As someone who loved point 'n' click adventure games growing up, I was very much looking forward to this game. And for the most part, it delivered. One of the biggest challenges for the designers was catering to a modern audience while keeping the old-school fans happy. Hand-holding is thankfully kept to a minimum with an optional tutorial, handy to-do lists and a steady increase in game difficulty. Being able to run was a godsend! The writing is decent, though lacking in laugh-out-loud moments. Most of the humor is based on snarkiness, in-jokes (more on that later) and a we-can-get-away-with-naughtier-stuff attitude. Ransome is the stand-out character for many *beep*ing reasons, and Delores was unexpectedly endearing. The music is well-written and fits with the overall atmosphere, but isn't as memorable as past P&C titles. As someone with (I hope) normal intelligence, the majority of the puzzles were logical and fair; no 'monkey wrench' puzzles here. Some could have used some tweaking to make them clearer, and a few puzzles couldn't be solved until an arbitrary point in the game. After reading some reviews, there are two common criticisms, both of which I share. The first is the overuse of adventure game references. Most retro-inspired games are too afraid to make their own unique impression- they fall back on the 'remember this?' crutch far too often. TWP is no exception, with Sierra/LucasArts gags aplenty. Easter eggs are always fun, but a little fanservice goes a long way. I realize that there was a point to their overuse, but it still got old fast. The second criticism is the ending, which I won't spoil here. If this game had been made 20 years ago the ending would have been fresh and innovative, but the concept seems a bit cliche today. The actual execution was alright, but I did roll my eyes when the big 'reveal' was made. While the game is not without its flaws, TWP can proudly stand with the classics that came before it. I hope Ron & Co. return soon.
