We’d say the last three Strong Bad episodes didn’t really need you to be a fan to enjoy them. Episode 4 still doesn’t, but if you don’t know about Dangeresque 2 or 1 (in that order) there’ll be a minuscule enjoyment loss. The Dangeresque films are extremely low-budget actioners starring Strong Bad as the titular sunglasses-wearing cop. The third was promised in 2004. It’s a bit late, but it was worth it, as this is the most fun game in the series so far.

The entire game is the movie, creating a completely different look and feel from earlier episodes. It’s fun seeing how previous locations have been (badly) adapted to be film sets, like five different countries being represented by the same bridge. Keeping the crappy film motif, there are cuts, edits, stunts, even shaky-cam on close-up shots. It’s put together so convincingly (the game, not the film being played) and is packed with so much point-and-laugh-at-the-crap-movie humor that it feels completely perfect.

OK, not completely. Because it all flows so linearly like a movie plot, most of the puzzles are pretty straightforward. However, this is the first time where we’d say simple puzzles in an adventure game is a good thing, as getting stuck would interrupt the flow and the fun. Strong Bad fans will find this episode essential. Everyone else will merely love it. Only one episode to go now, and the quality’s steadily increasing. The finale should be the best thing ever made ever.

The game's only available for purchase here.

Nov 20, 2008