The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom, released by developers The Odd Gentlemen and 2KPlay, is a mind challenging, brain busting test for the mind with unique and dazzling visuals. The Xbox Live Arcade Library is home to many quirky and hard-to-market games, and this game is no exception. Part Shel Silverstein, part 1920’s Charlie Chaplin movie and part M.C. Escher painting, this puzzler follows Mr. Winterbottom, a sniveling pie thief, in his quest to capture every last morsel of pastry goodness.
While chasing a particular pie (one that can bend time, no less), our unlikely hero uses time to his advantage to make top hat and mustache wearing clones of himself. Receiving a slew of awards, this game is certainly something to talk about, but does it live up to the hype? The HOTs and NOTs are to follow.
HOTs
Looks ARE Everything
There’s no denying that this game offers some interesting visuals. The black/white/gray color scheme assists the game in feeling dark, grimy and distinctively “silent movie”. In fact, the menu and backgrounds have blips, lines and imperfections that resemble the dawn of the film era. The environments are beautifully drawn; there are 75 different levels split into different “movies”, each with its own visual theme. Each one is gorgeous and makes a statement among other brightly colored, cartoony games.
Challenge
Although The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom is not lengthy by any means, it provides plenty of entertainment value for the price. As the levels progress, each one introduces a different way of obtaining every scrumptious pie. You begin by “recording” yourself in order to make a clone, with the number of clones available per level displayed in the upper-left hand corner. Using these clones in various, not-so-obvious ways is essential to completing each level. In later levels, the clones acquire different abilities, including being able to grab pies and, eventually, not being able to touch them at all. Using basic platforming techniques with clever planning is the key here, and the designers did an amazing job at making a game that’s extremely challenging without being intimidating or seemingly impossible.
Something New
We’ve seen this style of gameplay before with games like Braid, but The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom really makes it shine. Combining platforming and puzzle games is easy to do but difficult to do right; without a careful balance of both, the game could end up seeming like one or the other was simply thrown in for effect. Running, jumping and floating a-la Super Mario Bros. 2’s Princess Peach seems effortless for a seasoned gamer, and using these abilities while “recording” yourself (by holding the right trigger) introduces a whole new way of thinking. Deciding exactly what to do before recording is important and forces you to view the levels as a whole rather than small parts to accomplish. The game is genuinely fun, and that’s what games are supposed to be.
Price + Downloadable = The Future of Independent Games
At 800 MS Points (or about ten dollars), this game is a steal, although it might not seem that way if boxed and put on the shelves at retailers. By offering the game via Xbox Live, the game will reach many more gamers who appreciate the ease of use associated with the service and its reputation for having the best independent games out there.
NOT
Too Short
Although the amount of content will certainly offer plenty of entertainment and challenge, the main story is no more than two to three hours. This is an arcade game, and not meant to be an epic, 40 hour long adventure, but a few more levels would’ve put this game over the top. Gamers who especially enjoy The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom will be craving more.
VERDICT
With stunning, monochromatic visuals, a slew of formidable levels, and a cheap price, this game is a sure bet for gamers looking for something fresh and inventive. The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom deserves all the awards it has received and it’s a shame that more independent games like this one aren’t being released. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction for the future of downloadable games for Xbox Live.
