To skip or not past the cinematic story parts of RPG
Penny Arcade and Hothead games have teamed up to create an episodic RPG-adventure game series circa 1920s comic book and pulp horror universe called On The Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness. The YouTube video gives a nice visual teaser. This looks heavily story-based which is awesome if you love story and not so much if you don’t.
You can download a demo and buy the game in Windows, Mac or Linux for $19.95 from Playgreenhouse.com or for 1600 Microsoft Points ($20) on your Xbox 360 over Xbox Live. The Xbox version comes with the perk of achievements, which the other versions don’t have. Gamespot users gave it an 8/10 and Gamespot critics a 7.7:
Penny Arcade Adventures is slick with rain, humor, and all sorts of awesome, but it’s for fans of the comic’s brand of humor only.
This is a bit pricey compared to other Xbox Live games, most of which are priced at 400 or 800 Microsoft Points. Add to that an announcement was made on that front this week that indie developers using the Xbox Creators Club and pass an Xbox Live peer review will be able to sell their games on Xbox Live for 200-800 Microsoft Points and the pricing looks even more out of whack.
Then again if you compare to a DVD, where most sell between $15-25, with Blu-ray costing a little more, the heavy story aspect of Rain Slick Precipice might be right in line. Personally, I’m not big on the story part of RPG. I usually skip past the cinematic parts of all games, not just RPG. I don’t care much for games where you have to watch the story in order to get into the gameplay. Let me get in and start exploring already. If I want to watch a movie I’ll rent or buy a DVD or flick on the tube.
At the same time, I do like a game with a background and story that makes sense. I simply prefer to experience the story through playing the game, not being told/shown the story in a series of non-interactive videos.
What about you? Do you like the story parts of games? Do you watch them over and over or only the first time?
July 25th, 2008 • 
TD Goodliffe • 
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