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Funk of Titans: Not So Funky

You're probably wondering what Funk of Titans is. Game Informer's Matt Bertz described it as follows
"Its quirky new action/platforming title, Funk of Titans, combines the sensibilities of blaxploitation films with Greek mythology to create a game mash-up unlike anything else we've seen."
Funk of Titans is an Xbox One exclusive indie game announced at Gamescon 2014. The game is developed  by the small team at A Crowd of Monsters. You can watch trailer for the game at this link. No, this isn't a review. At the time of writing this Funk of Titans hasn't even been released yet. It's an Xbox One exclusive game and I don't even have an Xbox One.

Funk of Titans is a blaxploitation game. I love blaxploitation films. When Hollywood wasn't looking for black actors in the 70's and 80's black people made their own. The movies were filled with over the top characters like  Goldy and Pretty Tony, fight scenes with over dramatic martial arts, sound tracks backed by Willie Hutch, with more swords than guns. Blaxploitation films are amazing. In recent years the success of the Black Dynamite movie and cartoon have reminded people of a time long since past.

Funk of Titans aims to do this. Taking us back to blaxploitation and then even further back to Ancient Greece. The gameplay looks to borrow heavily from the old Donkey Kong country games and that's no big deal. But there's something that bothers me about this game.

There are rarely any black protagonist in video games and when they are they're usually gang members. But that's not my problem. The game is clearly over the top with the stereotypes in attempt to create humor, it failed. But that isn't my problem with the game either. My problem is an internal conflict.

Sure, they game looks fun on the surface. Then you start to think about the stereotypes and it plays in the back of your head. But it doesn't bother you. You start to ask yourself is it okay for non black people to make blaxploitation? There aren't a lot of black developers, that's a known fact. So I don't expect a lot of black characters. But when I do see a black character I want to see more to them. Franklin and CJ were both gang members but the games manged to show more depths to the characters. Not just in game, but in trailers. Funk of Titans didn't do that. They gave us Zeus' illegitimate son with an afro and a hoopty of a Pegasus.

But then I started to think. It's only wrong sometimes. While most blaxploitation films especially the most well known films such as Shaft were created entirely by blacks there were some directors of other ethnicities. So I came to the conclusion of, sometimes. I guess if it's really bad you probably already know it's bad and offensive and have no business doing it until someone tells you. For example, this blaxploitation Mad Men parody was written and directed by an all white marketing firm and it was hilarious. Meanwhile Funk of Titans just leaves a bad taste in your mouth after watching the trailer. Only time will tell if Funk of Titans will be an offensive piece of work or a funny throwback.

You can follow me on Twitter and hear me on the CP Time and Powerbom Jutsu podcasts

Darrell S.

Hey, I write stuff, a lot of different stuff, that's all.

1 Comments

  1. Ultimately, I think the conflict with this game in relation to what you are describing is... well sure a non-black person can technically make a Blaxploitation themed game - but Black is more than a skin color it's part of a culture what what Blaxploitation was derived from. If a person is immersed or knowledgeable into the culture that blaxploitation is based from you can still have an amazing story or product. But that's a sign of a person doing their due diligence and consulting the right people.

    I played through this game, and it felt about as authentic as putting on a Halloween costume and throwing a few quips from a surface level of understanding. The moment where it gives impression of what looks like a suburban white middle aged soccer mom "Talking Jive" to her son's black friend who literally grew up 3 houses down.

    Not saying that everything needs to be some sort of referential masterpiece, but beyond running with a concept was there any thought or research put into this at all? Or would it just reek of a group of hipster white people laughing about the antics of their imaginary "Funny Black Man"?

    I can understand your inner conflict, while it's hard to dictate "Who can make what" in terms of something being offensive - I think if our focus is more "Is the person/team/studio respecting what they are making this product from"

    Granted this review is 2014 and it's 2021 and unless we've all been living under a rock I'm certain this game as it is especially wouldn't fly today as it is currently.

    Thank you for your thoughtful article.

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