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Review - Strong Bad Episode Two - Strong Badia The Free

THE FACTS: Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People - Episode Two Strong Badia The Free
WiiWare | Telltale Games | WiiConnect24 Messaging | Out Now | 1000 Wii Points (£7.00 / $10.00 Online) | 12+ PEGI
Controller compatibility: Wii remote (Pointer); Math Kickers Vs The Algebros mini game - Wii remote (Sideways)
This is part two of a five part monthly series. Previous episode - Homestar Ruiner; Next episode - Baddest of the Bands

 

When reviewing the first episode of Strong Bad, we commented on the simplicity of the game, and how easy it often was. When we came round to play this game in the series though, we were very unprepared for the complications that would arise.
 
    First of all, this episode, entitled Strong Badia The Free, is much more complex. The game starts with the King Of Town enforcing an e-mail tax meaning that everyone who receives or sends an e-mail, must pay the tax of a chocolate bun roll. Strong Bad obviously doesn’t like this, so when he refuses to pay the tax, he decides to set up his own nation – Strong Badia. Everyone else follows suit, with all of the other characters opting to create their own land. Playing as Strong Bad, it is your task to persuade the others to join your army and defeat the King.
 
    The story and gameplay is often overly complicated, thus making this episode more difficult than the last. Despite this, the game feels as though it was a bit rushed for release throughout. Whilst in keeping with the look of the flash animations, this version often feels very flawed. In one occasion, the game completely froze the Wii system, and quite often, some of the animation didn’t always play as it should have done.
 
    Despite this. the game maintain sits comic value and funny quotes throughout the story, and alongside this, new settings and mini games are playable (Math Kickers Vs The Algebros is the Videlectrix mini game this time, but whilst including more depth than Snake Boxer in episode one, you’ll likely not play this one back as much. In addition to this, the Teen Girl Squad return in cave-man fashion and there is a compulsory board based mini game playable towards the end, as with the Race to the End of the Race finale in episode one).
 
    If we could choose what to improve in this sequel, we would definitely un-complicate it, removing some of the more complex puzzles. After getting stuck several times, I realised how much funnier the game would be if it was as easy as the first game. Alongside this, we wouldn’t mind the storyline being a bit less complex. We understood what was going on throughout the game, we just think that getting everyone to join forces one by one made it drag out a bit, and made the gameplay feel a bit all over the place. Don’t get us wrong – this episode does play very well, it is just let down by the storyline and the differences between this and the original.
 
    Overall, the first Strong Bad game was a bit too easy. After playing through the second episode, we’re thinking the complete opposite. If you’re new to the series, you should check out the previous episode first, but if you’re a Strong Badian fan, we think that there is enough here to keep you occupied for at least four or five hours.

 

Final Score
21/30
Good
Gameplay 7
Plays more like a game than the first episode, but can feel like a bit of a mess at times
Presentation 8
The voicing is great, but the graphics are a bit of a let down
Enjoyment 3
When not completely stuck, there is plenty of fun to be had here, though the mini games aren't as enjoyable as the ones in the first episode
Other 3
Plenty of extras to keep fans playing, as well as the extended length over the first game


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How we rate games: EXPLAINED