As a comic book junkie, the thought of finally playing as either the by-the-book crime fighter Nite Owl or the out-of-control Rorschach straight out of Alan Moore and David Gibbons’ graphic novel masterpiece is a great idea on paper. As a fan of the source material as well as the Zack Snyder adaptation, Watchmen: The End is Nigh Parts 1 and 2 for the Xbox 360 manages to give fans a thrill up until the point that you realize that there’s very little variety in this button-masher.

While both Part 1 and Part 2 are available for download in the Xbox Live Marketplace, the two parts are packaged together on one disc for easier access. If you already purchased the first part, this package might not be a sweet deal but for those that prefer to stay out of the Marketplace altogether or don’t have online access then it’s good to find it available on a handy disc like this package.

The End is Nigh is an original story before the events of the graphic novel and film as Daniel Dreiberg (better known as Nite Owl II) and Walter Kovacs (more commonly known as Rorschach) are still partners during the alternate reality version of New York City during the turbulent 1970s. You can select either Nite Owl or Rorschach and both characters play very differently but I will get into that in a minute. In Part 1, Nite Owl and Rorschach are heading to the State prison when word of a major riot is announced. With the Keene Act ready to be signed by President Nixon, all masked heroes or “masks” are no longer a welcomed sight.

Chapter 1 begins inside the prison as the two masks fight their way to the warden’s office only to find out that one of the more dangerous inmates, a feared mafia leader called Underboss, has used the riot to escape. As the two heroes set out to look for Underboss, the pair of crime fighters head out to all their usual spots to dig up information only to find more trouble along the way. You’ll go up against burly bikers and even the annoying Knot-Tops (a street gang that has quickly grown and scattered throughout the city) on your way to the Underboss.

In Part 2, Rorschach has taken to continuing his career as masked hero as Nite Owl finds himself on the verge of retirement. Rorschach has to coax his old partner into helping him locate a missing girl who turned up in an underground adult film. This means its time to look into the sleazy underbelly of the city for clues that lead them through sleazy strip joints, adult film theaters and studios in search of a villain named The Twilight Lady.

Both parts of the game play identical to each another, with Part 2’s combat feeling a tad less jerky than Part 1 … but not by very much. In Part 1, the opponent targeting makes for you lunging at the closest enemy and not necessarily the one you are facing at the moment so Nite Owl or Rorschach would suddenly forget the biker with the pipe you were facing off against and slam the head of a biker whose on the verge of dropping dead. You’ll still find this in Part 2 but not as much as the first part.

As far as combat is concerned, it’s Rorschach that really stands out with some finishing moves that are brutal and true to the character. He can also pick up weapons the enemy drops and includes the weapon in his finishers. Nite Owl, on the other hand, cheerfully breaks limbs but doesn’t go as far as his partner goes in terms of finishing off his opponents. At least Nite Owl has gadgets such as stun grenades and an electric shock from his electric owl suit. He also uses a grappling hook that is far more effective than having to pick a lock as Rorschach. Trust me when I say that the lock picking mini-game is excruciatingly frustrating.

The problem with both parts of The End is Nigh is not the combat seeing as the fights are filled with cool combo moves nor is it the fact that the two parts are very short. The major problem is that the game is repetitive while adding very little in terms of diversity. Sure, there are moments where you need to pull switches and help a partner in certain spots in the levels but these aren’t enough to keep the game fresh. You even get to fight the same enemy over and over until you meet a boss. At least there’s co-op (split-screen on the same console), which is better than the AI partner that often needs your help.

Visually, the game looks amazing for a downloadable game with the heroes looking wonderfully detailed and looking good slamming heads. While the opponents don’t look bad, it’s clear the heroes got all the attention. Even the backgrounds seem recycled throughout the game. At least the cut scenes do justice to artist David Gibbons’ artistic style.

The sound also works well in the game as both heroes make light conversation during the game and it’s good to see that the two stars of the Zack Snyder movie voice the two heroes. The music feels like it comes straight from the movie as well, which is good because you’ll hear the same theme music throughout.

Watchmen: The End is Nigh Parts 1 and 2 for the Xbox 360 manages to capture the feel of the graphic novel and the movie but, in the end, falls victim to repetition and a lack of diversity. That said, the brawling action is fun in short bursts and the story is interesting so Watchmen fans will want to rent this one. Everyone else should save the money and buy the graphic novel or the movie (Blu-ray is the way to go) instead.

Gameplay: 5.5
Rorschach’s Journal Entry 225: What do you do when this rotting city is about to explode in its own regurgitated filth but to play clean up with my partner, Nite Owl II. I don’t mind stomping on a few necks to get the job done but it starts getting too old too quickly as all the perverts and psychos start looking alike. 

Graphics: 8.5
The graphics in the game are actually quite impressive seeing as the game was first introduced as an Xbox Live Marketplace downloadable game. While most of the backgrounds seem cut and pasted throughout the game, the character models aren’t bad at all. Even the cut scenes are great.

Sound: 8.5
The soundtrack is actually just as intense as the one you hear in the movie version and Jackie Earle Haley (Rorschach) and Patrick Wilson (Nite Owl) voice their respective characters for the game. There’s plenty of pre- and post-battle chatter in the game that makes the overall sight and sound experience better.

Difficulty: Medium
There are boss fights in the game and they’re actually aren’t too easy to beat in the game but the real challenge comes from trying not to be overpowered by multiple opponents during a fight. The beefier enemy takes more than just a few punches to bring down.

Concept: 5.5
Following Rorschach and Nite Owl in Part 1 as they go up against biker gangs and the Knot-Tops isn’t as fun as going up against the even seedier side of the city in Part 2. Nite Owl has some cool moves and gadgets but the true brawler is Rorschach. The story follows the graphic novel’s theme perfectly and there’s some co-op fun to be had as well.

Multiplayer: 6.0
There’s co-op play and it’s far more effective than having the flawed AI provide the backup. Unfortunately, there’s no online multiplayer so you’re stuck with split-screen multiplayer with a friend sitting next to you.  

Overall: 5.5
Parts 1 and 2 of Watchmen: The End is Nigh is a flawed and repetitive action game that could have been a lot better considering the game has more than enough brutal brawling action. It also captures the feel of Alan Moore’s brilliant graphic novel but this alone can’t save the game from being too mediocre.