On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode One

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Description

Gabe and Tycho of the web comic Penny Arcade are at their debut on the video game scene in this adventure RPG.

Set in 1922, in a pulp horror storyline, players create their protagonist who gets swept up in a world of mystery and adventure when a large robot destroys the main character's house during a leaf raking session. Determined to get to the bottom of what happened (and finding a new place to live in the process), the player runs into the Startling Developments Detective agency, run by Gabe and Tycho. Along the way, the team will encounter a series of characters from the web comic, fighting zombies, homeless people, mimes and Fruit Fuckers in an attempt to solve this bizarre series of events.

Gameplay is set up as a classic-style RPG, with turn-based combat and item management abilities during combat. Players will also be able to summon other characters for combat help, and level up new abilities as the story progresses.

Story elements are conveyed in a comic strip style. During conversation, players engage in a multiple selection story tree in an attempt to gain support or information or simply just harass and insult characters in typical Penny Arcade fashion.

The Xbox Live version includes various achievement rewards based off gameplay requirements.

Screenshots

Promo Images

Alternate Titles

• "Над пропастью во тьме. Часть 1" -- Russian spelling
• "Precipice of Darkness 1" -- MacStore title

Part of the Following Groups

• Distribution Method: Episodic
• Game Engine: Torque 360
• Game Engine: Torque Game Engine Advanced
• Inspiration: Comics
• Middleware: SDL
• Penny Arcade Adventures series
• Theme: Steampunk
• Visual technique / style: Cel shaded

User Reviews

Long Title. Short Game. Great Ride.	Xbox 360	Guy Chapman (2001)
This is a game made by the guys at Penny Arcade for the fans of Penny Arcade, and it delivers amazingly.	Xbox 360	Brandon Tabbert (19)

Critic Reviews

XBox Front	Xbox 360	May 21, 2008	85 out of 100	85
Worth Playing	Xbox 360	Jun 04, 2008	8.2 out of 10	82
gameZine (UK)	Windows	Jun 01, 2008	8 out of 10	80
GameSpy	Windows	Jun 13, 2008		80
Gamer 2.0	Xbox 360	May 29, 2008	7.9 out of 10	79
1UP	Windows	May 28, 2008	B	75
GameSpot (Belgium/Netherlands)	Windows	Jul 14, 2008	69 out of 100	69
GameStar (Germany)	Windows	Jun 25, 2008	63 out of 100	63
Eurogamer.net (UK)	Xbox 360	May 27, 2008	6 out of 10	60
Gamekult	Windows	May 27, 2008	5 out of 10	50

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Trivia

Penny Arcade used flamebait comments of a Wired blog posting to advertise its game, using the words from a poster by the name of ddf. They plastered banners advertising the game with his "testimonials".

"Penny arcade sucks and is unfunny. please murder penny arcade and then yourself if you disagree with me."

"This game sucks and anyone who likes it sucks. penny arcade sucks and is as funny as something that's not funny at all."

Related Web Sites

• Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness (Official game website)
• Wikipedia: Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness (Article in the open encyclopedia)
• X360A achievement guide (X360A's achievement guide for Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness.)