With everything going the way it is lately (sorry to remind you guys), it wouldn’t hurt to throw something interesting into the mix – like an alien invasion. Although that’s not happening in the real world (imagine the Independence Day ships settling in!), we do have Destroy All Humans!, THQ Nordic’s faithful remake of the 2005 classic. It’s just as fun as it’s ever been, warts and all. And it gives you a chance to wreak havoc on those worthless humans. Take that!
The game puts you in control of Cryptosporidium-137 – or Crypto, for short – who takes commands from his overlord-in-chief with one simple mission. As you might guess from the title, it’s not a peaceful one. You’ll go through a variety of missions, slowly making your way towards world domination against the (mostly) bothersome human race. There are some challenges that lie ahead, but dare we say that it’s good fun to be an alien here.
Die, Human Scum! (In Game, That Is)
The game has an interesting array of missions. There are some that basically ask you to create wanton destruction, like turning a pool party into an all-out assault fest; as well as some that require a little bit of stealth as you transform temporarily into humans with the help of your high-tech goods. Some can be more frustrating than others, especially if something doesn’t work properly due to a bug. However, there’s enough variety here to keep things fresh, courtesy of the developers at Black Forest Games. What’s more, Destroy All Humans! also packs some good fun in the gameplay department.
What’s more, you don’t have to entirely be on the ground. There are some great missions in which you’ll partake in destruction with the help of Crypto’s flying saucer. Ever want to destroy a Ferris wheel in nano-seconds? Or perhaps an entire neighborhood? Here’s your chance. Uneven difficulty spikes aside, Destroy All Humans! has a number of improvements in the gameplay department, particularly with weapon aiming and some great effects. You actually feel like you’re making progress here, compared to just dragging on with the same old alien invasion. Fans of the series will feel right at home here – and not feeling as burned out as they did with its last entry, the under-performing Path of the Furon.
Bring Me Great Graphics and Richard Horvitz!
Where Black Forest Games really excels with Destroy All Humans! is within the presentation. Of course, the gameplay is worth its weight in gold (or brain stems, in this case), but they really went all out to make the game look better than ever. It moves at a consistently fluid frame rate; and what’s more, some of the details with weapon effects really shine. It’s not every day that you see humans disintegrate just as easily as vehicles. Unless you’re Crypto, of course. There are some bugs that are noticeable, but not entirely game-breaking. And if I recall, the developer is working on some kind of patch to smooth things over. For the time being, however, the 50s kitsch and nice 3D approach will suit a lot of you.
Throw in some fantastic weapon effects and humorous bits of dialogue (though some jokes are slightly aged for a 2005 game, and one politician is a bit too much on the noise), and you have an experience that shines, no matter what platform you prefer.
These Humans Won’t Destroy Themselves
If you love the Destroy All Humans! series in any regard, or you’re seeking out an open-world adventure with a wink in its eye to go along with its wanton destruction, this remake is exactly what you’re looking for. It’s suitably priced for $40; and it packs hours of fun between its raucous gameplay and its vivid presentation. Plus, let’s be honest, Richard Horvitz steals any show he’s part of.
And this continues THQ Nordic’s outstanding streak of effective remakes. Now we just need one that will be a true difference-maker. You know, 50 Cent: Blood On the Sand Re-fiftied isn’t going to make itself…
