|System: X360 (XBLA), PC||Review Rating Legend|
|Dev: Hothead Games||1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid||4.0 - 4.4 = Great|
|Pub: Hothead Games||2.0 - 2.4 = Poor||4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy|
|Release: May 21, 2008||2.5 - 2.9 = Average||5.0 = The Best|
|Players: 1||3.0 - 3.4 = Fair|
|ESRB Rating: Mature||3.5 - 3.9 = Good|
A few other layers of complexity are thrown in for good measure. Initiating special attacks triggers a mini-game unique to each character which determines how effective their attack is. These special maneuvers are a pain to pull off - particularly Gabe's, which requires some hardcore hammering of the space bar followed by a precisely timed gentle tap - and their effect on the battle isn't always as helpful as they could be. Additionally, support characters offer added humor and helpful firepower in battle, and some foes have inexplicable immunities or weaknesses to certain attacks. The game never really gets particularly tough, and you likely won't need most of the special items until towards the end of the episode.
Episode One's other RPG elements are fairly light; you'll level-up with experience from battles, gain robot parts to upgrade your weapons, and earn special attacks for reaching certain level benchmarks. These additions are much appreciated, even if they aren't quite robust enough to fully satisfy an RPG enthusiast's hunger for stats, saving throws, and character progression micromanagement. This also raises the question of how all of this will carry-over and play out in subsequent episodes, since you're party is pretty tanked-up and powerful by the time the credits roll on Episode One.
The deliciously twisted, outlandish sense of humor pervading all reaches of the game is easily one of its major selling points. The reams of dialogue you'll click through are creatively witty and stay true to the vibe of the source material, but funny gags and obscure references appear at nearly every twist and turn. Also, humor frequently pops-up in battle. You'll face clowns that bleed rainbow-colored blood, give you the finger, and actually bite your balls; mini-Fruit F*ckers that hump your leg and are easily distracted by tossing a ripe orange in their direction; drunken hobos that stagger at you and throw beer bottles; and mimes with attacks like "pretend I'm a fencer" and "pretend I have a lasso," among other ridiculous adversaries.
The short-length and other minor nitpickings aside, Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode One is absolutely worth every cent of its $20 price tag. By the end of the first installment the game will bore a hole of anticipation in your skull that yearns to be filled by future episodes. Indeed, fans of the comic will not be disappointed.
CCC Staff Contributor