I dutifully downloaded the first episode of Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People – subtitled Homestar Runner – when it was released on WiiWare. For free, of course, using the Wii Points I’d exchanged for the Stars I’ve collected over the years. I intended to review it properly, but now that the second episode is out, it seems a bit of a stupid thing to do. So I won’t.
I’d completely avoided Game Rankings, but checking it now it’s probably what I expected: some very good reviews, and some less so. Edge in particular gave it just 4 out of 10.
My general opinion of the game is that it’s all fine and dandy, but not as cohesive or, frankly, funny as the first Sam & Max episode – also from Telltale Games, of course. Game Rankings just about agrees, as does Edge, which gave Sam & Max’s debut 6 out of 10.
Just about the only genuinely funny thing on the Internet – though inconsistently so – I am a fan of Strong Bad. Indeed, I think he is awesome. I even bought the Strong Bad Email DVD boxset for Christ’s sake – and I was tempted by a plush The Cheat. Sam & Max’s humour just works better in a game; but by the same token, Sam & Max checking their emails probably wouldn’t be as funny as Strong Bad doing so.
It’s not bad though. The puzzles are of the same collect-an-item, use-an-item variety as Sam & Max; some of them are tremendously satisfying, though none are terrifyingly taxing. There are loads of incidental bits to collect and do, all drawn from the Strong Bad universe.
It’s perhaps a bit too walky – probably due to the constraints of being set in Strong Bad’s world – though there is a lot to be said for wandering through Strongbadia (Pop: Tire). It’s certainly funny enough of the time to keep a fan interested, but if you don’t know Strong Bad, it’s probably a good idea to start by checking some emails. Or just play Sam & Max. It’s better.
I think this is one of those games that you’re either going to ‘get’ or…’not get’.
As in, ‘get the’ jokes, not ‘get it’ as in buy it.
You need some Achewood in your life, Jake. Though don’t just go to the website and read the first stript: start from the start, get to know the characters, and by the end of the first story arc you’ll love it. It’s seriously wonderful.
Not really, Matt. I emphatically ‘get’ Strong Bad. But I can still see that it isn’t as good as Sam & Max.