May 26 2008
PC Review: Penny Arcade Adventures Episode One: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness (2008, PC, RPG)
Creators of the popular webcomic Penny-Arcade brings their first effort into game-making with Penny Arcade Adventures Episode One: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness. Apart from the long title, the game offers an unique blend of RPG elements with role playing. You can customize your character, and you fight alongside Gabe and Tycho. You explore the game’s 4 world and fight enemies in a turn-based fashion mixed with real-time components. There is an active timer that control what actions you can take: using items is the fastest, then regular attack and finally specialty attack takes longest to recharge. To use specialty attacks, you are presented with a minigame, such as pressing spacebar at the right time, or pressing buttons as they appear (a la DDR). With each successful battle, your characters will become stronger and gain new and powerful attacks.
The best thing about PAAEO:ORSPD is the visuals as they are faithfully accurate to the comic strips. You’ll encounter everything from fruit fuckers to hobos, and be treated to the universe of New Arcadia. They wisely avoided using voice actors to portray the main characters since, the original inspiration being a comic strip, everybody is free to interpret the voices of the characters.
In the end, the game is strongly recommended for Penny-Arcade lovers, and adventure game fans. Others may be turned off by the universe of New Arcadia, or unwilling to go through with the gameplay mechanics that can be sometimes frustrating. Especially the ability to block and counterattack by pressing the spacebar in the split second that the enemy’s health bar flashes, it can lead to unjustified defeat just because there were too many enemies on screen. At $20, it isn’t a bargain, but this is the most authentic Penny-Arcade experience you’ll receive outside of the comic strips.
Rating: 65%
