Review: Time Gentlemen, Please!

by Justin McElroy { Jul 16th 2009 at 11:30AM }

I have a tough confession to make, so try not to judge me. Most adventure games that are supposed to be funny ... they don't really make me laugh. I mean, I get that they're amusing, which, combined with the joy of solving the occasional clever puzzle, is enough to keep me playing. There's humor in them, but I always just sort of "get it," instead of it getting me.

Time Gentlemen, Please! gets me. In fact, it slays me. The new PC adventure game from Zombie Cow Studios has not only some really brain-wrenching puzzles but humor that feels as sharp and inventive as I'm sure LucasArts classics felt back in the day.

If you haven't played the first Zombie Cow adventure, Ben There, Dan That you should click away mid-sentence and nab it. Not only is it free, but there are plenty of adorable references to it in TGP that you won't want to miss. You'll once again control Ben and Dan (the digital alter egos of creators Ben Ward and Dan Marshall) as they travel through time to stop the invention of coathangers to try to prevent their past selves from summoning pseudo-aliens who brought about the end of mankind with a Magnum P.I. overdose.

And no, I'm not going to explain that any further. Seriously, you just need to play the games. By the end, TGP's like a pyramid of Russian nesting dolls, with jokes stacked haphazardly on top and inside of one another.

A lot of those gags are found through experimentation, with every combination of inventory item and background object generating a unique, clever response from our heroes. The work that must have been involved in creating that mountain of dialog is staggering to consider, especially considering the relatively skimpy $5 price tag.

If there's going to be a sticking point for some people, it's the graphics. Though I enjoy the sort of willfully amateurish art (which has taken a big step up since BTDT) I can accept it's not for everybody. Of course, neither are puzzles involving Hitler's bloody fecal matter, so the potential audience for TGP may be smaller than I have been able to admit to myself.

My earlier reference to LucasArts isn't an accidental one. TGP is, in a very real way, a love letter to fans of adventure staples like Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion. But rather than recycle the gags of their heroes, Ben Ward and Dan Marshall have been inspired by their spirit, and have come away with something equally rich, endearing and hilarious.

Tags: adventure, ben-there-dan-that, ben-ward, dan-marshall, time-gentlemen-please, zombie-cow

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ficken @ Jul 16th 2009 11:19AM

"Of course, neither are puzzles involving Hitler's bloody fecal matter"
Sold.

Drew -- PS360: uphillbothways @ Jul 16th 2009 11:39AM

Ditto.

Courtney @ Jul 16th 2009 12:19PM

There are people in this world who don't want puzzles involving Hitler's bloody fecal matter?!

Captain Planet @ Jul 16th 2009 11:33AM

This game is win.

Nigeria @ Jul 16th 2009 11:37AM

So no relation to that horrid Al Murray vehicle? God he's a moron.

Storm Eagle::The Blood Edge @ Jul 16th 2009 11:46AM

I was also wondering that....

Justin McElroy @ Jul 16th 2009 11:40AM

Fuck, I forgot to mention, it has a "Racism" slider. No, I don't think it does anything.

MindTheGap76 @ Jul 16th 2009 11:45AM

I actually found Ben There, Dan That to be somewhat funnier than Time Gentlemen, Please. But don't take that as a knock on TGP—take that as motivation to go download the free BTDT as soon as possible. You'll soon realize that "slightly less funny" still means well worth five bucks.

Manji Ninja @ Jul 16th 2009 11:47AM

I have the complete Magnum PI dvd collection. Is that a bad thing? I'll def have to check this game out though.

Shagittarius @ Jul 16th 2009 11:56AM

GO PC TAG! Show the unbelievers how numerous and relevant you are!

Nerdy Desi @ Jul 16th 2009 11:59AM

Hey Shagittarius, I didn't know you were a big proponent of PC gaming, but its a welcome sight to see. : )

Shagittarius @ Jul 16th 2009 12:39PM

PC is where my heart is. I truly believe eventually a 'console' system will jsust be a card that you put in your computer. This is of course when PCs become the inevitable entertainment centers of all households.

I'm not giving a time frame for this but I know it will happen.

Eventually you'll just buy a Sony card for your computer, it will have all the processors ram and everything , then it will use extra resources from your system as a bonus after achieving a level of performance from the card itself. Every game programmed for that card will work regardless of what your PC setup is, but they will be enhanced in different ways by using the extra resources of your PC.

In the year 2000...

Nerdy Desi @ Jul 16th 2009 12:55PM

That would be nice, its a good idea. I wouldn't mind buying a separate PS3 "module" for my PC and for instance be able to run games at higher settings, more anti-aliasing, run it at TRUE 1080P resolution, etc. : )

Nerdy Desi @ Jul 16th 2009 12:56PM

Yesterday I downloaded a Gamecube emulator for my PC as well as Ikaruga, pretty damn cool. I hear PS2 emulation is also pretty good, of course a powerful PC is needed but I got that covered. Its cool to play all these games on one system, I like all-in-one solutions.

Vidikron @ Jul 16th 2009 1:11PM

"Eventually you'll just buy a Sony card for your computer,"

Nah... not until computers are most commonly found in entertainment centers with simplistic interfaces... at which point they'll basically be a console. Your idea goes against the fundamental difference between PCs and consoles, which is more about the interface and setting than the hardware itself. Sure, people can and do currently use PCs in entertainment centers, but that's not common compared to the majority. PCs are still largely found in offices and desks in corners of rooms. Your idea falls flat because you're talking about an add-in card, which also goes against the idea of a console.

Mike @ Jul 16th 2009 12:19PM

Windows only? Lame. Need some Mac or at least XBL/PSN/WiiWare love.

Mike @ Jul 16th 2009 12:22PM

In fact, all their games are Windows-only, but only TGP actually says so in a small note in the FAQ. None of their other games mentions platform at all. That's horrible advertising.

Please Joystiq, whenever you review a game you should really talk about who can actually play it.

ilovethewaggle @ Jul 16th 2009 12:38PM

The tag clearly says "PC" ....

Mike @ Jul 16th 2009 12:52PM

"PC" = "Personal computer". Macs (along with computers running Linux, BSD, Solaris, and many other modern operating systems) are both personal and definitely computers. Windows runs on PCs, but not every PC runs Windows.

And there is no "PC" tag on this article, just "The new PC adventure game from Zombie Cow Studios..." being the only mention that it's for PCs and not consoles or handhelds, but nowhere was it mentioned that it was Windows-only (as I said, not even the developer's site makes this very clear for TGP, and fails to mention platform at all for all their other games).

MindTheGap76 @ Jul 16th 2009 1:06PM

Given that lack of game support has been one of the top reasons for not switching to Mac for the past decade, I think the default assumption should be that a game does not work on a Mac unless it specifically advertises otherwise, not vice-versa.

Mike @ Jul 16th 2009 1:12PM

In the United States, white Christians comprise the majority of the population. So, should you naturally assume that a random American you've not met is a white Christian?

PedoJokerBear (aka Deeznuts) @ Jul 16th 2009 1:24PM

yes.

Doctor John Smith @ Jul 16th 2009 1:52PM

Aren't their numerous solutions to playing Windows games on macs?

Damian @ Jul 16th 2009 2:21PM

One of those solutions is fuck a mac, get a PC.

ilovethewaggle @ Jul 16th 2009 3:24PM

Look, mike, friend. At the top of this page is a PC tag in yellow. You're asking joystiq to let you know what platform this game can be played on in the review. The tag says pc, meaning that you can play it on a PC. I understand through this conversation that you own a MAC. If I play dumb, like the majority of consumers are, and listen to the Apple commericals, there is a definite split. I am a MAC. I am a PC. Clearly, at the most fundamental level, a PC as understood by the general public is a Windows based computer and a MAC is NOT a PC. So no, after that overanalysis trying to break things down for you, the PC tag in yellow at the top of this page should ultimately tell you that this game can not be played on your crappletop.

Mike @ Jul 16th 2009 9:11PM

@Damian I used to have a Windows PC. A great gaming PC actually. There's a very good reason I don't any more.

@ilovethewaggle
1) I missed the yellow "PC" at the top, when someone mentioned it was in tags I looked under the "Tags" section. I apologize.
2) PLEASE don't write "MAC". It's just Mac, MAC is the hardware address of networking hardware.
3) As much as I love Apple I do extremely hate their branding of PC referring to Windows as well. I'm also a Linux user and everything they say in the "Mac vs PC" commercials is totally untrue for other OSes.
4) Also referring to the Mac vs PC campaign, I am ironically a much bigger fan of John Hodgman than Justin Long. Long was pretty good in Waiting and Live Free or Die Hard, but Hodgman is a genuinely awesome individual.
5) I'm well aware that "PC" is generally understood to mean "Windows", even though Macs are PCs too, much like "organic" is used to refer to pesticide-free foods even though all food is organic. These things will not change unless someone speaks up so I speak up whenever possible.
6) You start off friendly saying "Look, mike, friend" but then close your post by insulting a product I love, which really only makes you a dick. Good job.

To everyone... why the fuck do I always have to defend myself for pointing out someone having an ignorant worldview? Yes I missed the PC tag here, and I apologize for that, but the fact remains that the developers *don't* say that their software is Windows (or even PC) only and so I only find out when I click download. It goes without saying that if the game was Mac-only (and was even advertised as such) then people would be fucking relentless in their complaints.

Courtney @ Jul 16th 2009 12:22PM

How in the world have we ended up in a place where there are too many good adventure games to play? That's amazing, and shocking. I've been choosing to put off inFamous and finishing Fallout 3 to play adventure games. That almost makes me cry with joy.

Rasputin @ Jul 16th 2009 12:25PM

Wow do they still even make games for PC thats news to me after E3 i thought theyd stopped.

My computer I think was around when Nixon was president will that be able to play it? Does it come on floppies or tape, my tape drive needs to be cleaned so I hope it's floppies.