If I was betting man, I would bet that when the men and women at Treyarch sat down and tried to imagine what they could do to honestly make World at War even better than COD4, they probably came up mostly empty handed.  So instead, it appears they set out not to top COD4, but to just try and keep up.  On the surface that looks like quite a task when you consider that COD4 was (and is still) one of the deepest on-line shooters to ever hit the market, and was also the victor of many game of the year awards.  It kept literally hundreds of thousands of people coming back day after day, night after night, for well over a year.  Very few titles out there can boast the kind of on-line numbers that COD4 can.  Well, I’m happy to report that World at War at least stays on par with it’s predecessor, and maybe even surpasses it in some areas.

One of the things that made the fourth installment of the franchise so popular was the setting.  Finally, a well made war game that took us out of the 1940’s and away from WWII, and in to modern times for some current day action.  Treyarch made a very bold decision when they decided to take their title back to that familiar setting that so many games had covered before.  A move that didn’t necessarily spark excitement from the community, but a move Treyarch was adamant about, none-the-less.  This time you find yourself right in the middle of both the Russian push in to Germany, and the Pacific assault against the Japanese.  The campaign premise of WaW should actually be very well known by fans of the series, as it follows the same design as the others before it.  You actually control two different soldiers and two different sides of the battle, that usually twist back and forth every couple of missions or so, at just the right pace.  As you start to push your way through the campaign, several things are immediately noticeable, like the gorgeous visuals.  From the nice looking textures and awesome lighting effects, to the authentic look of the guns and troops, it’s a real pleasure to look it.  Granted, these graphics aren’t much we haven’t seen before, but they still look top notch.  Keep digging and you’ll find it’s also a real pleasure to play.  The controls are tight and crisp, and while the AI is not super intelligent, they’re just smart enough to keep you entertained all the way through the fairly lengthy single player campaign.

Don’t feel like fighting the enemy alone?  Grab up to 3 friends and go at it together, either just trying to complete the missions, or competing against each other for kills.  While a big chunk of the story and a few of the missions from the single player experience don’t survive to see the co-op side of things, it’s a still fun way to enjoy the game with your buddies, all the while adding more replay value to the campaign.

When you decide you’ve had enough of Keifer Sutherland’s voice, you’ll probably find out that multiplayer is the place to be anyway.  Using a ranking system that’s identical in nature to the COD4 system, you’ll gain XP points for obtaining kills or achieving objectives.  While the XP/challenge system is just a touch different this time around, it’s still fantastic in all the right ways.  Some of the perks have been changed, but you probably won’t miss the ones they took out, and the 3-5-7 kill reward system remains in place, but has a touch more flare this time.  For getting 3 or 5 consecutive kills, the prize remains pretty much the same(Recon plane, then artillery strike), but if you can get to the 7 kill mark without being taken down, that’s where the real fun begins.  The hovering helicopter has been done away with, and it’s been replaced with a pack of fierce dogs.  Get those 7 kills in a row, and you can unleash a countless number of dogs upon your enemies, for up to 60 seconds.  While being on the defending side of this attack can be quite the annoyance, when it’s you that gets to unleash it, it becomes oh-so-much fun.  If you sink in all the time it takes to reach the highest on-line level of 65, you’ll discover that the prestige mode has also made the trip.  You can go through the ranking system as many as 10 times, before all the rewards finally come to a halt.

When trying to think of what complaints I could possibly have for this title, I always seem to find myself drawing a blank.  I mean, there’s no glaring holes or anything really wrong with this game.  The only valid points I can think to point out come from the lack of new content.  Granted, this is a new game with a whole new story and campaign, but outside of some minor changes and new multiplayer maps, it’s still just more of what we’ve already seen and done.

While trying to top COD4 would’ve been pretty hard, failing at making something just as good would’ve been hard as well, when you take in to consideration that Treyarch basically took the same engine, same multiplayer system, and same campaign design to bring us this game.  Not to take anything away from WaW, but it really does feel like COD4 with a new setting and a touch of polish here and there.  With that being said, the game still looks and handles so well, the touch of polish and new setting make it worth every penny.  For fans of the shooting genre, it’s highly recommended, but for fans of COD4, it’s simply a must have.

Release: November 10, 2008
Genre: First Person Shooter
Developer: Treyarch
Available Platforms: X-Box 360, Playstation 3, PC, Wii, DS
Players: 1-4(co-op), 2-18(Multiplayer)
MSRP: $59.95
ESRB Rating: Mature
Website: www.callofduty.com/CODWW

Think you know movies and movie trivia?  Want to battle it out over Xbox Live, with up to four teams able to play?  Then Scene It? Box Office Smash is one of the choices that has presented it self this holiday season.  This is the sequel to the highly popular Scene It? Light, Camera, Action that was released last holiday season.  But with Scene It? Box Office Smash we are given more HD movie clips, all new questions, plus several new puzzle types to test your knowledge of popular, and some not so popular, movies!

With this edition of Scene It? there are over 250 movies that are represented.  Everything from current blockbusters like The Dark Knight to past ‘B’ movies like Xanadu have trivia questions, puzzlers and/or clips about them.  This adds a diversity to the game that will allow fans all of movie genres the ability to compete and have a great time playing.  In the “big box” version of the game you also receive four (4) “big button” controllers, and corresponding IR dongle, but Scene It? Box Office Smash also comes without the “big buttons” saving gamer’s a little money in this congested holiday season.

With Box Office Smash you now have the ability to take your movie knowledge on-line to try and prove, once and for all, who is the king of movie trivia.  While it is nice to sit down as a family and play there are always times where not everyone is home, or wants to play, and the added option of on-line play was the main feature missing from the first Scene It?.  While there is the normal “heads up” mode; where you will take your movie knowledge against, up to, three other people.  The “couch mode” is a great addition where a group in your home takes on, up to, three other groups across Xbox Live.

Scene It? Box Office Smash is also the first Xbox game to make use of individual avatars and as of November 19th this includes your personal NXE avatar.   With this level of personalization and over 20 different puzzle/trivia types, ranging from watching a movie clip and answer five questions about that clip, to put four movies in order by release date with only the title, the amount of variety in this game will not leave you wanting.

However, the quantity, or cycle, of questions may.  While the website for Box Office Smash does say it has a “content tracking system that minimizes question repeats, you always have a fresh play experience.”  This was not my experience with the game.  I have played over five long games and numerous short games and by the third time playing was experience repeat questions.  Granted not all questions were repeats but by my seventh game over 25% of the questions were repeats.  This was the limitation of the first Scene It? also so lets hope the, future, addition of downloadable content alleviates this issue, and at a reasonable price too.

While Scene It? Box Office Smash does address the main issue gamers had with the first, on-line play, it is yet to be determined if future DLC will add enough to this title.  With counterparts the likes of Buzz! on the PS3, and its ability for endless user quizzes, or Wits n Wagers on the Xbox Live Arcade, and its available supply of DLC its hard to recommend Scene It? Box Office Smash as a $60 title.  While a family that has “game night” once a week may get the $60 value out of it.  A movie fan, or a slightly more then casual gamer, will experience repeat questions very quickly and move on to the next title.  If you have the controllers from the first Scene It?, or four controllers in general, then the “game only” option of $39.99 US is another great option.

Game Review: Rock Revolution (PS3)
Release: October 14, 2008
Genre: Rhythm Game
Developer: Savage Entertainment
Available Platforms: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS
Players: 1-3 players, 2-6 online
MSRP: $49.99
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Website: http://www.konami-data.com/rockrevolution/

Konami has been the name in music games for years in Japan and later to the U.S. with games like Dance Dance Revolution, Karaoke Revolution to name a few, but Konami has sat back as Rock Band and Guitar Hero are taking the top spots in music games.  So they have released Rock Revolution.  Rock Revolution can be purchased as a stand alone game or with a drum kit and is compatible with Guitar Hero and Rock Band peripherals .

Rock Revolution allows you have a choice of three instruments, lead guitar, rhythm/bass guitar and drums (I played Rock Revolution with a Guitar Hero guitar as lead guitar).  You play by performing songs on a scrolling play field, with dots as the next note in the song.  The notes scroll up and down instead of the angle you may be used to with other rhythm games.  As you hit the correct notes your band performs in the back round.

Rock Revolution has different game modes that allow you to play career mode so you and your band tour together and not only do you have to complete the song, but to move forward you must score a certain amount of points and impress the crowd.  Also available is studio mode that allows you to record and mix a song.  Rehearsal Mode is another available mode and that is just what it say it is a practice mode or trainer.  Multiplayer mode allows you to play local or online with other bands,  There are about 40 songs for you to play.  Rock Revolution also has different challenges you complete prior to moving on to your next album or gig and some of them prove to be a real challenge such as Poison Note Challenge, you have to stay away from the poison notes and hit a target score.  Crank It Up ramps up across three difficulty levels.  In the Zone Challenge speeds up as the multiplier increases.  Band Practice is one of the hardest as you have to learn a songs section and play it back without markers.  Studio Challenge is when you have to play a song section without missing a note.

I love all the songs that are offered by Rock Revolution and where fun to play such as, Falling Away From Me and Dance Dance, just to name some.  I like the fact that you do not have to buy a specific peripheral for Rock Revolution you can use what you already have such as Guitar Hero or Rock Band peripherals.  Rock Revolution allows you to get creative when you create your own tracks, but you don’t get to use them in any other mode.  The bands animation was nicely put together and very appealing and the power meter and atmosphere meter add almost a equalizer look to them.  The placement of the combo meter is just right as you don’t have to take your eyes away from what you are doing.

Rock Revolution at times proves to be a little faster paced than what you might be used to from other rhythm games.  I would have like to have been able to customize my player instead of having to use a default one.  Rock Revolution has no singing mode and that is something I would have expected from Konami seeing they have released Karaoke Revolution in the past.  The bands graphics are so well put together I think they forgot about the crowd the animations are just plain Jane.  Hitting notes are a bit different, you have to almost hit the note prior to the target area.

My final say on this title is if you are looking for just some songs to play and have a good time with I would pick it up, but if you are looking for a game to compete  with other people this is not your title.  I really enjoyed all the songs in the game and some proved that I actually might be able to sing some of them.  There really is no replay value in this game because once you have gone platinum that is it.

Game Review: Mirror’s Edge
Release: November 11, 2008
Genre: Action
Developer: DICE
Available Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Players: 1
MSRP: $59.99 (PC $49.99)
ESRB Rating: T
Website: http://www.mirrorsedge.com

Mirror’s Edge is another fresh IP published by EA developed by DICE. It is made off of the Unreal Engine but without look and feel that the Unreal Engine normally provides. The look is this ultra clean, very bright colored, cell shaded look that just gives off this super clean feel to the game. To assist with giving the clean feel, Mirror’s Edge features no HUD and is played in a first person prospective where for the most part, all you see is your hands and your feet. Mirror’s Edge also features a control scheme that is unlike every other game out there as for the most part, you just seem to use the bumpers and triggers to handle all aspects of the game, with an actually button push here and there.

So the whole idea of Mirror’s Edge is that you need to get to A to B to help solve the assassination of a prominent leader and to figure out who is framing your sister. To help you figure out what all is going to you will use your Free Running skills from A to B so you will find yourself jumping from building to building, climbing up walls, running up stairwells, sliding under pipes and even flying down ziplines. This is the main focus of Mirror’s Edge, to use your free running talents to reach certain locations or to accomplish certain tasks. There are other things like guns in the game but that is not where the focus is on, in fact Mirror’s Edge is more about the flight instead of the fight, DICE and EA even demonstrate this by making an achievement that you can unlock by completing the game without shooting an enemy, and I urge everyone that plays Mirror’s Edge to try and get this as it does feel like this is the way you are suppose to play it.

Mirror’s Edge has a lot of things going for it. It’s a very simple action game with a great art style and it brings something new and fresh to the table. You can almost call it, this years Portal, where as Portal came to us as a puzzle FPS, pretty much almost making a new genre for games, Mirror’s Edge does the same. We are given this FPS action game where the main focus isn’t to shoot the bad guys, it is to get from A to B as fast a possible with inconveniences in the middle. This very simple concept is what makes the game fun to play. Back to the art real quick, I do have to say that I love the style that EA and DICE decided to go with in the game. I really like how clean and crisp everything looks, I really looked forward to every time I went outside just because I would take a moment to look at all the buildings and environment, it was just done so well.

This is not a perfect game though, not by any means. The first thing being the game length in Mirror’s Edge, you can actually plow through the complete story line in about 5 hours. Once the single play is complete the game is complete, there isn’t anything other to do then time trials. While some might like this I was not one of them. I much rather had something unlock when the main game is complete to be able to do a free roam mode, something where you just do whatever you want just for fun, add it multiplayer free roam and you have a win win situation. As far though multiplayer goes though, there is none. All you can do is look at leaderboards and such. While not a huge thing because multiplayer wouldn’t really fit great with the game I do some areas where it would have been nice to have.

Steve’s final say: While Mirror’s Edge is a fun game, and a fresh experience I really can not say it is a must buy, however though, I do feel it is a must play. The game has an extremely short story to it and after that is done all that is currently left is just time trials, now down the road their will be more content for Mirror’s Edge in the form of DLC, no word yet though what that will be.

Do violent video games make kids exhibit aggressive behavior? If it means I get to play games with this level of quality, I’m more than willing to jeopardize society’s future. The chainsaw bayonet is back, bringing with it everyone’s favorite steroid fueled, not-quite-space-marines, the Cogs.

Sequels can be tough. On one hand, developers can’t deviate too far from the game play that made the original game successful. On the other, if not enough is added or changed consumers are quick to dismiss the game as a cash-in, sometimes giving it a tired and no longer witty “1.5” label. (If you’re still using this expression then find a fire and jump in.) Gears of War 2 is the example of what a sequel should aspire to be. The big boys at Epic have analyzed 2006’s hit, removed the junk, and expanded upon what made the original a success. While it’s not flawless, the package as a whole is pretty damn great.

The “story” picks up where it left off. The light mass thingy went off, people are sick and dying, the locust are fighting, they’re ugly so you know they’re bad, and word is they eat shit and die pretty good. Scratch that: they die in a multitude of gloriously bloody ways. And that’s really all that matters. The action set pieces have been exponentially increased in size and scale, creating epic moments where the player feels empowered. The bosses from the first game? Yeah, they’re nothing but cannon fodder. Those that played the PC version had the pleasure of fighting the series’ first Brumak. Well, they’re just another common enemy now, introduced and killed multiple times in Act One.

There are a number of new enemy types, each unique in their own way. Small kamikaze exploding Locust, giant machete wielders, Locusts that rush in carrying flame throwers and some that carry chain-guns – the enemy types keep things dynamic and interesting. Reavers – the flying tentacle beasts that exploded in mid air – now land and are more mobile than ever. The constant barrage and introduction of new opponent types keep things fresh and interesting.

A common complaint with the first Gears was lack of variety in the scenery. Wisely, things are constantly moving in this sequel. Snowy mountains, green forests, dark underground caves help things feel new and interesting. There’s also a chapter that takes place entirely in…well, spoilers might not be appropriate just yet. Not only are the locals constantly changing, but the scenery is very dynamic. Not dynamic in the sense that they’re interactive (although chunks of concrete and rock can be chipped away with gunfire), but that something is usually moving. Enemies will be battling in the distance, buildings will fall and crumble – the scope of the battle has increased, and Marcus and Dom are just a small part of it.

The campaign isn’t flawless. Vehicle segments return and provide some of the most frustrating segments. Driving a giant unresponsive ATV across a frozen lake, while the ice cracks and gives way cause some controller throwing fits. Towards the latter part of the campaign the Cogs take control and fly Reavers, which leads to a very Panzer Dragoon-esque sequence. These are scripted moments which will test the ability to memorize patterns, as well as patience. Also, the campaign lacks any real memorable boss battle. The final boss is a joke and incredibly unsatisfying – which is a shame, because the sequence leading up to it is quite entertaining.

The advertisements and publicity claiming that the story is deep and moving are utter bull. Yes, there are more cut scenes and there is more dialogue, but at times the character’s reasoning for being in a certain local is not entirely clear. The main plot is to kill the Locust and save the city of Jacinto, but the side story – the one involving Dom and his girl Maria – receives more attention. Fine, so what, this isn’t Shakespeare – or even Dr. Seuss – just point the gun at something bad and kill. That works. What doesn’t, and is incredibly infuriating, is how certain plot “twists” and “reveals” are handled. A certain character makes a return, and gives a crucial bit of information. Marcus will turn to his pal Dom and ask “What was he doing here?” Dom’s answer: “It doesn’t matter anymore.” At another point, when a new enemy is introduced, this scene repeats itself. Dom asks:”What is it?” Marcus’ answer: “As long as it can eat shit and die I don’t care”. Neither of these topics were ever explained or hinted at again. Clearly at some point this game had a story and things were explained. Too bad they were left on the editing floor. It’s almost insulting that those penning and editing the plot feel that players are satisfied with paper thin dialogue and unanswered questions.

When the decently lengthy campaign is finished, Horde and a variety of multiplayer modes are left to choose from. The much advertised Horde mode, where up to 5 players can tackle wave after wave of locusts, requires communication and planning. Enemy numbers and types will gradually increase in difficulty, and will gain different stat bonuses (increased damage, accuracy, health) after each 10 waves. This mode is essentially the campaign without the semblance of story. No nonsense action. That being said, once finished I question how many people will want to run the roughly 3 hour gauntlet again.
Gears’ multiplayer had surprising longevity, and a handful of new modes help flesh out the options. Wingman, where five teams of two, battle it out on one of the included 10 maps (15 if bought new, in what is undoubtedly the most community splintering marketing move ever). A variant of capture the flag has been included, only the flag is an AI character that can fight back. In order to move the flag he must first be downed and then used as a human shield, and then painstakingly slowly moved across the map. Returning favorites like Execution and Warzone, and the later added Annex help keep things interesting. Thankfully a party system has been added, so playing with friends is no longer the headache it once was. And for those without friends, AI bots can now be used for single player multiplayer matches.

Those that played the first Gears online know what a buggy mess it was. Sadly, some glitches are already starting to pop up. Collision detection, wall jumping, and players being able to hover in mid-air are all problems that will hopefully be fixed with upcoming patches. Sadly host advantage is very much a reality. Power weapons such as the boom shot and shotgun still suffer from bullet lag, making the host shotgun a very unbalanced weapon. Chainsaw duels, while very cinematic in single player, become a battle of “may the best connection win”. At least the lancer, pistol and hammer burst aren’t victim of bullet lag (they instead do “damage lag”, where the damage dealt to the player is registered a half second later).

Gears of War 2 is quite a package and one of the best titles released this year, or on the Xbox 360 in general. The campaign’s delivery is incredible, and despite its flaws the multiplayer offers a wide selection of options and relatively stable game play. Fans of the first already own it, and those that are even remotely interested owe it to themselves to try it out.

Game Review: Silent Hill:  Homecoming (Xbox 360)
Release: September 30, 2008
Genre: Survival Horror
Developer: Double Helix Games
Available Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Players: 1 Player
MSRP: $59.99
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Website: http://online.konamimobile.com/KDEOnline/SilentHill_Widget/index.html

Silent Hill Homecoming is the sixth story in the successful survival horror series from Konami and developed by Double Helix.  Double Helix has remained true to the Silent Hill series without coming up with different aspects of the game to help sell this new title.

Alex Shepherd a war veteran, returns to his hometown Shepherd’s Glen (town next to Silent Hill) to find his brother Josh, after having disturbing dreams that plaque him during his waking moments, many that revolve around his brother.  When he arrives in his hometown he finds it deserted and in a thick layer of fog.  When he finds his mom in the living room half insane babbling about her missing son and husband (that has gone to find Josh).  The story unfolds when you start learning about the history of Shepherd’s Glen.  He discovers people have been disappearing in large numbers and strange creatures roam the town.  Also he learns the connection to Silent Hill and how his family plays a role in these events.  In the mean time before he gets answers from his mother she is kidnapped and is knocked unconscious by The Order (a cult that worships the Silent Hill gods).  When he finally finds his father he is told the truth and begs for his sons’ forgiveness you may chose to forgive him or not but by doing so you will effect the outcome of the game.  As you make your way through the Orders underground facility you find the sacrificial chamber and find out that a pact was made 150 years ago when the founding fathers moved to Shepherd’s Glen from Silent Hill and they where allowed to move on the condition that they where to sacrifice one of their children every fifty years.  You will be lead through different areas of town maybe by walking there or by waking up in a different location where you will find out more information about the strange happenings in town.  On the way to all this action you will face a variety of creatures and each will have there own finishing move.  There are numerous puzzles that you must solve in order to progress in the game, which some prove to be challenging and sometimes frustrating.  You will also meet a variety of lead characters throughout the game and you will have to make decisions about them that can also affect the outcome of the games final story.

The overall graphics of the environments are visually appealing, and the soundtrack tends to send chills down your spine just at the right time.  They have added a dodge move to help you get out of the way during a melee attack which proves to be helpful in certain situations during combat.  The flashlight is a handy piece of equipment, but sometimes you have to have it off (so you don’t draw attention to yourself) and that will leave you in the dark and that adds suspense to the story line.  I like the way certain characters have certain roles in the game and the way it will affect the outcome.  The story line I found to be very enjoyable and made me want to keep playing to see what was in store for Alex next.

I would have liked to have seen a few things improved upon, such as the characters details;  Alex seems to be highly detailed but the other characters just all seem to have the same qualities.  Also when you have to use the action button to open a door or push a button you have to be in a exact spot to perform said action to be performed.  I would have like to see a HUD just for the ease of finding your way around. Also in certain spots if you where to pass over them again the same creature would spawn in the same spot no matter how many time you defeated them.  Also save spots are far and few in between and if you die you will respawn at the last save location.

This game at times really caught me off guard and scared the crap out of me.  I enjoyed the overall game play.  The controls for the most part where smooth and easy to use.  If you have enjoyed any of the other Silent Hill titles you will find this one the most appealing and fun to play.  The twist and turns keeps you on your toes and sometimes you are afraid to turn the corner not knowing what will be in store for you.  This game is for anyone that is a fan of survival horror or just plain horror.  I guarantee you will squirm in your seat.  Homecoming is also good if you are looking to collect achievements some are very easy and will boost your overall score quite fast.

So Scott says go buy this one, you can chose different ways the story will end by the decisions you make in the game, so the replay value is there.  The game is overall fun and scary all in one and is a great addition to your library.

Game Review: Sam & Max Season Two
Release: August 2008 (U.S. Only)
Genre: Point-and-click Adventure
Developer: Telltale Games
Available Platforms: PC
Players: 1
MSRP: $34.95
ESRB Rating: T
Website: http://www.telltalegames.com/samandmax/

Sam & Max Season Two is a compilation of episodic games based on the highly popular Sam & Max comic series created by Steve Purcell. It follows the adventures of private detective Sam and his sidekick Max as they solve various mysteries involving wacky and outrageous plot lines including taking a trip to hell, stopping a volcanic eruption, and putting a end to a European zombie apocalypse.

The game plays out much in the way most point-and-click games do, and borrows heavily other ideas from games such as Broken Sword, although changed for their own intention. The basic idea is the player enters a scene, finds objects to help progress to game/story, and then moves onto the next scene. You click on the scenery and characters to find out what you need. A lot of the time we are treated to a dialogue, and I don’t use the word “treat” for flowery terminology.

Etched deep within the Sam & Max series is a humour and wit that rivals the best of them. Intelligent language, jokes and humour, and brilliant voice acting from the main cast, make this a joy to watch as well as play.

Don’t be lead to believe (by the cartoon-style art direction) that this game is for knee biters. The puzzles can be difficult to solve, the solution almost never being stared at in the eyes, more like it’s hiding curled in a ball behind a joke and some head scratching. You need to think outside the box with this game, look at every option from every angle, in order to solve each puzzle. I’m not saying they’re all difficult, or else I should seriously consider another pastime (perhaps embroidery), but it’s not an easy game. We have learned as gamers though, with thanks to games like Braid, that graphical style does not determine ease of gameplay.

I need to point out that the game doesn’t sit perfectly on my shelf next to games such as Portal. Not due to slanting woodwork of any kind, but the game itself seems a bit [insert slouching sound] by todays standards. The gameplay mechanic itself is old and outdated, point-and-click isn’t exactly exciting to be involved in. With the enjoyment and wit you get from cutscenes and dialogue trees, I feel sometimes the game would sit better as a T.V. series for kids these days, rather than a video game. Unless the next season is taken in a new direction, nostalgia and fanboyism will be all that’s keeping it alive.

Final say:

This game sits well with games of it’s kind, but in a fast moving industry it seems moving along with it wasn’t an option for the development team. The humour is there along with the voice acting and sound (jazz music for the win), but what is sometimes genius in this game seems to be held back by the gameplay itself. If point-and-click is your thing, or you love Sam & Max, perhaps this will be worth your time. If neither of the two apply to you, play something else.