Nobody Reads This

There is an expectation attached to any product that is released under the Penny Arcade branding these days, not just one of quality and gaming virtues, but an expectation of something dark and not quite as it should be. ‘On the Rain slick Precipice‘ (what a mouthful, but so brilliantly representative of this installment as a whole) is no disappointment but at the steep 1600 XBLA price I should bloody well hope not.

For those of you who have been told “Long, but not long” as Mark frustratingly quoted me earlier, throw away those preconceptions for PAA #1 (Seems the sensible abbreviation) is around the length of HL2 Episode 1. This game weighed in for me at about 5~ hours on my first play through and I am not disappointed at all.

The character creation – the section of a game I am never happy with – was possibly the single biggest letdown but understandably so. The idea that Gabe and Tycho draw angular representations and cut-scene graphics for about a dozen heads and half a dozen torso’s etc is impressive in itself, but they might as well have just offered three set outfits and saved themselves a lot of the mix and match bother. This is effectively what you’re restricted to anyway.

The combat system is entertaining with each of the characters having little mini-games as part of the super moves from your characters “Ring o’ Judgment” to coordination and button mashing puzzles. The combat is real-time ticker based with the AI kicking your ass if you’re being too slow but as your characters always get priority if an attack is lined up you can abuse speed boost potions and effectively stunlock your opponent.

The real charm of this game however is not in it’s graphics or play mechanics but in the art and the script. The characters work so brilliantly together with both of the signature PA star’s personalities seeping through and charming even the most apathetic of fans. The almost too random plot characters can almost jar your perspective so much as to ruin the atmosphere, so more than other’s anyway. That’s you Mr-Piss-Scientist.

Even though I had a lot of fun, I don’t imagine myself playing it again any time soon to max out the achievements … At least not until episode two is released. Hopefully it won’t be too long, but with episodic content you can never be too sure.

Regards,
JamesR.

Episode 2 … Yonder Horizon Burns