I’ve never been coy about my lust for Brutal Legend. It’s a game that I have been anticipating for a really, really long time, evident in my slew of posts slobbering over the metal-infused adventure from Psychonauts developer Double Fine. Ever since the initial reveal, I have poured over countless screenshots, trailers and previews, anxiously awaiting my opportunity to slaughter bloodthirsty druids with a flame-etched battle ax.

With launch rapidly approaching, Electronic Arts and Double Fine have unleashed the Brutal Legend demo upon the masses, providing a taste of what will come on Oct. 13, or, according to EA’s clever marketing bees, Rocktober 13.

Games are all about immersion nowadays, and I was immediately sucked into the world of Brutal Legend. I spent at least 10 minutes ogling the opening menu, a black Brutal Legend record sleeve that opens to reveal fiery beasts, wailing souls, an erupting volcano, and The Deuce, Eddie Rigg’s flame-encrusted hot rod. It’s extremely clever, especially since Jack Black’s hands peel back the front cover. No offense to the famed comedian and musician, but I was hoping for hand model J.P. Prewitt.

The opening scene is nothing short of gold. I find it hilarious that Eddie, a buff, leather-clad metalhead, is a roadie for a group of svelte, whiny punks. The lead singer actually wears a Phantom of the Opera mask, handling a PDA like a 15-year-old Jonas Brothers fan. Definitely not metal. Far more hilarious, the band’s music is best described as a fusion of hip-hop, hard rock and pop-punk, featuring turntables and lyrics akin to those of a New Found Glory album. The irony is so thick that you would need a sledgehammer to shatter it.

I’m harping on presentation, but it’s hard to ignore the care that went into the personages and ambience. Take for instance the introduction to the alternate universe, a candle-lit altar atop a massive tower of skeletal remains. It’s an epic sight to say the least, and helps set the tone for the rest of the game. Basically, expect loads of crazy shit, like demonic nuns and giant pairs of legs that have cages dangling between the knees.

From there things get a bit more physical, with Eddie forced to hack and slash through freakish grunts, eventually confronting a towering, ill-tempered worm. Though simple, the combat is extremely fluid and satisfying, mixing Clementine’s ranged magic with the brute force of The Separator. Buckets of blood gush from decapitated corpses, providing a sick sense of pleasure and accomplishment. That is unless you opt to censor the gore, in which case the bodies simply collapse in lifeless heaps. Yawn.

I spoke of immersion before, and it’s something I’d like to bring up yet again. Heads-up displays have been a staple of game design for as long as I can remember, and certainly don’t show signs of fading anytime soon. However, in recent years, HUD-less games – Ghostbusters: The Video Game, Dead Space, Flower – have been on the rise, as some developers try to improve interactive experiences by eliminating informational overlays. Brutal Legend appears to ditch the concept as well, instead relying on visual cues to provide users with vital information. For instance, there is no magic bar that dictates how often you can use Clementine. Rather, after each attack, the guitar – apparently a she – glows a brighter red, eventually becoming too hot for Eddie to handle. It’s a cool little visual prompt, and quite useful too. I am not anti-HUD by any means, but do appreciate when my screen isn’t cluttered with unnecessary meters and info boxes. The less shit I have obscuring my view, the better.

I really enjoyed the vehicle segment, which provided hope that Eddie’s sweet ride won’t simply be a mechanical, road-ripping Epona. Obviously it’s a car, so you’ll need it to get around. Brutal Legend is said to have an expansive environment, and walking from place to place seems like a pretty terrible idea. However, the Druid Plow can also act as an extension of Eddie’s arsenal, evidenced by the boss fight at the end of the demo, as well as the smorgasbord of fleeing druids. Get it? Druid Plow. Ingenious, I know.

As you might have gleaned, I was extremely impressed by my initial taste of Brutal Legend. It was fun, entertaining, and, best of all, left me craving more. I was going to buy the game regardless, but my anticipation is now at a fever pitch. There is actually a white froth accumulating at the corners of my mouth. I have played through the demo three times, yet still haven’t had my fill. By the time you read this, I will probably have beaten it an additional seven times. That’s assuming this gets posted by Friday afternoon.

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