...its wonderful sense of humor! The game picks at itself and at the entire genre, in a light-hearted but very amusing manner that proves, once again, that real humor is both sorely lacking and seldom understood in most games today. Poking fun at one's self in a constructive manner is an art that very few games master today--and I think it's because the writers are unable to to discern between elevating a game through the clever use of self-deprecating satire and the stupidity of thoughtless criticism. It's often said that "Some people don't know how to take a joke," and these days it is unfortunately true. IMO, if you can't laugh at yourself it's likely true that you wouldn't know a good joke if it ran over you like a Mack truck. Far too many people get "offended" at less than nothing these days, and if the notion of "humor" doesn't tickle your funny bone, you might want to stay away from BT IV--and try something more apt to engage your mind, perhaps--like Mein Kampf, or maybe Paradise Lost....;)

I really enjoy the wise-cracking, corny, almost slapstick limericks that saturate BTIV--and it is all so skillfully done that it dramatically heightens the "drama" and the melodrama of the game as it unfolds. Any idea that "serious" stories about the ongoing struggle between good and evil don't work when humor is introduced is surely bass ackwards. BT IV is not a "comedy," no question about that--and you won't be in danger of ever mistaking it as such. But BT IV isn't afraid of humor in the appropriate ruminations of dark humor, satire, and even black humor that permeate the game. Best of all, much of the humor is subtle and draws you out--like the best humor always does!

Some of my very favorite humor in the game takes place every time I load a game, here's what I see:

I am treated to a vision of a bearded Adventurer's Guild Bard, seated before a roaring fire telling his Bard's Tales, while holding a harp he seldom strums! He is surrounded by a group of bearded, pipe-smokin' midgets, all with long pointy ears and pointy shoes (presumably Dwarfs), who stare at him in rapt fascination and child-like wonder as they listen raptly by the roaring, crackling fire. The Bard's grating, gravelly, baritone voice belts out a few heavily accented verses--accompanied by some of the most tortured, mournful, off-key violin strumming I have ever heard!...;) And his captive listeners soak it all up like water into a sponge, so frightened and shocked they often look away--their expressions priceless!

--I'll tell you--that scene strikes me so intensely that I laugh out loud every time I see it! Bravo! Wonderful! BT IV is loaded with similar humor that will split your sides if you aren't careful!...;) I love the taunts ladled back and forth--just the beginning of the fun! Slapstick, sarcasm, satire, the game has it all--and is never ugly, either. It's got a lot that is completely missing from many "similar" games these days, imo.