The Making of Judge Dredd: Dredd vs Death book review
Trying to jam
The Making of Judge Dredd: Dredd vs Death into a variety of console cartridge slots was the first sight gag in mind, but comedy isn't as clean-cut as that, and this isn't a comedy based on the shenanigans of rogue butchers or backyard barbers hellbent on making sure the mullet is a legitimate hairstyle. Console slots just aren't made to accommodate books and, presented with a hardcover item such as this, they would surely fry a few circuits and hide next to the ColecoVision in the shed.
This is a review about a book about a game about a comic about the Judge known as Dredd.
Or, more obtusely, a look at the behind-the-scenes developments and decisions that have gone into the development of a first-person shooter based on the 2000AD comics property. That property, otherwise known as the law enforcer Judge Joe Dredd, was last seen by the masses as portrayed by Sylvester Stallone in the film
Judge Dredd.
While the game itself might have been available on GameCube, Xbox, PlayStaton2 and the PC, the book appears to only have a hardcover edition. No soft cover. Soft cover would have been nice for the flicker animation they have running down the side. But that's beside the point and the main text. The weight of it all suggests it best be read with a solid table underneath.
Interactions with the book are primarily confined to reading and flicking. A simplex run of information streaming into the brain via the optic nerve serves the reading portion. The flicker animation down the right-hand side of the book is hard to grasp at first but easy to learn due to the innate intuitiveness. Getting Judge Dredd to work his inanimate/animated style of nothing comes to the fore and realisation dawns that this is indeed a book about the
Judge Dredd: Dredd vs Death video game.
High production values from the cover to the page stock automatically give off that air of love and dedication from Rebellion, the group who took over the publishing rights of 2000AD and, ultimately, the game rights which led to the production at hand. The note of the acquisition starts off the book and quickly moves onto getting into the story.
Straighforward and easy to read, the book doesn't make not knowing the entire backstory of Joe Dredd a handicap. They devote a rather large chapter to the Dredd world exploring a little of the characters and support cast of the world, and the reason why they chose to pit Dredd against the Dark Judge, Judge Death. With the way it's written and presented, the book manages to serve double duty in that it delves and dovetails the history of the characters themselves, providing a richer in-game experience while at the same time running as a starter course for people looking to catch up on Dredd in the 2000AD comics.
Various designers and developers working on the project are interviewed and also appear in the photo gallery in the back. There's also some thoughts on sequel ideas and other 2000AD properties looking for life in games themselves. From what was omitted and the compromises made, it become apparent that a lot of concessions took place in the production and it does come across as a little apologetic in a way. The "what ifs" according to time and processor power might degrade the enjoyment of the game to an extent. But only a little bit.
Primarily one for the hardcore gamers and Judge Dredd fans looking for insight into the
Dredd vs Death game. It's also not too shabby for those who want to pass some time and learn a little about the politics of game development.
The Good: Insightful commentary presented in a light and easy flow.
The Bad: Hardcover defeats the purpose of the flicker animation.
The Vibe: Christ, isn't this just a summary?
Soon Van
Published February 2004 at Vibewire.net - vibewire.net
» articles listing