Like Real Theatre, It's Only Enjoyable With Friends

I bought Foul Play off XBox Live Arcade months ago. It is the story of Baron Dashforth and Scampwick, fighting various supernatural horrors over a course of years, which are somehow connected to the disappearance of the Baron's father. I didn't get far enough to learn the no doubt awful truth.

The trick to the game is that we're seeing a reenactment of the story, done by the Baron and Scampwick as a play. Complete with a moving backdrop and actors and such. So the key is to win the many, many lengthy brawls you'll have with lots of enemies while taking as little damage as possible and chaining together cool combos. Because otherwise the audience gets bored/irritated and starts booing and throwing vegetables. So you die when you lose, but in the theatrical sense. If you can keep the audience into it, you can get a temporary boost to give you a hand.

My first go-round was with a visiting friend, and we had a pretty good time with it. Then I let sit for a month or two. When I tried to go back and pick up the story solo, the ridiculous number of foes wore me down quick. Especially when the battles start being timed, where you have to be this sub-boss in such and such a time or a bomb goes off. But there are like 20 minion enemies too, and they take an inordinate amount of punishment to keep down. Alone, it just isn't that much fun. The reward in relation to the amount of effort doesn't match up.

It might help if the computer would control Scampwick for you, so at least there would still be two of you. But if you play solo, Scampwick vanishes as soon as the fighting starts.

The art style is effective, and the music was solid. There are a few decent one-liners in there, mostly for Scampwick, your typical smart-mouthed youth with the Cockney accent.

So if you have someone to go co-op with, I'd recommend it. If you're the solitary sort like me, pass it by.