Living

<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) "On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode One"   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, June 2, 2008 Big Game Hunter: "On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode One" "On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode One": Not every game has a psychopathic juicer of titanic proportions, nor does it sport ancient evils that bare the body of a mime with the head of Cthulhu, but this game delivers exactly what Penny Arcade fans have come to expect from the popular Web comic: irreverent fun. The game, an action RPG, takes place in the 1922 steampunk setting of fictional New Arcadia, featuring Tycho and Gabe as partners in the Startling Developments Detective Agency. Penny Arcade fans will have plenty to rejoice over -- the familiar frenetic banter that Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins inject into the comic is present in the game. Indeed, it's as if you are playing the game while immersed in the comic strip. And those unfamiliar with the local Web comic will still have plenty to pique their interest with the clever humor, comic-book graphic style and a tounge-in-cheek level design by developer Hothead Games. Precipice is available for $20 on Xbox Live Marketplace or can be downloaded for the PC at www.playgreenhouse.com, with gameplay running just over five hours. Conclusion: For PA fans this is a must, for future fans this is a try, and for the rest, at least give this title the benefit of a trial download. If nothing else, this will be the most entertaining $20 you'll spend this week. Rated: M for mature Cost: $19.95 for the Xbox 360 and PC Justin Arnold, Big Game Hunter jarnold@heraldnet.com

1. Emory’s owner fears fire was arson 2. Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme Court 3. Vatican ponders the souls in space 4. 81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored in Snohomish 5. Hope dims that Olympics will boost region 6. Student hit in crosswalk to return 7. Smokey Point to celebrate end of roadwork 8. Death on Edmonds waterfront ruled a suicide 9. Help for young moms may continue 10. Semifinal slate sealed on ‘Dancing With Stars’ 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Bazaar Fever • Hawks proud of historic season • Olson always put Edmonds first • Honoring student veterans • ‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop • Mavs build early lead en route to easy win • Prep football games of the week (state playoffs) • Tears of laughter, tears of grief • Death on Edmonds beach likely a suicide • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million