Review - Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People

Developer/Publisher: Videlectrix / Telltale Games
Release Date: August 11, 2008
Available On: Nintendo WiiWare, Windows
Genre: Adventure
Number of Players: 1 Player
Strong Points: Captures the web cartoon's humor perfectly; a great throwback to point and click adventure games of the past
Weak Points: Playtime feels short for a game
Technical Score: B
Artistic Score: B+
Final Score (not an average): A-
Moral Warnings: Use of mild language ("crap"); some crude humor (presence of the Poopsmith); pranking that involves indecent exposure and prank calls


Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People - Episode 1: Homestar Ruiner may be a ridiculously long title for a downloadable game, but the game is the first in an episodic series packed full with ridiculous gags and a refreshing change of pace.

For those unfamiliar with the name of Strong Bad, a brief explanation may be useful. Strong Bad is a character from the popular web cartoon, Homestar Runner (http://www.homestarrunner.com). One of the cartoon's recurring series is Strong Bad Emails. In this particular segment, the luchador-esque Strong Bad responds in a snide manner to emails sent in by fans. These responses commonly end up in the development of some new product (like the Ab-Abber 2000, sure to give users ten-pack abs) and/or pranking of the locals.

SBCG4AP begins as any Strong Bad Email would... almost. The game opens up with a genius (if, of course, you appreciate the humor) musical number, the first of many things that set the game apart from the cartoon series. The bigger, and more obvious, change from the cartoon series is the ability to interact with practically everything in the game's world.

From the pile of laundry on Strong Bad's floor to the Stick to all of the residents of Freetown USA, Strong Bad has some witty remark to make. Indeed, the game is packed full of jokes and references that fans of the series are sure to get.

On the other hand, those who are unfamiliar with the series will still find things to laugh about, but will not be able to appreciate the depth of the game's world and design. I wouldn't say that it's a prerequisite that you should already be a fan of the series before buying the game, but it certainly does make the game that much better.

As far as actual gameplay is concerned, the developers seemed to have taken plenty of notes from the classic point-and-click adventure games put out by LucasArts. The game is played in a semi-linear fashion that sends Strong Bad off on a quest in which you must come up with ways to progress by interacting with environments and using items you will acquire throughout the game (often in unpredictable ways). By no means is SGCG4AP an action-based game, requiring wit over reflex, and that's part of what makes the game so enjoyable. The game is comparable to a Caesar salad hidden among meal after meal of spicy buffalo wings: It's lightweight, cool, and a nice break from the norm.

Fortunately for fans (and everyone, really), the game has kept the voice and creative talent from the series. Moreover, the game retains, with surprising grace, the humor and pacing of the cartoon. I would be hard pressed to name many games that more smoothly transition a animated series or film into a game than SBCG4AP.

Visually, the game is simple in presentation. Of course, that is the case with the source material, and it would be unfair to condemn the game for not pushing the system's hardware limitations. In all reality, the developers should be commended for keeping the game so true to its source.

The same can't quite be said for the audio. The voice work is, depending on how you judge it, amazing and terrible. All of the characters are unique in their voicing (including accents and speech impediments). However, some voices (many of them, actually) may be annoying to some people. It, like most of the series, is wholly dependent on whether or not you "get" the humor and style. The same can be said for the music, which is both cheesy and perfectly suited for the game.

Morally, there isn't a great deal to worry about. Some implied violence (through verbal threats or being thrown out of a window) is present, but it is presented in an entirely humorous fashion. Strong Bad quips about his love for the "pretty ladies" and comments about making out (in a tame manner). "Crap" and "freaking" are the extent of profanity. If you've seen an episode of Homestar Runner, you can expect the same thing here.

On the whole, Strong Bad is a game that I absolutely loved. Having been a fan of the series for years, I downloaded the game with high hopes as well as high demands. Needless to say, I was quite happy when both were met. The game is outrageously funny (and, relatively speaking, remarkably clean) and a lot of fun to play. The game is short, but worth every cent... and even a second playthrough. If the relatively minor moral issues do not bother you, it is easy to recommend SBCG4AP as your next WiiWare (or Windows) download.

-Kenny Yeager (kenny@revolve21.com)