9 Sep, 2011
Title: Hector – Episode 2, Senseless Acts of Justice
Platform: PC/iPhone/Mac/iPad (reviewed on PC)
Developer: Straandlooper, Telltale Games
Publisher: Telltale Games
TL;DR: As fun, weird, and disgusting as the first
Family Friendly: I doubt it
Here we are again, back in the rat-riddled, scumbag-filled slums of Clappers Wreake. Senseless Acts of Justice follows rather swiftly on from the first game, neatly informing you of the antics that occurred in Episode One and setting you straight in order to jump in and deal with the ‘Senseless Acts’ of Episode Two. Without spoiling anything for those who haven’t finished the first (and you should!), Episode Two promptly places you in a tricky predicament and expects you to get out of it. Cue the tutorial.
The first thing a player is likely to learn, even before any of the game mechanics or narrative, is how much witty dialogue there is in the Hector series. Right from the get-go Hector is dropping amusing statements whenever the opportunity arises, even engaging in banter with the tutorial itself. I’ll probably be saying this a lot throughout this review, but: well, it’s much like the first game. The banter is every bit as funny as before, and every bit school-boyish, too. No doubt this style of humour will be lost on some players (and possibly even leaving some scratching their head entirely). The jokes are carried into the puzzle-solving, and often the answers are in the weirdest of places. In truth, the jokey setting might be divisive, but those who are more susceptible to a cheap giggle or two will love the conversations between characters. And if you don’t? Well, you may find each interaction a pointless and tedious affair.
Hector’s soundtrack is completely contradictory to the style of humour the game represents. The juxtaposition between the music and the dialogue adds an odd air of seriousness about Hector, making the game feel a lot more like a sincere detective game. A smart move considering anything more jovial or cartoony could’ve unnecessarily detracted from the title.
Pointing and clicking is the name of the game here. Much like the first episode, players are expected to find objects, combine items and use them appropriately in order to progress. It’s a tried and tested format and works splendidly here. During a section of the early game, you are presented with the option to change character and take a different angle on proceedings. This works wonderfully in Hector; really challenging the player, it makes the most of the games intuitive item-finding and witty banter between Hector and Lambert. Fortunately the game is not so easy that players will breeze through with little to no thought, but isn’t so hard that you’ll be constantly (and shamefully) turning to the hint system to help you progress. This happy medium makes Senseless Acts of Justice a smooth ride for new players and an interesting, fun adventure for point and click veterans.
The map system has also seen an overhaul. Rather than pacing through a number of scenes in order to get back to any sort of quick-travel option, players can now access a map right form the HUD, allowing faster and easier travel. A very convenient option for the impatient among us.
It’s worth giving an honourable mention to the hint system here. As I covered previously, the hint aystem is rather awesome, not just because it can put you on the right lines, but also because it is rather clever. This time around Hector, can seek the advice of his not-so-able colleagues at the Police HQ, before turning to the built-in hint system. And even then, getting the information you need isn’t particularly straight-forward. The hint system will – quite rightly – try it’s hardest to avoid telling you exactly what to do, and will only give you the direct answer after a barrage of clues, and – more importantly – insults. Insulting the player in a rather light-hearted fashion is a brilliant way of deterring the player without berating them completely. I loved this feature, not just because I had to use it numerous times, but also because it doesn’t reveal the answer straight away and still allows the player to gain some sense of accomplishment.
Hector Episode 2: Sensless Acts of Justice is as good a point-and-click as you are ever going to get. Although complaints can be made that the game is oh-so-similar to the first instalment, improvements to the map system, off-the-wall puzzles and new, rather interesting characters pushes the series up a notch, and makes the game a much smoother and more enjoyable experience. Fans of point-and-clicks will be right at home in Clappers Wreake, and advocates of school-boyish humour will be more than happy.
Family Friendly?
Buyers beware! Hector Ep.2 contains more weirdos, scumbags and low-lifes than is humanly healthy. If you feel that using a one-handed boy’s hook in an elaborate plot to blow up a toilet full of faeces is suitable for young-uns then you are sorely mistaken. Although Senseless Acts avoids swear words or anything overly-adult, it’s worth pointing out that the humour is still designed by adults for adults.
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