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Irritated by a review from The Onion's AV Club
ZombieJellyfish
Registered User new member
Registered User new member
Here's the review first, and I'll explain why I'm irritated, and wondering if anyone else is.
It's like it was written by some humorless ghoul. I also hate that he says "doubling the standard XBLA price." I don't know what that's supposed to mean. It associates a kind of value to whatever that mystery price might be, and takes it completely out of a real context. I mean, this is a $20 game. I feel completely fine with spending $20 on it, why does it matter how it compares with Uno or the original Doom, price-wise.
And what "plot and script shortcomings" is he referring to? I hate when reviewers make vague statements like that.
I dunno, it just rankled me. It bothers me when people probably made money turning in work of this caliber. Also annoying that he didn't sign it.
http://www.avclub.com/content/games/penny_arcade_adventures_on_the
Since 1998, Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik have used their webcomic Penny Arcade as a springboard for commentary on the gaming lifestyle and industry. Comic avatars Tycho Brahe and Johnathan 'Gabe' Gabriel celebrate and satirize fandom; now they're jumping the fence to become playable characters. In concert with Hothead Games, Holkins and Krahulik pack their first game with vulgar humor and irreverence, but players outside PA's fan base might question whether hip-thrusting, urinating robots are funny enough to be worth frequent backtracking through four gameplay areas.
When a giant robot crushes the home of a normal citizen, the irritated victim aligns with Gabe and Tycho against hobos, mimes, and dark magic. The story is replete with quips, webcomic references, and non-sequitur gags, many of which seek to obscure the fact that Penny Arcade Adventures: On The Rain-Slick Precipice Of Darkness, Episode One is a series of simple fetch quests strung together by slight exploration.
In action-oriented role-playing games, addictive combat can overcome plot and script shortcomings. Episode One's battle system is inventive, but shallow, as you flick between three party characters and a trio of special attacks while choosing tactics and targets. It's really just a waiting game: All actions "recharge" after a few seconds (for basic attacks) or half a minute (for special moves), so combat is a matter of blocking incoming attacks while preferred techniques recharge. The interface is more daunting than most combat encounters.
Beyond the game: The PC game's point-and-click controls aren't as well-suited to the action as the analog-stick movement and more detailed action icons on the Xbox Live version. (A further Xbox benefit: one achievement has the dubious honor of prodding players to destroy an enemy with a quietly grooming cat.)
Worth playing for: Slick production values, including moody music, animations that admirably replicate the webcomic, and 2D cutscenes that suggest the influence of artists like John Kricfalusi and Mike Mignola.
Frustration sets in when: An inverted difficulty curve makes the first hour more challenging than the last. In spite of an inflated hit-point total, the final boss is a dullard that requires only patience.
Final judgment: A streamlined but only fitfully entertaining role-playing game that requires deeper gameplay and story to justify doubling the standard XBLA price.
A.V. Club Rating: C+
It's like it was written by some humorless ghoul. I also hate that he says "doubling the standard XBLA price." I don't know what that's supposed to mean. It associates a kind of value to whatever that mystery price might be, and takes it completely out of a real context. I mean, this is a $20 game. I feel completely fine with spending $20 on it, why does it matter how it compares with Uno or the original Doom, price-wise.
And what "plot and script shortcomings" is he referring to? I hate when reviewers make vague statements like that.
I dunno, it just rankled me. It bothers me when people probably made money turning in work of this caliber. Also annoying that he didn't sign it.
ZombieJellyfish on
0
Posts
It's the curse of the entertainment industry,
you are going to find critics who enjoy the game
and critics who hate it, the ones who write for the
most popular sources make the most difference.
IGN gave the game a 7.5 and said it's worth a look
for PA fans and RPG junkies, I think that's an accurate
statement.
This is an exquisite cruelty, one to inflict on co-workers that you don't much like.
This is what spoons are for.
Do it. You know you want to.
Spoons?
That's what straws are for. Slorch that up!
I give this review a 2/10.
You have to wonder if he read any dialogue at all.
Speaking of the Holy Grail, I recently went to Spammalot. Great show, the only problem is that people howl with laughter after every obvious jokes so you miss the (this is weird to say about Monty Python) subtle jokes.
Anyway, I got coconuts.
There was a thread discussing this very topic last week or so (Solid Story I think was the title) and I found the change in story arc to be screeching-tires abrupt. And there were various other arguments about the story, so criticizing the story is perfectly valid.
Also, Monty Pythons sucks asshole straight from the faucet.
@gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
You know, I'm glad we established that you were clinically retarded in that previous thead.
Still, thank you for confirming our initial assessment with your post here.
But really, what did you expect to fight in Hobo Alley? Tourists?
I'm less annoyed about it today. I think it's weird that the only place I've seen anyone say anything bad about this game is online. Every person I know who's played it has raved about it, and most of those are not PA fans.
It's an extremely well-written adventure game. It's not boring, it doesn't drag. The backtracking is a little tedious, but it's no worse than any LucasArts game, so I can't really fault it with that.
Hey, fuck you and the cock you rode in on. Just because I think the story transition isn't smooth makes me clinically retarded? How high and mighty of you. Shitdick.
I don't know, dude. You said you don't like Monty Python. I think that makes your whole judgment a little skewed.
Because the AV club is.
Dude, why would the Onion lie to us?...OK, I never really played the game...But I did play the free traiel like 4 times. Yes I know, I am cheap.
No. Fuck you.
@gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
Man.
What.
Is he Hastur in disguise, come to taint us with his paragraphing, the angles of which can drive men mad.