting to think that every game should employ this feature, regardless of the subject.
One of my gripes is your “teammate” who happens to be a member of G-Unit. They are never explained and are rarely useful. It’s clear that the developers wanted an extra player on screen to remind you that you can play co-op.
If you find yourself wondering why you keep needing to take down helicopters, you aren’t alone. It seems each level will have you aiming high to down one of those bastards. Why do all of 50 Cent’s enemies own helicopters? Honestly, it might just be that helicopters hate 50 Cent.
Close quarter kills are fun to pull off and will sometimes have you feeling bad for the enemy.
Sound
Here’s where I have a bit of a problem. I understand that this game is about 50 Cent and his real life adventures**, but a little variety in the music would have been nice. Every single track in the game is a track off of one of 50’s albums. Literally. Every. Song. At first you think it’s cool. You’re all like, “Yea, man, this shit is hot!” But after you’ve heard the same track for the 87th time, you’ll be switching to your own personal music library. Try playing this game to some Enya or Celine Dion for a more calming experience filled with explosions and vulgarity. However, if you are a fan of hip-hop, you’ll really enjoy this as your background slaughter music.
Voice work is also really well done. Sure, you’ll get the occasional cheesy one liner, but it usually fits with what’s happening on screen. Your teammate delivers some of the worst lines in the game. They can be repetitive and annoying and you’ll begin to wonder why they’re even there in the first place.
Lasting Appeal
While the online co-op is a nice touch, it would have been fun to have a full blown multiplayer mode in BotS. The single player game is just long enough for you to want to go through once more and collect any hidden artwork or targets you may have missed along the way. But like I said, the lack of a multiplayer mode definitely hurts the game.
50 Cent's most hated form of transportation
Fun Factor
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand certainly is a fun game. It has rap, bullets, explosions, and swears. If that sounds like your cup of tea, then drink up. You’ll definitely enjoy this title. If you’re looking for a solid plot or a console defining gaming experience, you might want to look elsewhere.
The 411
While 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand might not be a contender for game of the year, it definitely isn’t the worst title to come out. I found the game to be a lot of fun. It’s gritty, bloody, full of profanity, and made me realize I hated helicopters more than I knew. All in all, this game is worth some of your attention. If you don’t take it too seriously and just have fun stringing together kills, you’ll find that you’ve had a fun gaming experience.
* Not True.
** Possibly True.
Graphics
8.8
Any way you look at it, the game looks great. Cut scenes are excellent and animations are fluid. The Unreal Engine looks as good as it always does.
Gameplay
8.0
It takes a bit from Gears and uses a tad from The Club and mixed them together for one fun game.
Sound
7.0
Only because I'm not a big fan of rap music. If you are, add a half point to the total score. Otherwise, voice work is solid. Gotta love the taunts!
Lasting Appeal
6.0
Lack of a multiplayer mode definitely hurts the title. Achievements are fun to earn and unlockables may have you coming back for another run through.
Fun Factor
8.5
Easy to play, simple controls, and an overall fun gaming experience. 50 Cent is, at least, a rental.
