Status:
Complete and Play Tested
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South Park: The Stick of Truth Essentials (PS3) Review
A collaboration between Obsidian Entertainment and the creators of South Park, The Stick of Truth (released in 2014) is a love letter to fans of the long-running animated series. Presented as an interactive episode with deep RPG mechanics and irreverent humor, this Essentials re-release on PS3 contains the full original game with no changesretaining both its brilliance and its blemishes.
Gameplay & Mechanics
| System | How It Works | Verdict |
|---|
| Turn-Based Combat | Classic JRPG style: attack, block, use skills, summon allies. Timing-based inputs for extra damage or defense. | Surprisingly robustsimple, but responsive and rewarding with layered strategy. |
| Character Classes | Choose from Fighter, Mage, Thief, or Jeweach with unique powers and costumes. | Hilariously irreverent and functionally distinct, though balance skews toward overpowered builds. |
| Equipment & Perks | Equip loot found in chests or bought in shops; apply patches/mods for effects. Gain perk points via side quests. | Deep enough for RPG fans, customizable for different playstyles. |
| Summons & Special Attacks | Use friends like Mr. Hankey or Jesus to nuke enemies once per day. | Comical and satisfyingtrue to the shows absurdity. |
Combat is quick, tactical, and full of visual gags. Battles don't overstay their welcome and blend in well with the story-driven pace.
Story & Setting
You play as the "New Kid" in South Park, freshly moved in and immediately swept up in a massive live-action role-playing war between humans, elves, and aliens. What starts as childhood play spirals into an insane, high-stakes adventure involving government conspiracies, zombies, underpants gnomes, and... Nazi fetuses.
Strengths
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Genuinely feels like playing a 15-hour South Park episode.
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Written by Trey Parker and Matt Stoneevery line drips with authentic humor.
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Side quests are filled with fan-service and oddball scenarios (e.g., helping Al Gore hunt ManBearPig).
Weaknesses
Graphics & Presentation
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Visual Style: Faithful 1:1 replication of the TV shows cut-out animation style. Character movement, facial expressions, and backgrounds are indistinguishable from the source.
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Performance: Runs well on PS3, though occasional stutters occur in busier areas.
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Sound: Perfectvoice work is handled by the shows cast, music mimics the series style, and sound effects are spot-on.
Menus are simple but snappy, and the HUD delivers all relevant info without cluttering the screen.
Modes & Features
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Single Player Only No multiplayer, no DLC bundled in this Essentials release.
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Replay Value Moderate. Different classes and branching choices encourage replays, though many jokes lose their edge once seen.
Game length is around 1215 hours for a standard playthrough, with side quests adding a few more. It respects your time while packing in humor and content.
Pros & Cons
Pros
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Spot-on visual and audio replication of the South Park show
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Genuinely funny, outrageous writing throughout
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Snappy and satisfying turn-based combat
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Tons of fan service and hidden references
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Excellent pacing with minimal grinding
Cons
Fairly short for an RPG
Some juvenile humor wont land for all audiences
Limited character customization beyond early choices
Essentials version contains no extras or DLC
Final Verdict
South Park: The Stick of Truth delivers one of the most authentic TV-to-game adaptations ever made. Its funny, mechanically solid, and surprisingly deep for what initially looks like a cartoon RPG. Even in its PS3 Essentials form, it stands tall as a must-play for fans of the show and a strong RPG in its own right.
Score: 8.3 / 10 A hilarious, polished, and refreshingly tight RPG experience that nails the South Park tone while delivering engaging gameplay. Crude, clever, and absolutely unique.
