DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue

DeathSpank returns once again to uncover the truth behind the thongs of virtue but, with the previous game only being released a few months ago and a lack of new content, is this a sequel that could be considered half-baked?

84%Game Brain Score

humor, story

stability, grinding

84% User Score Based on 197 reviews

Critic Score 83%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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About

In DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue, players once again assume the role of the humorous hero, DeathSpank, as he battles new enemies and seeks to recover six mystical thongs. This action-RPG sequel features new weapons, enemies, and a co-op mode, expanding upon the original game's witty humor and engaging gameplay. The story takes a turn for the bizarre, as DeathSpank faces off against pirates, zombies, and more in his quest for the thongs.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 197 reviews

humor68 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game features a funny storyline with witty dialogue and humorous item descriptions that keep players engaged.
It offers a variety of new weapons and gameplay mechanics, including guns and special attacks, enhancing the combat experience.
Fans of the original DeathSpank will appreciate the continuation of the story and the familiar charm of the characters.

The game suffers from significant bugs, including save file corruption and frequent crashes, which can hinder gameplay.
Many players found the quests to be repetitive and grindy, leading to frustration with backtracking and navigation issues.
While it retains the humor of the first game, some players felt that the jokes became stale and the gameplay lacked innovation.

humor
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky, witty dialogue and amusing item descriptions, maintaining the charm of its predecessor while introducing new characters and scenarios. While some players feel the humor is slightly tamer or less impactful than in the original, many still find it hilarious and a key aspect of the game's appeal. Overall, the humor is described as a delightful blend of sarcasm and silliness, making for an enjoyable experience.
- “The humor and characters in this game are really well done and the combat is satisfying enough.”
- “The writing is hilarious and quick-witted, and is the main allure of this game (at least to me).”
- “Deathspank is one of the best funny games out there; it is hilarious from the voice acting to the story, design, and item descriptions.”
story
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
67%
6%
The story of "Deathspank: Thongs of Virtue" is a humorous continuation of the first game, featuring a more engaging plot with entertaining dialogue and a variety of quests. While the game introduces new areas and characters, some players noted that it suffers from repetitive side quests and backtracking, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the comedic elements and the sheer volume of quests keep players invested in the absurd narrative.
- “The hilarious story, combined with a generous amount of side quests and smooth gameplay, will keep you coming back for more.”
- “Deathspank: Thongs of Virtue continues the story from the first Deathspank game, introducing new areas, tons of new quests, and different types of weapons.”
- “The classic Deathspank humor is still here, and the storyline is just as funny as before, making the gameplay enjoyable despite some minor issues.”
- “Didn't that plot just sound completely ridiculous?”
- “Nothing has changed other than the story and if you have already played the original Deathspank, this won't be much different.”
- “Quests are scattered, leading to a lot of backtracking and confusion when you get a quest you can't complete for another solid ten levels.”
gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
10%
The gameplay in this sequel retains the familiar mechanics and aesthetic of its predecessor, offering a satisfying loop of combat, loot collection, and leveling up, though it introduces a few new elements like guns and diverse side quests. While some players appreciate the humor and engaging story, others find the gameplay simplistic and lacking innovation, leading to mixed feelings about its overall depth and replayability. Despite these criticisms, many still enjoy the fun, quirky experience that the game provides, making it a worthwhile continuation for fans of the series.
- “It has great humor and soundtrack, as well as super fun gameplay.”
- “Hilarious story, a more than generous amount of side quests to do, and overall smooth gameplay will keep you coming back for more.”
- “The gameplay is so simple and while not exactly innovative, it offers a very satisfying feedback loop of killing, getting new loot, and leveling up.”
- “Except being a continuation of the story, you won't find anything new in terms of gameplay.”
- “The sequel almost feels like an expansion for the first game because the gameplay, graphics, interface, and sound/music are all the same as the original.”
- “Unfortunately, while the humor and silly art style could carry the first game, both have been worn quite thin by now, and you are left with just the shallow action RPG that forms the base of Deathspank's gameplay.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their unique art style and humor, with many considering it one of the best aspects, even after a decade since its release. While the visuals and sound effects contribute to an enjoyable experience, some players feel that the graphics have not evolved significantly from the original, leading to a sense of familiarity. However, the quirky aesthetic and cartoonish design remain appealing, despite some criticisms regarding the scrolling background.
- “And finally, I love the art style.”
- “This game is 10 years old but it has aged incredibly well due to its art style, and I recommend you play it if it interests you.”
- “Great humor, nice graphics, and fun to play.”
- “The sequel almost feels like an expansion for the first game because the gameplay, graphics, interface, sound/music are all the same as the original, which is not a bad thing because it all feels familiar.”
- “Unfortunately while the humor and silly art-style could carry the first game, both have been worn quite thin by now and you are left with just the shallow action RPG that forms the base of DeathSpank's gameplay.”
- “A hack and slash RPG in Diablo-style, but with cartoon graphics and with lots of humor.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is consistently praised for its humor and quality, maintaining the same enjoyable soundtrack as the previous installment. Reviewers appreciate the familiar sound design, which complements the engaging gameplay and enhances the overall experience. The soundtrack, along with the game's humor and voice acting, contributes significantly to the fun and immersive atmosphere.
- “It has great humor and soundtrack, as well as super fun gameplay.”
- “That, plus the excellent soundtrack and other bits working well together generally gave me a good time throughout the game.”
- “Of course the gameplay, art style, music, and voice acting being really good helps too.”
- “This game uses the exact same sounds, music, and items as the first game.”
- “The sequel almost feels like an expansion for the first game because the gameplay, graphics, interface, sound, and music are all the same as the original.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is notably poor, with frequent glitches, crashes, and bugs that hinder gameplay and quest completion. While some players find it worth playing despite these issues, many recommend avoiding it due to the unpredictable nature of its performance.
- “Buggy port unfortunately, can't do some quests which is ok but it's annoying.”
- “A boring world, constant glitches and crashing, as well as the fact it's just not as funny as the original.”
- “If it were not for the buggy state of the game (others having issues with this and other things), I would highly recommend it, but now I would say don't touch it as you will be flipping a coin on if it will bug or not.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to excessive backtracking and repetitive enemy encounters in side quests. The slow leveling progression and sudden difficulty spikes contribute to a frustrating experience, especially during longer play sessions filled with fetch quests and grinding. Despite these issues, some reviewers feel the game maintains a level of quality comparable to its predecessor.
- “However, unlike the first title, some of the side quests (which are not mandatory, mind you) are super grindy and require you to backtrack a lot.”
- “It's tedious to kill the same enemies each time you have to go through an area, and there's a lot of backtracking, so it's better to just run.”
- “The biggest problem I have with this game is the sudden difficulty spike that happens out of nowhere early on. The same problem was present in the first game, and in both games, I found leveling to be tediously slow at the start. You keep getting rewards in the form of new weapons and armor that are a level above what you currently are, and then you get shoved into fighting enemies that can basically two-hit kill you.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its engaging mood, wit, and charm, reminiscent of classics like Diablo 2 and Torchlight. Reviewers appreciate how the overall ambiance enhances the gameplay experience, making it feel more enjoyable and immersive despite its simplicity.
- “The game reminded me a lot of Diablo 2 and Torchlight, which I played plenty of at the time, but this one here was way easier to pick up and honestly, the whole mood, atmosphere, and wittiness were very much to my liking.”
- “The gameplay itself is simply 'good', but this is a perfect example of where the writing, atmosphere, and genuine sweetness of the overall package add up to something far more than the sum of its parts.”
- “It is rather simple, but I love the great in-game atmosphere and find myself playing a bit too often.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion I was hoping for.”
- “Despite the interesting premise, the overall atmosphere is dull and fails to engage the player.”
- “The game has a generic feel, and the atmosphere does not evoke any real sense of excitement or tension.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find DeathSpank's character to be richly developed and deeply engaging, evoking strong emotional connections and heartfelt feelings throughout the gameplay experience.
- “Take all the descriptive words I used to explain DeathSpank's personality and character, and quadruple it, and there you will find a hero worthy of the depth of a player's heartfelt feelings and emotions.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report that disabling fullscreen optimizations does not yield the expected results, indicating potential issues with the game's optimization.
- “Although checking the box to disable fullscreen optimizations doesn't work this time.”
- “The game suffers from severe performance issues, making it nearly unplayable on mid-range systems.”
- “I constantly experience frame drops and stuttering, even with the lowest settings.”