All Non-Strongbad games: DELETED!!

Despite a distinct lack of chiaroscuro shading and consummate Vs, Strongbad has managed to win the respect and demand the hearts of a legion of followers, both attractive and not. Unfortunately, only fans that fall into the first of these categories will be treated to his new WiiWare title, Strongbad’s Cool Game for Attractive People. Just writing about the game, I have to wear a bag over my head. Which is a shame, because looking at all of its nifty videos was just starting to rinse out the bad taste left in my mouth by our last featured WiiWare title.

Mike and Matt Chapman, creators of the internet cartoon phenomenon, Homestarrunner.com, have locked the Telltale brain team behind the episodic game series Sam & Max in a small room. They are being forced, under threat of constant light switch raves and groundings, to create a similarly timed series of games based on Strongbad’s life and legend.

For those unfamiliar with Sam & Max or point-and-click adventure games in general, the gameplay is surprisingly self-explanatory. You progress throughout the game by clicking on objects or areas of interest, which your character will then interact with. Some earlier incarnations, such as Maniac Mansion or Shadowgate, used an action menu in which you picked what sort of interaction you desired (Look, Take, Hit, etc) before clicking on an object. Current adventure games, including SBCG4AP, follow the King’s Quest model of freely clicking on the screen to ignite an event. Though this isn’t an ideal game type for the trigger-happy Haloites of the world, these type of games usually come packaged with excellent dialogue and narrative, clever secrets and open-endedness, and a whole lot of humor. King’s Quest alone, not even counting Sierra’s other graphic adventure games, tallied eight different installments in its series. Sam & Max have so far released two six-episode seasons based off Steve Purcell’s comic. Although quantity ≠ quality, there’s obviously something about point-and-clicks.

With an eight-year online history, millions of hits per month, and a finger already in the popular gaming pie, Homestar Runner and Strongbad could easily elevate that something to a somethang with viewers as players. Everyone who loves checking emails on Compy / Lappy, endorsing mass burninating, and crushing Homestar’s spirit will find

themselves comfortably at home in SBCG4AP. If you become overwhelmed by how much more awesome Strongbad’s life is than your own, take a break with your Fun Box and Snake Boxer 5. The first series will offer five games for monthly download, beginning in June. Since IGN reported that Teen Girl Squad will make an appearance in the game, all of my fears have been alleviated and I’m ready to rock out on my internet-style connection.