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Dead Head Fred

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7.3 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 30 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 12 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: D3Publisher of America

Developer: Vicious Cycle

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Survival Horror

Players: 2

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: August 24, 2007

Summary

Dead Head Fred draws players into an original alternative universe as they embark on a quest for vengeance to solve their own murder by using the decapitated heads of enemies to battle through environments designed to showcase each head's unique abilities. In Dead Head Fred, players take on the persona of private detective Fred Neuman. Savagely murdered and then resurrected in a bizarre scientific experiment, Fred is without his memory or his head! The game immerses players in the action with the most revolutionary camera to date on a handheld device as they collect, upgrade and switch heads on the fly to strategically fight malformed mutants, ghoulish gangsters, and maniacal mob bosses in a unique and compelling story of revenge and redemption. [D3Publisher of America]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Cheat Code Central

You can't put a price on imagination, and this game has that in spades.

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GamingExcellence

The real enjoyment of playing this game came from wanting to explore the detailed and often mysterious world and to get to a new cut-scene and be introduced to another unique character.

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Game Chronicles

Dead Head Fred is one of my top favorite PSP games of the year. I haven’t had this much fun with a corpse since that frat party back in…err…I mean since Stubbs on the Xbox.

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Gamers' Temple

Dead Head Fred is a very good game with a lot to offer. It is a shame, though, that some will pick the game up and put it down due to the frustration of the first level and boss fight.

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GamerNode

Dead Head Fred is one of the better titles available on the PSP, and until Chains of Olympus comes out, it has no challenger for title of best action game on the PSP.

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AceGamez

There's more to this game then meets the eye and, just like an onion, it has many layers. Peel one back and as well as making you cry with laughter, it'll keep you entertained for hours on end.

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Worth Playing

Dead Head Fred is genuinely funny, well written and simply fun to play.

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Gaming Nexus

Dead Head Fred is a fantastic adventure game full of memorable characters and ingenious puzzles. If you're the type of person who likes to do and see everything then you'll be at this game for weeks. And even if you don't care about all of the extra content the developers stuffed into this $30 PSP game you'll still find an interesting story full of twists and turns.

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GameZone

Dead Head Fred is a wildly unique PSP game that will not fail to hook you into its quirky, deliciously twisted and downright satisfying adventure. It’s rare to find a game - especially a handheld game - that walks its own distinctive line and when we do find it the game in question will make you appreciate it even more.

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IGN

The tale of revenge in a dark world is twisted, unapologetically humorous and packed with balanced gameplay that should keep players engaged for hours.

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TotalPlayStation

Dead Head Fred's greatest strength is its humor. The world that was created is almost depressingly dark, but the biting humor and incredibly smart writing keep it light enough that you want to see if you can make everything better.

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GameSpy

One of the most entertaining games to hit the PSP this year.

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PSM Magazine

Original, stylish, entertaining adventure. [Nov 2007, p.89]

Pocket Gamer UK

Even if the combat mechanics aren't alive and kicking, with its inventive puzzles and unique sense of style the body of Dead Head Fred offers an experience PSP owners shouldn't miss.

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Hardcore Gamer Magazine

The game engine is silky smooth and, for the PSP, quite detailed and amazing. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better-looking game on the PSP. Combat is neither easy nor shallow, and you’ll soon find that with multiple heads in your inventory, Fred can pull off a wide variety of moves.

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Game Almighty

Even with the profanity, the game manages to pull off a high degree of charm that could give this new IP a lot of legs if they can clarify the target audience in a sequel.

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VideoGamer

If you fancy something a little different, punctuated by brilliant scripting and fantastic characters, look no further that this substantial chunk of action-comedy greatness.

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Games Master UK

Dark for many reasons, but most make this a decent adventure. [Dec 2007, p.83]

GameShark

A perfect example of a game whose strengths far outweigh its minuses. The great visual style, graphics and voice acting, along with the head switching mechanic certainly makes up for the less than stellar platforming and slightly repetitive combat.

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PALGN

Dead Head Fred is an interesting, immersive and innovative game that makes good use of the PlayStation Portable's capabilities. A few gameplay issues and the eventual receptiveness drag the title down a notch or two though.

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PSM3 Magazine UK

A stiff camera and fiddly paltforming frustrate, but this still proves to be a unique, fun experience. [Nov 2007, p.84]

GameCritics

Although it might not have be an entirely enjoyable ride from start to finish, there's a definite sense of style and intelligence in the approach. In its current state, Dead Head Fred comes maddeningly close to what could be defined as a genius cult classic.

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Maxi Consolas (Portugal)

With some great moments full of humor, great voice acting and some original ideas, Dead Head Fred could have been something else if it managed to get the combat right. Still, it’s something different for PSP owners. [Jan 2008]

Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK

Nearly a quirky classic. [Dec 2007, p.123]

Game Revolution

There are some very good reasons to play Dead Head Fred, but a lot of them aren't the moment to moment gameplay until surprisingly late in the game.

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GameSpot

Dead Head Fred has some great ideas that are obscured by a lot of messed up mechanics.

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Game Informer

Beating up enemies and stealing their heads works, but is rarely compelling. Navigating bite-sized environments is easy to do, but almost never offers a sense of exploration or accomplishment.

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Eurogamer

Weighing in at a hefty 20-25 hours in length, Dead Head Fred outstays its welcome and never really elevates above being a fun yet ultimately frustrating platform-cum-action adventure game.

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Playstation Official Magazine UK

It's mostly rubbish; the focus is on combat, and the combat's tied to a camera that flops around like, well, a brain in a jar. [Dec 2007, p.114]

Play UK

Has some quirky ideas, but they're shamefully executed. [Issue#160, p.94]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.3 (out of 10) based on 12 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Desmond H. gave it a9:
One of the most original games I have ever played.

Marc B. gave it a4:
Ironic, the comment below about "what a PSP game can be when it's not trying to be a PS2 game". I think this is the prime example of a game that fails because it is trying to cram a full-size design into a portable game. Specifically, control is too demanding for the PSP awkward analog nub, making the whole affair very tedious, but worse, the ambitious graphics engine seems to bring the worst out of display. Everything is very dark, and even the slightest off-angle viewing is hard on the eyes. I put so much attention into trying to hold the PSP just so, I can't even begin to enjoy the game. As for content and gameplay, I have to admit outright I haven't gotten very far in - I simply find the game unplayable.

Dan C. gave it a1:
The humour is the main selling point. I was really looking forward to this, and the cutscenes make me laugh- but the gameplay is extremely weak and shallow. For God's sake, try to RENT this game before you buy, please!

Bob S. gave it a4:
Pure unadulterated drivel. If you can make it through the ten minute cut scenes, the boring AI and first boss. You might reach the second boss and find that the game goes to sleep on you because you haven't saved and the autosave kicks in. Not only is this game an unfunny version of Ratchet & Clank, it fails horribly at everything it tires to be; witty, original and fun. Keep your thirty bucks and see if D3Publisher can a) rename their company and b) match the success of Puzzle Quest.

Carlos P. gave it a9:
It's games like this that will put the PSP back in the spotlight. The play control is tight. The story and the dialog is wacky cool. It has that lil' old school classic movie monster picture feel with a modern touch. The amount of attacks and weapons is amazing. Definitely a fun and original game! Sony definitely needs to cater to Vicious Cycle (Developer) and D3 (Publisher) and make them happy so that they can keep making great games such as this and push the PSP's capabilities. In order for the PSP too succeed, they need more great original games such as this...and this is the first step. Great game and awesome game engine Vicious Cycle! Buy this game now people, you won't regret it.

Jacob P. gave it a10:
So this is what a PSP game can be when it's not trying to be a PS2 game. Hats off to the guys who made this; I can see why they took so long to make it. The games looks amazing, even better in some ways than Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (which is really saying something) and has all new (not to mention fun) gameplay mechanics and hilarious dialogue. Like, really hilarious. Laugh out loud type stuff. Most of all, the game is a bargain, selling new for roughly 30 dollars-- do yourself a favour and at least rent the game. Chances are you'll be won over if not by the charm than the great story and gameplay.

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Dead Head Fred

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What The Critics Said

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