Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness - Episode One

On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness is an episodic RPG-Adventure game set in a deranged comic-book-meets-pulp-horror universe. Armed with unconventional weaponry, you join forces with the Startling Developments Detective Agency to make war on bizarre enemies and solve the mysteries hidden deep in the sinister heart of New Arcadia.

Penny Arcade, the comic strip is not only skewers every aspect of gaming three times a week but also launched the careers of Jerry “Tycho” Holkins and Mike “Gabriel” Krahulik. After years of taking pretty much every one even remotely involved in gaming to task they’ve teamed up with Hothead Games to create an episodic RPG-adventure mash-up that combines the vulgar humor that the site is known for with a steampunk aesthetic.

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2-20-dialogue screenshot

While it came as no surprise that the creators of the game-centric webcomic would eventually try their hands at a game of their own, what is slightly astounding is that the game is actually quite good. With a twisted sense of humor, a great setting, a surprisingly well-developed, if completely ludicrous, plotline, and gameplay that is both simple and engaging, On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness is the beginning of what could be a great series, despite a few snags.

The game is loosely based on the online comic, but it strays from many of the usual shenanigans found on the site and moves into more epic storytelling turf. Of course, you'll still find plenty of references to wangs, perverted robot fruit juicers, and other running gags from the strip sprinkled liberally throughout the game.

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Combat3 screeshot

IN a price of 1,600 Microsoft points (roughly ~20 American dollars for anyone keeping score). A high pricetag for an xbox live arcade game, however alternatively it can be bought for $20 USD for personal computers, either mac or PC. This is really good, especially when you include the enormous amount of value Penny Arcade has provided over the year . After you completed your second playthrough, you realized that the value was pretty damn good. you may play it again; you will at least go back to savegame and try to find all the hidden concept art. The game stands on its own merits, and you would have enjoyed playing it even if you didn't know much about Penny Arcade.

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Adventure2 screenshot

On the Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One takes place in the city of New Arcadia, circa 1922, an American ‘every town’ that just happens to be beset by small fornicating robots, killer mimes, foul hobos and devious clowns. You know, one of those kinds of towns. After creating your character through the slick, but somewhat limited character creation screen, you’re given the unenviable task of raking your front yard.Luckily the yard work doesn’t last long as a humongous robot smashes your house leaving you not only homeless, but thirsty for revenge against the mechanical pervert that wrecked your crib. Armed with only your rake, you team up with Tycho and Gabriel and you’re off adventuring

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Dialog1 screeshot

The protagonist won't be alone in this endeavor, however, as he is quickly joined by Gabe and Tycho of the Startling Developments Detective Agency. He receives help, as well, from several other unlikely allies, including Tycho's mechanically-inclined niece Anne-Claire, a reprogrammed and attractively decorated nymphomaniacal juicing machine, and a lazy cat. To say the least, On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness captures Penny Arcade's brand of humor perfectly, and the characters feel right at home in the bizarre, film noir styled world that has been crafted for them.

If you like Penny Arcade, the game will be really funny. During the run-up to the game, the guys put up a massive .wav file to test the playgreenhouse.com bandwidth, asking everyone to download it--smart QA strategy. What was even smarter, though, was that the file was, in the style of their podcast, Gabe and Tycho talking about the making of the game. One of the topics they discuss was that Tycho had to write descriptive text for every damn thing you can click on, even the crabs littering the boardwalk. Well, the time was well-spent. Click on everything you see; you'll be laughing a lot.

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Combat1 screenshot

Penny Arcade Adventures is a turn-based RPG, but don't let that turn you off if you're more a fan of action games. The turn-based element is handled smartly and the action is fairly fast-paced. It will keep you on your toes more than most turn-based games. Each character under your control has three actions: use an item, basic attack and special attack. Actions are based on timed initiatives, meaning that it takes a certain amount of time before that action button is readied. The item use button readies fastest, then basic attacks, and finally special attacks. Since each character has different speeds the timing of actions varies.

There are just four areas to explore and the level design is of the 10x10 D&D variety that died with the introduction of the hex map. It's bland and boring and really disappointing considering that you have robots dry-humping fruit and cannibalistic zombie hobos. There is plenty of l00t drops as well, but the customization options are almost non-existent. And that's one of the things abuot RPGs

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Dialog5 screeshot

On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness is 100% fan service for Penny Arcade aficionados. you really enjoyed this first installment and am eager to see more. Well worth the $20 price tag on the first episode. Someone who is unfamiliar with or just doesn't like Penny Arcade's irreverent, low-brow, in-your-face humor may not find the game to their liking. The game play is indeed smooth, fast paced and fun, but if you don't "get" the comic then you most likely won't "get" the game. You can "get" the game, by the way, for the XBox 360 via Live Arcade or for Windows, Mac, or Linux -- it's about as cross-platform as they come.

For download the Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness - Episode One