The grandfathers of the "two wacky roommates on a couch talk about video games" genre of webcomics, Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, have carved out lives of gamer fantasy. Their empire of gabbing about games at penny-arcade.com has not only been successful enough to support them and their families, but has expanded to their own gaming expo that rivals E3 and an annual charity that spreads gifts to children's hospitals across the globe. But now they've reached the pinnacle of this lifestyle that is an idle daydream for most: they've made their own game.
Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness places the creators' alter-egos Tycho and Gabe in a 1920s "Elseworlds" version of the comic that's one part H.P. Lovecraft and one part poop jokes. The player joins up with the duo to go smash vulgar robots, hobos, and cultist mimes. Much like an average tabletop RPG session, the story is reduced to the meagerest veneer so that players can get to the meat of gameplay without feeling guilty. Which isn't to say that it's not well-written--it is, and there's plenty of it--but plot is here for giggles rather than the manipulation of emotions. The game's humor will definitely find a home with fans of the comic, but the eloquent dissertations on bodily fluids may fall flat for those who cannot appreciate the finer forms of comedy.
The player builds up a persona with a character creator that not only provides a 3D model for running around town, but also a 2D version for the animated cutscenes. Despite customization options being scant, seeing your character react in these animated pieces is a great effect. Gameplay utilizes elements from "active" RPGs like Paper Mario and Shadow Hearts, where the player gets to do a little extra button mashing to increase their attack or defense power. However, PAA:OTRSPOD (geez, even the abbreviation's a mouthful) goes a step further and tosses out the turn-based nature of those games, where the player has time to relax and develop strategies. Here, enemy attacks are fired off as soon as their turn comes up, whether you're ready to react or knee deep in menus. This creates a great sense of action and makes battling truly enjoyable. Items are randomly and plentifully sprinkled about the levels and weaponry is kept on a strict upgrade ladder, keeping item management at an absolute minimum. The game incorporates adventure game elements such as dialogue trees and item-based puzzles, but thankfully avoids the illogical and maddening tedium that genre is known for.
I hesitate to recommend this game to those unfamiliar with Penny Arcade, as the humor is such a vital part of the experience and can be a bit of an acquired taste. Check out the comic. If it fits, great, hop on in. $20 for five hours of gameplay may seem hard to justify, but I left satisfied and eagerly awaiting the next installment. Playing through it felt like a hack 'n' slash campaign in a tabletop RPG with a bunch of enjoyably sophomoric friends--a bit of alright fun, indeed.
Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness (Xbox 360/XBLA)
ESRB: M
Publisher: Hothead Games
Official site: http://www.rainslick.com/
Rating: 85/Buy it!