The Game Dame™

Got a few hours? Love Strong Bad and Homestar Runner? Got a Wii? Got 10 bucks? Don’t want any more questions? Well, friends… I have a game for you. I finally had a chance to download the WiiWare version of Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People: Episode 1 and I’ve gotta say, it was awesome.

A point-and-click adventure, this first installment of many more monthly episodes to come. The series is also available for the PC. You play as Strong Bad – an awesome hot wrestler only interested in the ladies, checking his lappy for emails and making people like me laugh. Your mission? To beat the snot out of Homestar Runner.

For those unfamiliar with the history, HomestarRunner.com started as a site in 2000 featuring a couple of cartoons and a couple of games. Run by brothers Matt and Mike Chapman, the content is targeted toward twenty-somethings (mainly because of the occasional 80s reference) but their fan base consists of all ages. Matt does all the voices (except for Marzipan – that’s Mike’s girlfriend, Missy) and Mike does most of the programming, animation and graphics. Together, they write new episodes and – because Homestar Runner is a side project for them both – new ones typically come out every month or two.

Over the years, the characters have grown but they all remain irreverent, crazy and unpredictable… three of my favorite traits for cartoons. The main site: HomestarRunner.com is advertising-free which is a breath of fresh air. Seems like I know another site that follows that rule… hrm… some gamer chick… I don’t know. Anyway, the Homestar Runner site may have started just with cartoons and a few games, but now they’ve branched out and launched Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People series.

Once I FINALLY got the freaking WiiWare game downloaded (seems that even with a T1, downloading anything from the Wii Shop takes forEVER) and dug in, I was in love. I don’t want to give away anything about the adventures you’ll encounter because the game is short and sweet and it’s best if you experience them on your own. You’ll gather items in your inventory and use them to advance the plot. If you get stuck (and you will because some of the things you have to do are totally random) you can check out the walkthrough section of the Telltale games site. You can win the game in under 10 hours – and it will leave you hungry for the next episode: Strong Badia the Free.

Visit HomestarRunner.com»

Check out the Homestar Runner Wiki»

Watch a G4 Interview with Matt and Mike Chapman (warning – sound is not awesome – a little low)»

Download the PC version of Episode 1»