There’s nothing broken about ‘South Park: The Fractured but Whole’

That’s right, folks! It’s time to come on down to South Park once again. Following the 2014 smash hit, South Park: Stick of Truth, is a sequel with a title that shouldn’t be surprising: South Park: The Fractured but Whole. The original was applauded for its active turn-based RPG mechanics and level of authenticity to the show. This was all thanks to Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s commitment to deliver a true South Park experience to fans and newcomers. From the storyline to the locations, and even the various types of mechanics, it truly held nothing back. Players were given that pure unedited version of South Park that they all love and hoped for.

Fast forward to E3 this year. Fans are getting even more of what they’d expect from the foul-mouthed fourth graders. While the first game’s story is centered around their fantasy characters akin to Lord of the Rings, The Fractured but Whole will center around the kids’ superhero alter egos. Once again the player is the new kid in town. And it will be up to the player, The Coon, and friends to help stop the forces of evil from taking over South Park.

The South Park: The Fractured but Whole E3 demo started inside a strip club. The goal is to find a specific stripper who could help the gang solve a certain problem. Not long after I began my search, I found myself in the VIP area. I was on the giving end of a private lap dance to a belligerently drunk who claimed to have info on the stripper. This started a lap dance mini-game that ended with my first taste of the new combat system. While it still retains the active turn-based system from the previous game, there is now a grid on the battlefield.

Each character must be in range for their attacks, and each has their own specific pattern for where damage will be dealt. For the most part, combat will still play out the same for returning players. But now you will have to consider how attacks with modifiers that pull or knock enemies will alter their placement. There are also new mechanics for certain fights. My final fight had me racing through a room of strippers to avoid being crushed by an extremely overweight one. Outside of combat players are still able to use their farts to activate certain events. In addition they will have other options for interacting with the environment.

The writing is stellar with the geniuses behind the show truly pulling zero punches. Although my time with the South Park demo was limited to a few puzzles and two combat encounters, it ranks towards the top of my list of the show. There is a lot of entertainment packed into a twenty-minute block of time.

Check out the XXX action in the South Park: The Fractured but Whole E3 gameplay trailer below. And get ready to don your mask and cape this October.