Deadpool Beginner’s Tips (Xbox 360, PS3)

If you like action games, make room for Deadpool.  The smart-alecky assassin stars in this self-titled Xbox 360 and PS3 game from Activision, chock-full of sidesplitting laughs and over-the-top action.

The controls are easy to figure out, as you have two buttons devoted to main weapon strikes – light and heavy – and a teleportation technique that allows you to move out of harm’s way and counter with ease.  In addition, you fire guns using the left and right triggers.  Once you learn enough about the combo system, you can actually mix everything together to create gun-fu effects that define Deadpool’s unpredictable nature.

Without further ado, here are some beginners’ tips that will help you beat the game.  

Upgrade Often

Deadpool begins with his traditional katana blades, as well as twin pistols that carry a good amount of ammunition.  As you go through the game, you’ll earn points that come in handy for purchasing upgrades.

There are a ton to choose from, including improvements to Deadpool’s movement and attacks, as well as a variety of guns and weapons.  We mixed up quite a few of these, including quick sais with a grenade launcher.  Our personal favorite – and this is an effective combination when surrounded – is the pair of metallic croquet mallet/sledgehammer weapons, combined with twin sawed-off shotguns.  Once you chain these together you’ll bludgeon people left and right.

Feel free to experiment, and remember you can switch weapons at any time by pressing left and right on the d-pad without accessing a sub-menu.  This can stretch your attacks even further, allowing you to quickly stab someone with the sais, then pound someone’s face with the sledgehammers.

Teleporting – Get Used to it

Teleporting isn’t just a fancy ability.  It allows Deadpool to counter an enemy’s attacks.  Though the process isn’t as smooth as Batman deflecting punches in the Arkham games, it’s still easy to pull off.

When an enemy is about to strike Deadpool, the goon will have a highlighted icon over his head.  It might be a red circle (PlayStation), a B button (Xbox 360) or another function (Steam).  Once you see this, tap the button and you’ll engage in a counter move that knocks the thug to the ground.  Here, you can finish him off with some quick attacks. Just tap the button before he strikes and you should be able to take him down.

One other thing – teleportation works quite well against larger enemies.  Mutated beasts will shoot you from a distance or worse yet, swing at you up close.  The key is to run up to them and before they attack, teleport behind and then hit them.  From there, prepare to stick and move again.  

Building Momentum

The more Deadpool fights, the easier it is to build Momentum, which the developers display on the left side of the screen.  Filling this meter lets you pull off a special attack, and that’s where the real fun begins.

To execute this move, make sure you have enough enemies in range – they come in groups, so this should be easy – and then press the associated shoulder and face buttons.  

This Momentum attack will clear enemies quickly, either with a devastating jumping sword slash or maybe even something more powerful, depending what weapons you chose.

Try to save these Momentum attacks for when you need them most, like when you’re surrounded or low on health.  

Don’t be Hasty

Throughout the game, cinematics play where you’ll have the option to do extra-wacky things to friends or get information presented in a comic book style.  For instance, you cannot miss Cable’s introduction, as it comes with an absurdly hilarious song asking, “Who the (censored) is Cable?!”  You’ll also have the ability to smack around Wolverine at one point – which will earn you an Achievement or Trophy — or cause trouble with one of the femme fatales you’ll deal with, such as Psylocke and Rogue from the X-Men.

Some of this stuff is juvenile, sure, but it’s Deadpool.  Just remember to have fun with it and take his antics in stride.  

Everyone Loves Tacos

If you’re a sucker for collectibles, Deadpool has plenty.  Along with player and weapon upgrades scattered throughout each level – check the smaller areas, even if you think there’s nothing there – you’ll also find tacos.  As you play through the game, you’ll learn more about Deadpool’s love for tacos.  Furthermore, if you find 100 of them, you’ll unlock another Achievement/Trophy.

Deadpool is available for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.