Entry 32: "Where No Family Guy Has Gone Before"

Yo!

So I was surfing around on the web a few months back, when I noticed THIS interstitial airing on Cartoon Network's [adult swim] late-night animation block fairly regularly (this was probably January/February-ish). I, like most Family Guy fans, started to ask myself, "Why isn't there a real FG video game?" Then, I reminded myself of THIS gem Vivendi Universal came out with at the height of that show's popularity, and further said to myself, "It's not like there's no market for wacky adult cartoon-based platformers..." Come to find out, a few months later, word broke out about 2K Games putting the finishing touches on a real Family Guy video game (PS2, Xbox/Xbox 360 [if the Ninjas got the backwards compatibility for this right on an earlier update somehow], and PSP. The only current systems that have parental control blocks. Figures, since it's got an "M" mature rating). Immediately after which, [adult swim] managed to start their suuuuper-subtle gloat fest with "We called it first! [as] does it again!!!", what with getting enough ratings to get Comedy Central to put together new Futuramas in 2008, new Saved By The Bell in planning/scripting right now (seriously), and helping bring back Family Guy in the first place. And rightfully so, I might add. I mean, SBTB's been out of production for over ten years! I can't wait for the Pee-Wee's Playhouse reunion!

.....But this entry's not about [as], it's about the new Family Guy video game that was released last week. For all those doubters, I'm pleased to say that this game actually delivers exactly what you'd want in a FG game: nonstop hilarity, relatively easy pick-up-and-play game mechanics, triple-threat story lines ripped from the show, every single character ever featured on the show makes an appearance, every single voice is there from the show, and the famous non-sequitur "manatee gag" throwaway sequences translate perfectly as WarioWare-style mini games that pop in right where they should. Not only that, you're dealing with interactive versions of some of the funniest non-sequiturs in the show's history, from Stewie's infamous sexy parties and Peter forgetting how to sit in a chair, to the movie's Stewie playing Marco Polo with Helen Keller sequence. It's all here.

I rented the Xbox version from Blockbuster on Friday, and for a while, I actually forgot about Scarface being the #1 new game of the fall (I should be getting paid for all this promotion and linking, Amazon!!!!!!). Gameplay's divided among three types, played by three different Griffins: Peter does arcade-style beat-em-up action against everyone and anyone from the long armed guy who tickles "little people" to Mr. Herbert, the perverted old man who regularly lusts after Chris. Stewie takes out his famous ray gun and blasts through Bertram, his evil(er) arch-enemy's forces, primarily consisting of sperm brethren still inside Peter, and clones of some random kid with a pot on his head. Classic platforming. Brian attacks his missions Sam Fisher-style, but without the guns. Or the wrist computer. Or the triple-vision headgear thingy. Or the crazy-tight spy suit. Or any discernible tools whatsoever. Just straight stealth at its... um... stealthiest.

I haven't gotten 100% through the game yet, but it's definitely worth the buy. In fact, that's my Bottom Line right there. The new Family Guy video game gets five of five stars!!!!! Because I clearly couldn't think of a better topic for this week!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .........................uh... Sorry about that. Lost what little cool I had for a second there. Hang on... The Daily Show kicks a#%.... VH1 Celebreality sucks....... Vista looks like some serious stuff, but Microsoft had better fix the Beta glitches and drivers........ OK GO's "Here It Goes Again" is a really cool song and great video, I don't care what Yahoo Music's Top 100 list says........ Phew! There we go! Got it back. Anyway, Family Guy. Great game. I highly recommend it for fans who've seen the last three seasons because they'll get most of the references easiest. ........But that's just me. New episodes return to FOX on November 5. New [adult swim] encores begin this Sunday, the 29th. That is all.

See you next week.

-D.

ADDENDUM TO BLOG (10:04pm): I'm playing this game a little bit more tonight, and I just had to say that in the level where Peter's in drag, rampaging through the Indian Casino, one of the non-sequitur mini games actually has a random stick person drawn on a sheet of paper, and Peter does a voice over saying they couldn't afford another mini game, so just press a button. That's it. They keep the countdown clock, though. As if it takes all of ten seconds to push any random button on the controller. Gotta be the dumbest, easiest mini game in the whole darn thing. Other than that, I still say this is one of the best, funniest games I've ever played, at the very least, on current-gen consoles anyway. That's all.

POST-ADDENDUM ADDENDUM TO BLOG (10/27/06 11:27am): After double-checking last night's [as] schedule after the gag was rebroadcast, I found out that the Helen Keller Marco Polo gag wasn't from the movie, but rather from last season's "Peter's Got Woods", first aired 9/11/05, available on the Family Guy Season 4 Part 2 set. PreOrder-able/Buyable HERE. Felt I should clarify my mistake. THAT's all. Promise.