Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People (Episode 1)
Verdict: too much of a good thing
In a Nutshell: Point and click your way along to help Strong Bad in his latest caper of ruining Homestar Runner.
“When Strong Bad’s plans to beat the snot out of Homestar backfire, he ends up with an unwanted houseguest cramping his style. Now he needs to get life back to normal, by any means possible.”
- Fun Rating: Sorta Fun
- ESRB: T
- Players/Mode: Single-player / Campaign
- Game Duration: 7-10 hours
- System: PC and Wii
- Developer: Telltale Games with Mike and Matt Chapman
- Website: http://www.telltalegames.com/strongbad/homestarruiner
- Cost: Get Episode 1 for $8.95 from Telltale (or the entire season for $34.95)
- Demo: http://www.telltalegames.com/demo/homestarruiner
| Would I play this again? | maybe to see some of the harder to get to things |
| Would I recommend this game? | if you really like Strong Bad and really have nothing else to do |
| Was the story good? | was O.K. |
| Was the music good? | not bad |
| Were the graphics good? | yes |
| Was this game difficult? | no |
| Was this game frustrating? | yes |
| Was this game offensive? | no |
| Was this game worth your time/money? | not particularly |
Playing the game
You are one Mr. Bad, Strong, email checker extraordinaire. Using the mouse, or Wii remote, click on different locations to move yourself around, pick up or use items, and navigate the map and inventory. While engaging in conversations, click on the desired talk bubble to get more information, give a compliment or “double deuce” provoking, witty slam.
What the game gets right
Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People Episode One; Homestarruiner (or SBCGAPEOH) has the charm and wit you’ve come to love from the Chapman brothers (assuming you know about Homestarrunner.com and do, in fact, love the scripts). All of the main characters show up in fine 3D form for Strong Bad to in some way insult interract with.
The Snake Boxer 5 mini-game was some 8 bit goodness that brought a smile to my face. That, to me, is Videlectrix at it’s best. Now if they can somehow incorporate Peasant’s Quest as a mini game . . .
What the game gets wrong
Some conversations can be annoying. Especially the same conversation. Especially when you can play that conversation again and again and again. Although you can skip through a discussion between you and another character, there’s no quick way to escape from conversations you’ve already had with other characters. Surely there’s a way to have Strong Bad ask “Are you sure we need to ask this again?”
As a fan of the Homestarrunner site, and especially of The Cheat, it was disappointing that The Cheat does not have much of a role in this episode other than being kicked or stirring a pool of gelatin.
As for the story; where’s the enemy? The challenge? The princess in her castle? Episode 1 is almost like playing a game of Seinfeld; it requires the characters to carry the interest as the plot is about a regular “day in the life of”. This particular day didn’t really have me rooting for Strong Bad . . er, myself?
Sum it up
What this all really boils down to is the plot line of Episode 1, Homestarruiner, was not interesting to me. It definitely had it’s moments, though; little sparkling shiny things that will keep you looking for the next one.
As a big fan of Homestarrunner.com, it was hard to get past the bias and mark this game as low as I did (and there’s probably more bias here than what I was able to get past.) Hopefully Episode 2 will have some of the game elements that I know and love so tune in soon for a run down on the next installment of Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People.
Other games you might like to read about:
Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People – E2
Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People – E5Rate this Game
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