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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/282
166 MacDirectory
REVIEW | GAMES
PENNY ARCADE ADVENTURES > ON THE RAIN-SLICK PRECIPICE OF
DARKNESS, EPISODE TWO BY HOTHEAD GAMES
When the creators of the webcomic
Penny Arcade teamed up with Hothead
Games to develop and produce their first
video game, expectations were mixed.
Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-
slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One
arrived to mostly positive reviews (we gave
it 5 stars). Most reviewers seemed to
agree that the game could use a few
improvements. Well, the team took that
criticism and applied it liberally to Episode
Two, making the sequel even better than
the original.
First, one of the biggest gripes has been
addressed: The loading time between
environments is noticeably faster, by at
least half. This has the effect of keeping
immersion and helping you remember
your objective for that environment. While
not a flashy improvement, it's certainly a
welcome one.
Second, the action has picked up the pace
considerably. Combat events are hairier,
leaving scant time for over-long perusals of
your response options, and there are more
mini-bosses this time around. Additionally,
there is a new feature: Insane Mode. Once
you've completed the game in Normal,
you can unlock Insane, which gives ene-
mies greater health, and takes away the
"Block" indicator that lets you know when
to click the mouse for a counterattack.
Your sidebar allies are still with you,
notably Ann, who as her special attack
calls down a projectile strike from an
orbiting set of twin gatling guns that
pretty much takes the opposing side out
of the picture completely. Gone are T.
Kemper and the Modded Fruit F$#@er,
and in their place are Div, Mr. Tails, and Dr.
Raven Darktalon Blood, all characters from
various points in the webcomic.
Your weapons still get upgrades via the
collection of bolts from defeated Fruit
F$#@ers and a visit to Ann in her stately
home. It's important to remember,
though, that with each upgrade, the
number of overkills you'll need to max out
your stats also increases concomitantly. It's
worth the time to get every checkmark in
there before moving on to each upgrade,
so you'll derive the most benefit from
each upgrade.
During combat, enemies have picked up
new behaviors, making combat less
predictable than in the previous game.
Sometimes a single opponent will leave
the battle prematurely, only to group with
another set of villains that are waiting just
ahead. At times one of your enemies will
jump in front of another, taking the brunt
of your attack. Enemies are also quicker to
take advantage of healing abilities, which
can drag out a battle far longer than
you'd expected. Sometimes the key to
victory is assessing someone's particular
weakness, as one might be more
vulnerable to punches, and another might
be weak against special attacks.
Speaking of special attacks, the mini-
games for each character have been
changed. Gabe now has a "Dance Dance
Revolution"-like rhythm game you must
complete to pull off his special; Tycho
features a particularly devious "Whack-a-
Mole"-style mini; and your character's
clock mini from the first game has been
replaced by a metronome that bounces
faster with each success in hitting the
strike zones. As promised, your character's
stats can be brought over from the
previous game, making you mightier than
a newly-created character right off the
bat. You also have a few more options to
customize the look of your character, but
not nearly enough, in my opinion.
With other smaller additions like new
character outfits to find, new inventory
items, and the return of unlockable
artwork and music, OTRPOD: E2 is sure to
please fans of the original game. If they
continue to improve with each iteration,
then I can't wait for Episode Three.
WORDS BY KEONI CHAVEZ
Product Penny Arcade Adventures:
On the Rain-slick Precipice of
Darkness, Episode Two
Made by Hothead Games