Before the first episode of Penny Arcade Adventures came out six months ago for a whopping 1600 Microsoft Points I was only vaguely aware of the Penny Arcade web comic. Rarely do people go out and watch a sequel to a movie when they have never even saw the original. That being said I wondered if reviewing the second installment of their adventures on Xbox Live Arcade would leave me scratching my head and wishing I had played the first episode to get some insight into what is actually going on in New Arcadia. The game begins shortly after the main characters from Penny Arcade, Gabe and Tycho, crash their truck into your home. From the jist of the dialogue this is the second time your house has been destroyed. After telling PA boys that you want revenge you are set on a quest to find the maker of the giant robot that destroyed your home in the first episode (I assume). In order to accomplish this Tycho enlists his brilliant teenage niece who will only help you if you retrieve all the items she needs to build whatever it is that she is working on. The pursuit of these items leads you into conflicts against some quirky enemies like the deranged mental institution warden and his band of psychotic patients and sadistic orderlies. On occasion little robots who love fornicate with oranges will also stand in your way.....I guess that is why they call them “Fruit F*ckers.” The foul mouthed sarcastic humor presents itself well to the story and characters giving the gamer quite a few chuckles throughout their hunt.

Gameplay:

At the beginning the player is allowed to create his or her own character which will then be used for exploring as well as in the cut scenes. The character creation isn’t deep, but it is pretty cool watching the character you created interact with others during dialogue sections and cut scenes. The combat system has a realtime feel to it and is a fast paced turn-based style. Each character can use an item, attack normally, or have a special attack which can be upgraded through Tycho’s niece using the robot parts you collect from the fruit loving robots or leveling up. Each of these three options have a charge time in order to use them. Obviously it takes less time to charge up an item use compared to a special attack otherwise you could wipe the plate with the opposition. In order to get the maximum effect from the special moves you must complete a mini game (each characters is different, but all are timing based) without making a mistake. The entire combat system works great and is fun to use while trying get the most out of your character and the Penny Arcade guys. The game really gives off a RPG feel, but without the ability to pick which areas you want to develop your character. There are several levels that you can explore and plunder for items while you are on your scavenger hunt for parts. Each area is uniquely designed and has its own enemies looking to thwart your progress. At times it becomes tedious running through levels looking for an item you may have overlooked or getting to an area that is now unlocked for you to search.

Graphics:

The visuals are stunning and bring the web comic feel to life through the well designed cinematics and dialogue pieces. Levels come to life through the detail and lend to the humor the game brings. Gory special attacks are displayed splendidly as you watch enemies splatter from an overkill blow or seeing one of society’s elite attack you with her mink fur that sinks its teeth into your head. Overall it is probably one of the best looking games that XBLA has to offer.

Sound:

Penny Arcade Adventures: Episode 2 has a great narrative storyteller that gives off a twilight zone feel while still being comical. The only complaint that arises with the voice acting is the lack of it from anyone other than the narrator. Listening to Gabe and Tycho rant would have been even more hysterical than reading it. The opening and background music only add to the mystery/ sleuthing atmosphere that is the core being of the game. Interacting with objects, attacking enemies, and even the environmental noises blend beautifully with the gameplay.

Longevity:

The game will take a solid six hours to complete, although it may take a true explorer a little longer. After completing the main story you unlock insane mode, but I hardly think a second play through is warranted except for those few hardcore gamers or Penny Arcade fans. There really isn’t replay value in this game, but it is definitely worth the time put in the main quest.

Overall:

After playing the game I’m sure I missed out on some of the jokes and story line that carried over from Episode One, but that didn’t stop the game from being a very enjoyable experience. The combat was fast and frantic trying to manage your three characters, but the re-exploring of levels seemed tedious at times. Visually it is hard to compare this wonderful game to others that are available for digital download and the art design was both humorous and engrossing enough to keep the game fresh. Add in the music and superb sound effects to complement the graphics and Episode Two can please the hardest of visual and audio critics. The raunchy humor and off the wall story kept on giving to the end making it one of best parts of the game. Although the 1200 Microsoft Points may seem high (cheaper than the first by 400 MS Points) for some picky consumers the game will be a welcome addition to anyone’s games library.