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Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode 1
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 16. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Web comic game has plenty of sordid humor
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16–17
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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What Parents Need to Know
This review of Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode 1 was written by Chad Sapieha
Parents need to know that this is a downloadable Xbox Live Arcade and PC game based on a popular, web comic called Penny Arcade, which is renowned for its sharp, insightful, and often adult-oriented lampooning of video games and the video game industry. Like the comic, the game is loaded with mature humor, much of which involves coarse language and intense violence. Among the many images in the game not suitable for children's eyes: Robots peeing acid; players shooting bloody holes in evil mimes; vicious hobos being burned down to their skeletons by Molotov cocktails. Don't let the lavish cartoon presentation fool you; it's not a game meant for little ones. Parents would do well to ensure their Xbox 360's parental controls are set to block M-rated games (this is the first Mature title to be released through Microsoft's online service), otherwise kids will be able to download the free trial version of Penny Arcade without their knowledge.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about the story of the enterprising duo behind the Penny Arcade franchise. The web comic's young founders combined their lifelong passion for games with their own talents -- writing and drawing -- to create one of the most popular video game-related web sites in North America, and became millionaires in the process. Have you ever considered creating your own job? Can you think of a way to turn the things you love to do into a money-making enterprise? Do you have any talents that might compliment your favorite leisure activities? Is there a skill you could learn that would let you become a part of the industry that drives your favorite hobby or sport?
More on Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode 1
What’s the Story?
Based on Penny Arcade, a mature web comic that lampoons video games and the game industry, PENNY ARCADE ADVENTURES: ON THE RAIN-SLICK PRECIPICE OF DARKNESS: EPISODE 1, available for Xbox Live Arcade and PC, looks like a comic strip come to life. Players step into the shoes of a character of their own creation, then quickly hook up with original Penny Arcade protagonists Gabe and Tycho before heading off on a humorous quest to discover the origin of a giant robot laying waste to the town of New Arcadia. It plays like a classic role-playing game, complete with turn-based combat and plenty of interactive, text-based (and adult-oriented) dialogue.
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Is It Any Good?
People who say video games aren't a valid art form often make the difficult-to-dispute criticism that games have become, by and large, a platform for lousy writing. That can't be said of Penny Arcade, which has a genuinely humorous and strangely poetic lilt sure to tickle the funny bones of older gamers who prefer their comedy geeky, violent, and a little dirty. The best part of the game is its dialogue, which is loaded with hilarious, nerdy jokes about urinologists, trash collectors, and evil clowns ("The strangely garbed mime isn't just quiet; he seems to radiate silence," says the narrator at one point.) A close second is visuals. The lush, cartoon style 3-D graphics will make fans of the web comic feel as though they're playing an animated version of their favorite strip.
Unfortunately, the game play is a bit stale. Players wander around on short quests, looking for specific enemies to battle while tediously kicking over every trash can and crate they see in hope of finding power-ups that can be used in battle. Speaking of which, combat consists of turn-based fracases that see players twiddling their fingers as they wait for action meters to slowly fill so that they can issue commands and use various support items. It's not easy -- some of the later battles can be devilishly difficult -- but it is repetitive. Funny attack animations and mid-battle jokes (such as a chubby, evil vagrant who likes to pull out a hobo sign that reads "Will Deal Damage for Food" before attacking) spice things up a little, but don't change the fact that the combat is dated and monotonous. Long story short, it's a great bit of fun for adult fans of the web comic, not so much for players simply looking for an original, well executed game.
ClosePublisher’s Details
Released on 5/21/2008, price $19.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and Gore, Mature Humor, Strong Language, Violence)
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and Gore, Mature Humor, Strong Language, Violence)
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
im a man
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Gabe and Tycho Strike Again!
This game is a real barrel of laughs! Here is the appropriateness. Sex: Some off-color jokes and suggestive movements by robots ("it's not really gay if it's a robot..."), but nothing that a middle schooler would not be familiar with (PAUSE) Violence: There's violence, but it's cartoony. (NOT ISSUE) Language: Tons, but in text format. Again, nothing a 7th grader wouldn't know(PAUSE) Social Behavior: Other than some off color jokes, nothing offensive. (Not Issue) Commercialism: PENNY ARCADE! (Pause) Drugs and Alcohol: Recurring whiskey ad (not issue) Educational Value: Unless you count reading (ignorable) All in all, mature 13+, average 15+, perverted 17+.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Entertaining and funny, but not quite worth $20
While the game on a whole is worth taking time to check out--mainly for its humor and overall entertaining gameplay--paying twnety dollars is a bit much of an asking price. The game only took me around five or six hours to beat; which is not unusual given that its episodic content, but makes me a bit hesitant to entirely reccommend the game. I would easily reccommend you download the game aft the inevitable price drop, which shouldn't take too long depending on the success of the game. Content-wise, the game earns its M-rating, but the comic tone--and the fact that the game derives its rating mainly from profanity--helps lighten the tone and make it a bit more appropriate than other M-rated titles out there. And despite what CSM wrote, this is about the tenth M-rated game released over Xbox Live (in other words, parents, take a look just in case you're worried). Other M-rated Xbox Live Arcade Games or Xbox Originals available for download include the original Doom (quite addictive), Mortal Combat 3, Halo, Fable, Indigo Prophecy, and other reccommendable titles.
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