Deadpool Review (PS4)

Deadpool's PlayStation 4 port is a hard one to review, considering that it's just a straight port – no graphical update, no new modes, not even any new extras. At first glance, £30 for a game that launched a couple of years ago seems a bit steep. Luckily, this is a game that has aged well.

On the PS4 we've had our share of bad ports – the launch version of Ultra Street Fighter IV springs to mind – but the Merc with a Mouth's venture into the new-gen is largely well done. Indeed, the framerate remains smooth – even though it isn't at 60 frames-per-second – and we've experienced no glitches, bugs, or graphical issues during our time with the game.

The silky performance is a good thing, as there are plenty of platforming sections in this game that aren't frustrating to navigate thanks to the responsive movement system, and combat feels a whole lot more frantic than other games thanks to the agility of Deadpool – not only can you jump all around the place, but also teleport, too. All of these factors have helped the title keep its appeal, despite it being a two-year-old game.

Of course, the main appeal of Deadpool is his meta humour, and his quips and fourth wall breaks are more relevant now than they were at the game's launch. As well as commenting and making fun of different genres, there are even more specific comments on the industry itself – as well as the community and culture surrounding it.

Deadpool is at his funniest, though, when it comes to pure old slapstick humour. Whether it's shooting himself when listening to boring dialogue from fellow hero Cable, slapping Wolverine repeatedly after crashing his ship, or just conversing wildly with the voices in his head, Deadpool's comedy style is intelligent, self-aware, and very funny.

In no way is this title all style and no substance though – what makes Deadpool so fun is that the gameplay is so varied. The core gameplay mixes gunplay, swordplay, and platforming, but the game is chock full of parodies which change everything up; from a first-person shooter to a 2D side-scroller to a top-down old-school roguelike, the title does a great job of turning gags into meaningful sections of gameplay.

Sadly there's just not much to it, with the campaign running around seven hours depending on the difficulty. There is a wave-based arena mode as well, but that's pretty forgettable. And this is the biggest problem with Deadpool – the campaign is so enjoyable that, once you've played through it, there's pretty much nothing else to do. You can play through the title again, but you'll see the jokes coming.