Apparently It's Hazard Time
Music and presentation have a suitably retro feel. Although character design for Matt Hazard is more Jason Statham than Duke Nukem; a big, bald protagonist, with similarly angry growls. Whilst the plot is refreshingly original, gameplay is the polar opposite. There are also major frame rate issues and system freezes. Controls are functional, but gunplay is sluggish and inconsistent. Considering the entire game is based around shooting, it's a big disappointment. It also features the worst Shotgun in memory. On the other hand, Eat Leads cover system is very intuitive, including a dash feature, where Hazard locks onto cover and automatically moves to it. The lack of a jump button is highlighted during play. He can't even climb ladders, or crouch, so how he survived 20 years of gaming is a mystery.
The humour isn't side splittingly funny; a Mario knock-off named Captain Carpenter got a chuckle. Final Fantasy also gets it, under the name Penultimate Illusion. But the majority of jokes are subtle observations on gaming trends. Stuttery voice acting is sent up by Bill the Wizard. His cries of foes to the...left, foes to the...right during a sniper mission is reminiscent of the PS1 era. Yet it seems poorly designed for those unaware of the joke. There are humourous remarks on gun turrets: "Why can't I just pick it up and run around with it, that would be much more convenient". And after a boss battle, objectives update to: Taking out the helicopter miraculously unlocked the exit.
There's a nice parody on overloading the player with tasks. Matt complains about having too many, so they are replaced with one simple objective: Shoot everything that moves! Trophies are painfully easy. One is awarded for watching the credits in their entirety, whilst another is achieved by pausing the game. Similar oddball trophies are given for shooting 30 potted plants. Theres a Multiplayer Master trophy, despite no multiplayer options.
The concept of Eat Lead isn't fully explored, giving the impression more could have been done with this unique setup. For example, more genres could have featured, like a side scrolling level, or a 1st person shooter stage, reflecting Hazards long and supposedly varied career. Missions lack variety, and most consist of warehouses or docks. This could have been a homage to the past 20 years of gaming, instead of a hit and miss spoof. A joke that few will get, which isnt even funny.