Full Throttle

"A Great Game, Yet It's the Very Definition of Easy and Short..."

Full Throttle is, at first glance, a wonderful adventure by the great game designer Tim Schafer. The problem is, first glances are about all you're likely to get before this game ends. As clever as the story and characters are, and as nice as the visuals and music are...this game suffers from being incredibly simple, and equally brief. Expect to complete this game in about four hours, maybe five, without any help at all. If it weren't for these shortcomings the game would be rated higher, so if you don't mind short and easy games, then this is an absolute must buy.

The story of the game is similar to that of the Mad Max films, but with a lighter attitude and a more humorous main character. Ben is the rough, tough leader of a biker gang in the near future known as the Polecats, and in the beginning an old man named Malcolm Corley (the owner of Corley Motors, a company that churns out the vehicle of choice for road gangs; a buff motorbike) is impressed when Ben's gang speeds past his limo, no doubt reminding him of his own youth. Mr. Corley manages to catch up to the gang, who have already relocated to the inside of a roadside bar called the Kick Stand. He goes inside to talk with Ben and attempt to hire his gang as an escort. Ben turns him down. Soon enough Adrian Ripburger, the second in command at Corley, calls Ben outside for a chat. He claims that Mr. Corley's health is bad, and in fact, he's dying. As he tells him this, Ben gets knocked out from behind. When he wakes up, he's in a dumpster with no gang, no keys, and framed for murder. Time to go get some good old fashioned revenge...

Full Throttle oozes style like any Tim Schafer game. The graphics are colorful and well designed, the music and voice acting are high quality. The story is a lot of fun, and the characters are memorable. Additionally, the game is just plain enjoyable from beginning to end. One expects these things from Tim Schafer, and he doesn't disappoint. The game utilizes a traditional adventure game system, but this time without the "Walk To" or "Talk To" or "Pick Up" selections. There's just one cursor, and it highlights over things you can interact with, bringing up a menu when you click that allows you to decide what interaction you'd like to do. There are even arcade sequences (including mororcycle riding/fighting) and timed events, but neither are difficult, and if you die the game lets you start again right before your mistake.

In closing (yes, that's right, I want to stay faithful to the theme of shortness the game provides by making my review brief too), I must say that Full Throttle is truly a creative, enjoyable, and memorable game. It has all the ingredients to be an 8 or a 9 rated game, except for challenge and a longer quest. These are significant flaws in my view. But overlooking them for a moment to write my final verdict: Full Throttle is an fun experience worth having.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 07/06/04