December 15, 2008 - We have arrived at the end of Strong Bad's fantastic episodic series, and Telltale and the Chapman brothers have gotten crazy go nuts with the finale. "8-Bit is Enough," the fifth installment of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, is the ultimate gaming experience for Homestar Runner fans. It will also be appreciated by fans of retro gaming, as the story involves a merge between the 8-bit world and our own. Each episode in the series has subtly improved on the last, and nothing has been held back in part five. As with the first four Strong Bad games there is a lot of fan service here (more than usual) and many of the jokes are of the "inside" variety, so it will probably still be confusing to the uninitiated. But these episodes are a very welcome addition to WiiWare and it's great to see developer Telltale carrying on the torch of graphic adventures. This is a standalone adventure, so playing any of the first four games isn't a requirement (although you definitely should).
Your remote controls Strong Bad and handles all of his interactions with the world around him. Just click on the screen where you want him to walk or on people you want him to talk to. Dialogue options are displayed as picture bubbles above character's heads and the interface works really well. Using items you find on objects or people solves most puzzles. If you've ever played a graphic adventure you'll be right at home here. Like most games in this genre, some of the solutions can be a bit esoteric. But that comes with the territory, and a little trial and error will get you past most obstacles. There is also a good hint system that can be set to high or low.
Around the game world there are plenty of secrets to find, clothing items to try on in Strong Bad's photo booth, and peasants to be burninated. This episode packs more random fan-favorite characters and in-jokes than the others, like Stinkoman, Peasant's Quest, and the Videlectrix company ("We use computers to make videogames!"). There are so many characters, in fact, Matt Chapman's voice work starts being repeated by a few personalities. Of course, it is just one guy providing all the voices, so we can probably cut him some slack.
Closing Comments
Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People has been consistently entertaining, and "8-bit is Enough" is a more than fitting sendoff. This episode is truly bizarre, but still very funny. Both Telltale and Homestar creators the Chapman brothers have really taken the time to craft the games that Homestar fans want to play. Even if you're not a fan, if you enjoy retro gaming you'll probably be amused by all the 8-bit gags here. It's a little disappointing knowing there isn't a new Strong Bad episode waiting for us next month, but we're happy to have had the chance to try and handle his style.
| Rating | Description |  |
|---|---|---|
| out of 10 | click here for ratings guide |
|
| 8.5 | Presentation 8-bit is Enough offers laughs, fan service, and a clean interface. |
|
| 7.0 | Graphics The Flash cartoon is already pretty minimal in its presentation, but there are times when the game looks a little too cheap. Overall, though, it accurately recreates the Homestar universe. |
|
| 9.0 | Sound Fantastic voice work from Matt Chapman, as always. The chiptunes and old school bloops have been lovingly crafted. |
|
| 8.5 | Gameplay Solid pointing and clicking with inventive mini-games thrown in for variety. |
|
| 6.5 | Lasting Appeal The experience is short lived, but that's kind of the point of episodic gaming. There are a bunch of secrets to be found after you've beaten the game. |
|
| 8.6 |
OVERALL (out of 10 / not an average) |
 |
Send to Friend
Comment
Rating Info
RSS Feeds