Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness

With any product that comes from the guys at Penny Arcade, you can always count on three things -- its going to be crass, its going to be for adults only, and its going to be funny as hell.

Not Dane Cook funny or Chris Rock funny: Penny Arcade Funny. But now with the release of Penny Arcade Adventures: Episode One, the roles have been reversed. What happens when the National Lampoon of gaming makes their own game? Hilarity ensues.

This first episode of PAA is set in the town of New Arcadia in 1922. Slightly annoyed after watching your house get crushed by a giant robot, your created character gives chase and from there its nothing but adult humor and fights. Tycho and Gabe, familiar to readers of the PA web-comic, act as your guides and help move the clever storyline along nicely. The graphic presentation is excellent and keeps with the Penny Arcade visual style, and while the turn-based combat system takes a little getting used to it works great when mastered. But the true enjoyment in playing this game comes from the oddball humor, which is everywhere. From the witty dialogue (almost entirely written; get your reading glasses ready) to the bizarre villains (clowns, hobos, robots that do disturbing things with fruit), you are guaranteed to laugh your way through this title.

The only knock on PAA: Episode One is its price, a hefty $20. Most people will be reluctant to fork over that much coin for an episodic title, but considering the game's box feel and content both Penny Arcade and non-Penny Arcade fans will enjoy, you should get over that concern and play this game.

PROS: Simple yet challenging fight mechanics, solid storyline, absolutely hilarious
CONS: Sticker shock. Go ahead, check that price again

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