Wiiloveit.com: Review - Strong Bad Episode One

Review - Strong Bad Episode One - Homestar Ruiner

THE FACTS: Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People - Episode One Homestar Ruiner
WiiWare | Telltale Games | WiiConnect24 Messaging | Out Now | 1000 Wii Points (£7.00 / $10.00 Online) | 12+ PEGI
Controller compatibility: Wii remote (Pointer); Snake Boxer mini game - Wii remote (Sideways)

This is part one of a five part monthly series. The next "episode" in the game will be reviewed within the week.

When it comes to video games, there are often some very funny moments hidden away that makes the hobby seem even more worthwhile, so when we came across a whole game based around the idea of being funny, we wondered if it would get away with it, and maintain the laughter throughout the whole experience. This game, based on the Homestar Runner web animations (which we highly recommend you familiarise yourself with first) manages it though, and throughout the laughs there is some good, if somewhat simple and short, gameplay to be enjoyed as well.

The idea is that you play as the Homestar Runner king of cool Strong Bad, as you try to diminish your enemy Homestar's chances in the Free Country USA Tri-Annual Race To The End Of The Race. To do this you must publicly humilate him, with consequences that add an unexpected twist to the storyline. If you aren't familiar with the characters beforehand, this could hinder both the laughs and overall fun, however fans of the online series should thoroughly enjoy it.

As an episodic point and click game, the storyline is one of the main aspects to focus on (unlike with many other genres). Since it's pulled off pretty well though, the rest of the game just seems to flow with it like a stream of fun. There isn't half as much frustration as you'd find in many other point and click games since most of this is very easy, but considering the simplicity of it all, we're not complaining as it all just makes the experience even more fun.

The storyline isn't all there is to it though, since the game also includes a few mini games to keep you occupied as well. These include the ability to create Teen Girl Squad comics (in which you use specified items to kill off all the characters before the story's end), the chance to play in the Race To The End Of The Race, use Strong Bad's lappy to send e-mails or photo's (taken with your in game camera), collect four trophies and several acheivement rankings and dress yourself in an array of costumes.

There is a final mini game included as well though, in the option to have a go on Strong Bad's Videlectrix retro game system with a Snake Boxer mini game. The game plays simply, and all you do is move up and down a boxing ring, pressing the 2 button to attack your opponent (a snake) and the right button to dodge. This is an addictive little extra, and helps to give you something extra to do whilst playing.

Overall though, the simplicity of the whole thing is great fun, and unless you want to go unlocking everything (of which there is little need to do so), it should keep you busy for around three or four hours. There could have been more to it - side missions, or maybe a two player option in Snake Boxer, for example - and once you've played it through once, you'll fly through it a second time. At 1000 points, you get a fun title, but unless you'd prefer the Wii controls (and we know that we do), we would recommend downloading in on the PC instead, though only because of the price. The game is the same, but just misses out the e-mailing, so you wouldn't be missing anything important.

Final Score

23/30

Very Good

Gameplay 8

Despite the overall simplicity, the game is great, though sometimes it feels like you're just playing through a cartoon - albeit a very funny one

Presentation 8

Just like the flash website - simple graphics and music. Points earned for the brilliant array of voice clips

Enjoyment 4

The simplicity makes this game very enjoyable, though non-fans should knock a point or two off

Other 4
There has been a lot of effort put in to extra stuff, but the game could've had more replay value

How we rate games: EXPLAINED