Full Throttle

The Good
When I read that Mark Hamill did some of the voice acting in 'Full Throttle', I waited to hear his snivelling, whiny little voice sometime during the game because I didn't think he had the talent to do Adrian Ripburger's refined-yet-sleazy tone, or the rabid-dog-choking-on-a-razor-blade voice of Emmett the truck driver. And I didn't even dream that he was versatile enough to do both.... but I was wrong. I was wrong about a lot of things -- most of all, that I would get completely immersed in a graphical adventure game. That sort of thing really isn't my bag, baby.

But.... the game looked cool, and after the game sat on my shelf collecting dust for two years or so, I figured I'd taker her for a little spin. I popped in the CD, ran through a little setup dealie, and hit the road.

The intro was kinda long, but it set the mood and gave a little background to let me know what was going on. Some credits were shown in the intro, which was weird. I would have started pounding keys to try to bypass the thing, but the music rocked (I caught myself checking out the Gone Jackals website afterward...).

When the intro was finally over, I found that I was stuck in a dumpster. It was all downhill from there.... ^_^

The graphics are awesome for their time (better play Pong or Space Invaders for a few hours before starting the game), and the audio is great. The voice acting is top-notch, done by some very talented people (yes, Mark Hamill included).

The interface is easy to use, including the way-cool popup menu, and the slightly-less-cool inventory screen. There were a few problems, but more on that later.

The story was good enough that I was geniunely immersed in the game from beginning to end, and just when I would get tired of all the pointing and clicking there would be a short action game to break things up a bit.

The puzzles were a little too easy (except for a few), but it kept the action moving instead of grinding to a halt when the pea-brained player (that would be me) couldn't solve a difficult puzzle.

I've read several reviews that say that this game is too short, but in my opinion it's about right. I tend to get bored of games very quickly, and this is one of the few that I've played all the way through.

The Bad
There isn't very much wrong with 'Full Throttle'. There were some problems with the pop-up menu, which appears after pressing and holding the left mouse button. It appears after about hald a second, which was a total pain in one of the final sequences where you have to grab a certain object that appears and disappears very quickly. I'm sure there's a hotkey, but I'm a mouse-clicking moron....

Another problem was the demolition derby sequence, where after messing around for 45 minutes I had to check out a walkthrough to figure out how to get through it. Even after reading how to win it and trying for another half-hour or so, I still couldn't do it. So I... uh... used a cheat code.

The Bottom Line
This is absolutely, unconditionally, undeniably a kickass game. You might think it's too short, since my opinion is in the minority, but you'll love every minute of it.

And here's a tip -- watch the end-game credits all the way through.... the haiku poems at the end had me laughing so hard I was in tears!

The Good
One has to ask oneself what's the key to the sheer success of the LucasArts adventure games, they are virtually identical gameplay-wise, they aren't extreme quantum leaps technology-wise, and heck! They are adventure games! A genre chastizised by many as games where the concept of gameplay is "guess what the designer wanted you to do"...! So what gives?? What could possibly turn those things into succesful games?? Let me tell you what: Creative content.

LucasArts crammed each and every one of their games with inventive plots, fantastic characters and some of the most original moments in pc gaming history... case in point?: Full Throttle, truly the most badassed adventure game ever made, a rock&roller adventure with a story that flows like a good action movie in which renegade biker Ben (total badass) gets framed for snuffing out the benevolent president of the country's leading motorcycle company and has to run from the law. Since he is such a baddass, Ben sets out to set the record straight, get the bad guy and kick some shit around. Doesn't sound like much on paper, but when you transport that to the stylistically crafted gameworld and twist it in the already familiar cartoony ways of LucasArts, you have a fantastic experience in your hands. All the elements are there: baddass anti-hero, baddass babe, baddass bikes, baddass soundtrack, biker gangs, corporate pigs, dumbass rednecks, barbrawls, you name it... Full Throttle has the "zing" and by zeroing on all the right "kickass" elements manages to stylistically blend them and turn a rather simple storyline in one of the most exciting experiences ever to grace a computer screen.

Furthermore, the game has LucasArts already famous production values, which translate into stellar voice acting (which deserves special recognition as perhaps the best one ever for a computer game), killer graphics which merged cartoony (yet-realistically proportioned and animated) characters with pre-rendered bikes and lush scenery and backgrounds, as well as an absolutely bitching soundtrack by The Gone Jackals, a legitimate down-and-dirty rock&roll band from whom Lucas licensed their entire album Bone to Pick, and which only needed Steppenwolf's "Born To be Wild" and AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" in order to become the ultimate biker soundtrack

The interface moved a step up from Sam&Max, by re-working the old mechanics and introducing a floating menu from which you selected your action AFTER you selected the location, the result is even less clutter, and easier adventuring and puzzle management. And the whole thing is layed out as Ben's gang logo! How cool can this thing get??

The Bad
It's really easy, and it's really short. You can try dressing that one up all you want, but the reality of it all is that Full Throttle is REALLY short and is REALLY easy. Proof positive of what kickass content it has is that despite being an introductory-level adventure with the length of a demo it still rocked,...but...

The Bottom Line
It's the most kickass thing in the history of kickassed-ness!!(?). Full Throttle is like Walter Hill's "The Warriors", a simple straightforward story that due to it's sheer style in execution and understanding of source material becomes a stylistical masterpiece. Get it. Get it now, "Caaaaan Yoooooouuu Diiiiig Eeeeeet???".

Besides, the game has a "kick" command!!!.... WHAT THE HELL MORE DO YOU WANT????

The Good
Few adventure games have as well crafted a story line as this. Despite its short length, which I don't see as a flaw as others do, you quickly get sucked up in the story and find yourself connecting with the characters. With the exception of Grim Fandango I can't remember the last adventure I played where you really come to care for the characters the way you do for Ben and Morean. Overall the character design from Ben and Morean to the wondrously evil Adrian Ripburger and the very likeable Malcolm Corley is stellar. The excellent voice acting throughout also helps to breathe life into these characters. There is a real feeling of style to this game, everything from the great music to the slick movie like feel of the cut scenes and the game itself all come together to deliver a great gaming experience. Part of the rough and tumble atmosphere in the game is the ability of Ben to kick and punch his way through a number of situations. It's kind of refreshing in an adventure game to be able to kick down a guys front door or rough up a bar tender. There aren’t a lot of these situations but it adds a nice twist to the genre.

The Bad
There really aren’t any showstoppers in this game and maybe because of its otherwise overall excellence the few flaws that it does have stand out all the more.

For the most part the puzzle design is what you would expect from a Lucas Arts adventure, not to hard not to easy with a few leaps of login thrown in for good measure, nothing the average adventure player can't handle. However there are places where objects that play a role in solving a puzzle or getting you out of a situation you are stuck in aren’t highlighted at all. It's very annoying to find out that the solution to a problem is too hid behind a piece of scenery that you thought was just part of the background art work. There are also one or two examples of hidden or camouflaged objects. Another thing that some adventure gamers might find annoying is the arcade sequences in the game. There are two parts in the game where you are placed in an arcade like mini games where you have to either fight other characters or drive a car. These are well integrated into the game and fun to play however some may feel them to have a "dumbed down for the adventure gamer" quality or they may just feel them tedious. The solution to the destruction derby comes to mind.

The Bottom Line
Overall this is still a must play adventure game. It ranks right up there among the best for its immersive atmosphere and wonderful characters.