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Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Episode 3: Baddest of the Bands
Telltale Games, Nintendo Wii, October 2008 |
Title
Publisher
Year
Players
Price
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Baddest of the Bands
Telltale Games
2008
1
$10 (1000 Wii points)
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| The rock and/or roll lifestyle has been a big part of the Homestar Runner cartoons, so it makes sense that it be a part of the Cool Game for Attractive People series. In the third episode, Baddest of the Bands, there's a battle of the bands, a guest appearance by Limozeen. If you've played the first two games, this is basically more of the same. Go find this, give this to that, sabotage this other thing, etc. While fun and somewhat funny, it seems the premise wasn't fully exploited.
Control
Point, click, explore, obtain. As the other games in the series, your dexterity and skills are meaningless, it's up to you and your problem-solving wit to help Strong Bad win the contest and get his beloved video game system fixed.
Graphics & Sound & Gameplay
There's not a lot of new ground being broken in this game. Familiar sets are redressed to better work with the concert theme, and it seems like this one was largely done in less time than the previous two. There are some neat vistas near the end, but largely the game's visual wow-factor is on the low end.
One area where the developers really ramped up the series is music, mostly due to the fact that it's such an important part of the game. As the characters split into their own bands, they have unique sounds and songs to play. You might find these irritating, or potentially awesome. I'd go into greater detail, but there are a number of pleasant surprises involving Homsar and our favorite electronic instrument. You'll want to see that.
The point-and-click gameplay is the same as you've seen in previous installments, but one thing removed from this volume is the ability to play the video game until after the credits role. (Maybe that's a spoiler, but this game came out a while back so oh well.) Hot Babelian Odyssey plays just like any NES title, and can be yours after the credits roll.
Mini Games
Hot Babelian Odyssey is a mix of Defender and Scramble, which are known to most modern gamers as two prehistoric 2D shooters. It's a fun mini-game, I can see why they make you earn it as a prize for finishing the game. It's rare that there's a game in which your goal is to literally pick up chicks.
Is It Worth It?
Fans of the series so far will likely have a good time, but there aren't as many out-loud chuckles to be had in Baddest of the Bands. The series still has plenty of territory left to mine, but this brief excursion into rock band territory feels a little flat-- although they did manage to hang on to important elements like interband fighting. Here's hoping for another rock-themed entry in the future, as it seems there's no shortage of wacky band possibilities.
--Adam Pawlus
May 6, 2009
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