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Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People: Homestar Ruiner Review
Posted by Mike Fahey at 6:00 AM on August 12, 2008
Strong Bad and friends have been entertaining the internet for over eight years now, combining colourful characters and pop culture reference to create one of the web's rare clean destinations for comedic entertainment. As regular visitors to Homestarrunner.com know, video games have played a large part in the series over the year, to the point where they even created a fictional video game developer, Videlectrix ("We use computers...to make video games"), to handle their vast catalogueof titles. Now the Brothers Chap have teamed up with Telltale Games to deliver the first "proper" Homestar Runner video game in the form of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, an episodic adventure game for the Wii and PC.
The long-awaited first episode "Homestar Ruiner" is now available, and we checked it out to see if it passes muster or deserves to be DELETED!
Loved:
The Humor: Now I've been following Strong Bad at the Homestarrunner.com website for years now, so the humor is right up my alley. The game almost feels like one long, extended Easter egg from a Strong Bad email.
The Graphics: Strong Bad, Homestar, and crew are rendered lovingly in 3D, staying true to their 2D roots despite the extra added dimension. Just about every character in the main HSR universe is represented, including my favourite, the drive-thru whale (sever your leg please).
Mini-Games: The Videlectrix classic Snake Boxer 5 is even more entertaining when you realise that it is exactly the sort of simplistic game we'd play for hours back in the Atari days, while the Teen Girl Squad mini-game is a delight for anyone who's ever killed stick figures in a spiral notebook.
Game Mechanics: SBCGAP is a relatively simple point and click adventure, with a few little tweaks to keep the game flowing. Might have been tedious if not for the ability to warp anywhere on your map at any given time.
Music: Homestarrunner.com fans expect music, and the opening and closing theme song to the first episode does not disappoint. "You Can't Handle My Style" is sure to become an instant classic. There's also a boom box located in Strong Bad's kitchen that lets you access a selection of typical Strongbadia musical fare.
Hated
Standard Adventure-Game Tedium: SBCGAP is a standard point-and click adventure game, so the standard point and click adventure game tedium applies. Click, wait for character to get into position, only to tell you that you can't interact with the object the way you intended. More of a pet peeve, but if an adventure game is going to tell me "No" I'd rather it be up front about it.
Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People is very much a game for fans of the series. Without knowing these characters and not having experienced their interactions in the past, I can easily see some folks just not getting it. If you're unfamiliar with the whole Homestar Runner universe, I suggest heading over to the website and hitting the R button to pull up a few random toons. If you enjoy the humor there, you'll enjoy the game.
Homestar Ruiner is an excellent start to Telltale's Strong Bad saga, offering fans of the series a chance to break out of the email window and explore Strongbadia and surroundings in an all-new way.
Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Episode One: Homestar Ruiner was developed by and published by Telltale Games. Released on August 11th on WiiWare and PC. WiiWare version costs 1,000 Wii Points. PC version costs $8.95 for single episode, $34.95 for a subscription to all five. Played PC version to completion.
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Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft
Posted 6:32 AM 12/8/08
@ShaggE: ^--- at u.
P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft
P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft
Posted 6:32 AM 12/8/08
oh yeah.
Problem solved, thanx!
P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft
Asradi
Posted 6:31 AM 12/8/08
@FinalFantasy7:
my fave is 157, trading cards, because it was mine :P that and it was awesome.
Asradi
Asradi
Posted 6:30 AM 12/8/08
Dude, I cannot wait to get some more Wii Points. I've been so excited for this game.
Asradi
Snappywave
Posted 6:30 AM 12/8/08
Mike Fahey, does it have subtitle option.. please tell me
Snappywave
thebigsmoke
Posted 6:30 AM 12/8/08
Hey Mike - add another to "would love your take on PC vs Wii".
Is waggle (+/- sitting on one's couch... depending on the comfort of said couch) worth the possible
$15 price difference over the course of the season?
thebigsmoke
alfredofroylan
Posted 6:26 AM 12/8/08
@Namssorg
The wii version has a extra mode to send e-mails and pictures using Strong Bad's Lappy (In the PC version you can only send pictures) also when you're Playing Snake Boxer 5 you need to turn your wii-mote sideways .....and that's all.
alfredofroylan
ShaggE
Posted 6:25 AM 12/8/08
@P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft: Well, if you don't have a Wii, get the PC version.
ShaggE
logan
Posted 6:23 AM 12/8/08
@Namssorg:
the only thing i've read that was different was the fact that you can email friends with pictures you've taken in game on the wii.
@Naturestee:
i heard about 4 hours but then playtime is always subjective to how long you wander around really. it took me twice as long to finish mass effect as it did most people who played it.
logan
TheIrishNinja
Posted 6:20 AM 12/8/08
aw man, i just got braid and im all kinds of broke...this one's bought when im not.
glad to see it reviewed by a fan.
TheIrishNinja
Wizzard
Posted 6:19 AM 12/8/08
You can't handle my style, no you can't handle my styyyyyyle... email!
Wizzard
MSW0
Posted 6:18 AM 12/8/08
Prolly gonna get it for PC. Can't see myself playing PnC games with Wii...wouldn't feel right.
MSW0
CockroachMan
Posted 6:18 AM 12/8/08
Getting it on the Wii just to support their effort of putting a great game like this on WiiWare and to show Nintendo that we want this kind of thing and not "pong toss" ¬¬'
CockroachMan
P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft
Posted 6:18 AM 12/8/08
@P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft: I just wanted to say that, this sounds like a fun game, if only i had a Wii =oO
Oh wait, i wouldn't use it for anything else then, ZING!
Except Boomblox.... damnit.
P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft
Anarchist_Gamer
Posted 6:17 AM 12/8/08
@ComradeStalin86: No, that's actually the name of the game.
I think you see what the developers did there.
Anarchist_Gamer
P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft
Posted 6:16 AM 12/8/08
even i know the answer to this one.
BAHLEETED.
P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft
Kazzahdrane
Posted 6:15 AM 12/8/08
@Kazzahdrane: Sorry for immediate 2nd post, but Telltale's site confirms [www.telltalegames.com] that they're doing the same deal for the SBCG4AP season as they have done for the S&M seasons - if you buy the full season (for PC) for $34.99 you can get the DVD with all the episodes on for only the price of shipping when the season ends. Fantastic deal and great for people who want to get the episodes now but have something material at the end of it in case the Internet explodes and they can't redownload the games.
With S&M they always let you upgrade to the full season after buying one episode for only the difference in price to the full season bundle, so it doesn't even cost you anything to try one episode before plonking down cash for the full lot.
/does not work for Telltale, just likes to support independent developers!
Kazzahdrane
Namssorg
Posted 6:15 AM 12/8/08
Is there a difference between the Wii version and the PC? Or is the Wii version simply using the wiimote as the mouse pointer?
Namssorg
JN64Lover
Posted 6:12 AM 12/8/08
Mii would like to play!
JN64Lover
Kazzahdrane
Posted 6:11 AM 12/8/08
Interesting that your only "Hated" point is something that's a problem with almost every game in the adventure genre, Mike. Implies the game's pretty damn good! I totally agree though, wasting time walking over to a hotspot only for the character to go "That doesn't work here" is a pain.
I actually like the way Telltale handle it in the Sam & Max episodes, where Sam will actually say "That doesn't need to be made slippery" for example when you try to use a tub of polish on something incorrect (example taken directly from my ass). That way you realise what general use the item you're holding has in relation to the puzzles you're facing. Very handy when you get an item that could be used for any one of a hundred uses.
Also, there's a demo available for PC at [www.telltalegames.com] - I'm going to check it out before thinking about buying. Thanks to the strong £ the whole season on PC would only cost me about £18, just over the price for 2000 Wii Points (two of these Strong Bad episodes).
Kazzahdrane
Naturestee
Posted 6:10 AM 12/8/08
Any preferances for PC vs. Wii?
About how long does it take to go through the main game?
Naturestee
Shiryu
Posted 6:10 AM 12/8/08
TROGDORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shiryu
CockroachMan
Posted 6:10 AM 12/8/08
I'm sold!
CockroachMan
ShaggE
Posted 6:09 AM 12/8/08
Finished it a few minutes ago. I loved every second of it. If I had to complain about anything, it would be that Bubs and Coach Z look... wrong... in 3D. But that's a nitpick of massive nitpickery.
ShaggE
MSUSteve
Posted 6:07 AM 12/8/08
I'm trying to decide whether to get it for Wii or for the PC. I'm leaning toward Wii simply because I can play it on my big TV from the couch that way.
MSUSteve
excel_excel
Posted 6:07 AM 12/8/08
fantastic stuff, definetly getting it!
excel_excel
ComradeStalin86
Posted 6:07 AM 12/8/08
Homestar Ruiner...eye c wut u did thar...
ComradeStalin86
Mj92
Posted 6:06 AM 12/8/08
This game rocks
Mj92
Sam Smith
Posted 6:05 AM 12/8/08
Might get this. I've always found Stong Bad quite amusing.
Sam Smith
FinalFantasy7
Posted 6:03 AM 12/8/08
Cool, nice review. I'm gonna get this for my PC.
I'm a strong bad fans :) Oh this may be off topic but my fav episode is still the computer virus one. That's awesome
FinalFantasy7
AcidCrownie
Posted 7:02 AM 12/8/08
It has TGS? This game wins.
AcidCrownie
Zak Canard
Posted 7:02 AM 12/8/08
I'll pick this up when it lands on the Euro Wii Shop (this Friday?), and hopefully I can get ye flask whilst I'm at it.
Zak Canard
Torgen got his apology faceplate but not his fixed GH3 disc
Posted 6:55 AM 12/8/08
@CockroachMan: I'm pretty sure Nintendo knows we don't want Pong Toss, but they weren't going to stand in the way of the third party who felt like making it.
Torgen got his apology faceplate but not his fixed GH3 disc
ShaggE
Posted 6:47 AM 12/8/08
@P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft:
Whisperingly, I'm not entirely sure what an ^--- is...
I am now frightened and slightly hungry.
ShaggE
Rebochan
Posted 6:46 AM 12/8/08
@Rebochan: Oh, and I played the Wii version, since it was obviously designed with that in mind and all. The waggle wasn't used in any particularly innovative way, it just substitutes itself for a PC mouse. But it does that perfectly well.
Rebochan
Rebochan
Posted 6:44 AM 12/8/08
I picked it up over lunch, played for a few hours. It's a lot of fun. Of course, you'd better like adventure games, because it plays exactly like you'd expect one too. But it nailed the setting and the characters, and the puzzles are fun.
@Snappywave: There is a subtitle function, which you can access at any time.
Rebochan
LordAndrew
Posted 7:24 AM 12/8/08
I guess I'll have to check it out.
LordAndrew
sxp151, the happy-headed nose
Posted 7:14 AM 12/8/08
I've gotten an hour or so into the Wii version. I love it, despite not knowing most of the characters (I've seen maybe five episodes of the web cartoon, so you certainly don't need a great familiarity with the series to get the jokes). Most hilarious moment, which I really need to show my wife: the Jane Austen reference.
It's a little simpler than Sam & Max; for example, you pick dialogue choices from a picture menu (like Mass Effect, right?) rather than reading the possible sentences you can say. Reminded me of Harvey Birdman a bit.
The only thing I might change on the Wii is the text. The subtitles and item descriptions are very small and low-contrast (white text showing up on top of game images), which is fine on a PC screen, but a bit difficult to read from the couch on a TV.
sxp151, the happy-headed nose
CockroachMan
Posted 7:07 AM 12/8/08
@Torgen got his apology faceplate but not his fixed GH3 disc: Still.. a game like this selling well can motivate other developers to make good games on WiiWare
CockroachMan
Mezodon
Posted 7:54 AM 12/8/08
This review is all it took to sell me. I'll probably wait and get the whole package after they're all done. As much as I'd like to support good games like this on the Wii, I'll opt for the PC version due to better graphics and lower price.
Mezodon
Dick.Blake
Posted 7:52 AM 12/8/08
Hmmm... if this has any Limozeen references I'm sold!!
Dick.Blake
AcidCrownie
Posted 7:39 AM 12/8/08
Downloaded the demo 'cause I'm a po' boy. It's great.
AcidCrownie
Chewbenator
Posted 7:33 AM 12/8/08
I'll pick it up sometime or another. I'm not really sick of the game I'm playing currently so it might be awhile. Good to see it comes in as a quality product, would suck it if didn't considering its internet reputation.
Chewbenator
KenogaBrave
Posted 8:18 AM 12/8/08
I subscribed for five. I can really only "take" this game for an hour or so before i'm bored from the tedium.
However, all the interactions and mini-games are funny(I feel they were a bit tamer for the wii crowd).This episode won't hog much HD space either, just 69mb.
So if you want a good, entertaining point-and-click game, this is surely worthy.
KenogaBrave
Toastbusters
Posted 8:07 AM 12/8/08
Got this one early on in the morning, and I've been clickityclacking away at it all damn day.
I'm stuck at one point, and it hasn't been out long enough for any walkthroughs to exist yet - which, truth be told, is kind of a plus.
I'm enjoying the challenge.
Toastbusters
TearsandScreams
Posted 8:05 AM 12/8/08
@Kazzahdrane: That's awesome, thanks for the info. I had no idea you could try it out first then buy the whole season, or they'd just charge shipping. They really are cool guys!
TearsandScreams
Repsode
Posted 8:05 AM 12/8/08
Will have to pick this up. Might get it for PC rather than Wii simply because I'm a hoarder and I'm not up for the idea of getting rid of all my VC games for it. I've got a really crappy connection and there is no way I'm wasting my time for the same game twice!
Higher resolution with the prospect of a special feature laden DVD at the end of it all did sway my opinion slightly too.
Repsode
Dirame
Posted 8:38 AM 12/8/08
No Wii no money and 4PCs. What am i doing with 4PCs you say?
Ask the four guys i live with; me, myself, I and Him(in the mirror).
Anywho, i just recently became a fan of strongbad(thank you kotaku) and i will definitely be picking this up when i have enough gold.
Dirame
Swift_
Posted 9:30 AM 12/8/08
An absolutely MUST INCLUDE criticism is the fact that the game is 318 blocks, which no self-respecting VC user has left available to them.
Swift_
Herabec
Posted 9:24 AM 12/8/08
You left out the 4 in SBCG4AP. Fail Mike, just fail.
Herabec
idontlikewords
Posted 9:56 AM 12/8/08
@Toastbusters There's totally a walkthrough!
[www.telltalegames.com]
Don't use it though! You can do it!! =)
idontlikewords
Weegi
Posted 10:24 AM 12/8/08
I discovered this by accident: While in the secret mode of Snake Boxer 5, hold the block button for a few seconds and you'll charge up a Burninating Blast.
Weegi
Dick-Ballistic
Posted 11:33 AM 12/8/08
I had alot of fun with this game. I beat it and unlocked most of the extra stuff. Methinks I'll go back and get the rest tomorrow.
Dick-Ballistic
CaptLtrl
Posted 11:42 AM 12/8/08
I'm a huge Homestar runner fan, from many years back. I've fallen out of touch with updates, since they are so sporadic and wasn't sure if I was going to get this game right away. Thanks to kotaku, my will was broken swiftly and painlessly.
Downloading as we speak. :D
CaptLtrl
P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft
Posted 11:36 AM 12/8/08
@ShaggE: it's an up arrow pointing up to what was meant for you, but wasn't put in.
P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft
.em.
Posted 12:21 PM 12/8/08
Awesome! I'll consider getting this, if my Wii ever gets hooked up to the internet. :C
.em.
bigdonthedj
Posted 1:19 PM 12/8/08
I just bought Strong Bad's CD and all four volumes of his emails on DVD. I am SOOO ready for this game!
bigdonthedj
2NinjasTapedTogether
Posted 2:43 PM 12/8/08
When I get back from vacation, I'll be picking up this for my Wii and Elefunk on my PS3... Yay downloadable games!
2NinjasTapedTogether
KM91
Posted 1:58 AM 13/8/08
Aweseome.
KM91
MitchCumstein-III
Posted 7:54 AM 12/8/08
I have actually played through it and this review really is excellent. Love the no number policy you guys have here on reviews.
MitchCumstein-III
Atrius
Posted 1:47 AM 14/8/08
@Swift_: True dat. I had to delete Lost Winds so I had room.
This in an ancient thread but I'll post anyway. I got and finished the game and my verdict is ... thumbs up. They translated the humer/characters/feel of the website into the game very well. I think you would need to be a fan of HR if you were to get most of the humor though. And if you don't like point'n'click's then its not going to be any fun either. But I would say any fan of the series should be a fan of this game.
Atrius
Reikson
Posted 12:06 PM 17/8/08
Great review. I know it is an episodic game, but I probably would have also added that it is a bit short.
The other thing that I really enjoyed about the game is the way it makes fun of you if you do something wrong. One example is the candy/King of town puzzle.
It really is just plain fun to play.
It might also be worth noting that there are a few instances where the game freezes up if you are playing on the Wii in widescreen.
Reikson