The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom Review

March 2nd, 2010

In this fast-paced, and often times hectic world of gaming, it’s sometimes a necessity to step away from the “it” games of the moment and focus on something that makes your mind sweat.  Looking back, Braid is the only puzzler I have played in recent times which was notably mind-twisting, challenging, and actually really fun. The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom provided a whole new spin on what puzzlers can ultimately achieve.

The last time I jumped out of my seat and yelled, "YES!" was when I defeated Sephiroth in FF7.  Seriously, that’s how accomplished I felt after figuring some of these puzzles out.  Winterbottom requires memory skills, trail and error, and tons of patience.  Do not lose your cool with this game, especially towards the end when you feel like most of the puzzles are impossible.  They aren’t.  Sure, I may have thrown out a few expletives here and there and nearly maimed my cat with my 360 controller, but I did eventually solve the puzzles using nothing but rage and my brain.



First, a little commentary on the look and feel of this game.  Winterbottom is designed to look like an early silent film, complete with classic subtitles and a grainy film filter.  The music that accompanies the game is also straight out of the Chaplin era of films and provides a solid finishing touch to an overall outstanding presentation. 

Our big nosed top-hat mustache man is a well-respected gentleman. Yes, P.B. Winterbottom is someone I can admire.  Why? Because this man loves him some pie.  I’m talking addiction status here.  And quite frankly, I don’t trust people who don’t like pie. Winterbottom is the fellow you’ll be using to tame these puzzles.  He can smack things with his umbrella, float briefly with said umbrella, and can record multiple clones of himself to accomplish reaching every delicious piece of pastry. The complexity of what you will be doing with your clones and yourself to complete each act can vary dramatically.  There are some puzzles that will really cut to your core and question your pride. 



If you are new to puzzlers or just haven't played one in a while, Winterbottom will easily teach you the basics of each chapter before you invest your time into figuring them all out. The first few stages are usually a breeze - until you hit that bump in the road.  Depending on your skill level, you could easily find yourself stuck playing this game for a month just to beat it, or as little as a day if you are puzzler prodigy. There are bonuses and time challenges that also accompany the game to prolong the replay value of the title. No difficulty settings here, some acts you will complete in 5-10 minutes when others might require anywhere from 25-30 minutes.

The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom is a successful puzzler that makes you feel like a champion for every tough act you complete. For ten bucks, Winterbottom offers tremendous value, proves to be innovative in every way, and more than likely earns the spot as the top puzzler of 2010.





 

Submitted by: theprofessor29