Review: Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People Episode 1 (finally)
Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People Episode 1: Homestar Ruiner
Recommended Specs:
OS: Windows XP / Vista
Processor: 1.5GHz
RAM: 256MB (512MB recommended)
Video card: 32MB 3D-accelerated video card (64MB recommended)
DirectX 9 or above
I had, until playing this episode, never heard of Homestar Runner, the website where the Strong Bad cartoons are hosted. I had no idea what to expect or what the game would be like except that sight of the main character of the game, Strong Bad, who looks like a midget Luchador.
This game is great fun. Just about everything is clickable, ala Sam and Max (of course that comparison would be here right?), but other than the cartoon feel, this is nothing like that other great episodic series from the same publisher…. The game is short, playable in a few hours, but that’s the great thing about episodic gaming: Bite-size game, bite-size price. The episodes are 8.95 each, or 34.95 for all 5 Episodes.
I was able to pick it up and play it right away, clicking with my mouse like those old Sierra adventure games of yore. My oldest son also picked it up, and he aboslutely loved the game. He did get stuck on some of the puzzles, but he figured them out with a little help from Dad. The cartoon graphics and G-Rated content made it fun for the boys to play along with me.
While you have the main story to play, which revolves around some “French” guy’s e-mail about why he just doesn’t beat up Homestar (who Strong Bad views as his enemy, but Homestar sees Strong Bad as his friend). So He sets out to kick some Homsetar booty. Eventually, Homestar and Strong Bad wind up having to work together to get things back to their version of normalcy.
There a are a lot of side quests to keep you busy as well, collecting cards, finding things for other characters, or just playing videogames at the house. That adds another hour or two to the game’s 6 hour or so length. I know some hardcore gamers or old-school adventurers are going to finish it in 4 or less, but there’s too much fun to just blaze through it so fast.
I would recommend visiting the site (http://www.homestarrunner.com) and watching some or all of the cartoons. You’ll appreciate the game more, and get a better feel of who’s doing what to who and why.
I definately enjoyed this episode, and look forward to Episode 2: Strong Badia the Free, which I’m sure will be coming out very soon (I’m really late on this review, Episode 1 came out in August).
I am going to go for a 4.5 out of 5 stars. The bar was raised high with sam and Max, and while this one hits it well, it was pretty short. The easy level is great if you have younger players, while well-seasoned ones will probably find it run by a bit too quick. Fans of Sam and Max, or even old LucasArts games will have a blast with the things that happen when you click around. Puzzles were fun and well done, and nothing that didn’t make sense to put together. Graphics are fairly simple, and should be, it looks exactly like the cartoons that it’s based on. I’m not a great judge of music, but it didn’t get in the way of the rest of the game.
If you like bite-sized gaming, need something to play while travelling (which I do a lot of), or are a fan of the toon, I have no problem recommending this download to anyone looking for some fun.