It all works so well because the goofy theme is integrated perfectly into everything you do: you’re not just building towers to defend during battle; you’re making “merch booths” at a “concert”. You’re not just plowing through a timed race – you’re racing down to a beach party before your kegs of beer get warm. You’re not just commanding an army of minions – you’ve freed them using the power of rock, and now they want to fight for your cause! It’s infectiously goofy and fun, and the incredible variety of activities makes for one hell of a ride.

My one and only criticism applies just as much to Double Fine’s first effort (Psychonauts) as it does here – for all the inventiveness and playfulness, there’s a lack of polish – you might even call it a mild sloppiness – to the overall design.

The controls are solid, but leading your army in battle can be annoyingly imprecise, especially in larger conflicts. I often found myself flying around the map, desperately trying to figure out who my guys were and how to get them to attack what I wanted them to. With such a perfectly balanced battle system (there are three armies to face off against, each with a very nuanced list of strengths and weaknesses), I want to be completely in charge. I’m not expecting Starcraft on a console, but hey, a minimap would’ve helped.

There’s also a conspicuous lack of a warp function for such a massive overworld. Driving everywhere begins to feel quite a bit like sailing in Zelda: Wind Waker – totally pleasant and all, but sometimes you just want to be there.

However, a few niggling issues aren’t enough to destroy my appreciation. Perhaps the gameplay elements themselves aren’t exactly revolutionary, but they’re remixed and dressed up in such a way that the whole package feels incredibly fresh and fun. This is a heavy metal fairy tale, spun with love and copious amounts of good humor from Shafer and crew – and it’s every ounce the game fans hoped it would be.