Review Two of a Kind Developer: Dave Gilbert Publisher: N/A Genre: Adventure Release Date: November 2004 Platform: Review by Robert Washburne February 3, 2005	Walkthrough	Buy this game at Trade for this game at:

<ahem>[Bob Washburne will now attempt the shortest review of his career. He lines up with the keyboard. He swings...]

Two of a Kind is David Gilbert's loving tribute to the old LucasArts games. If you liked Monkey Island, then you will love this game. If you didn't, then you won't. Thank you.

[Yes! He did it! A new personal best. Editors and fans alike will be analyzing every word to savor the depth of meaning he has given with such masterful brevity. It is truly inspiring to be in the presence of such greatness.]

Introduction

There is actually little I can add to the above review other than to explain it and justify it.

Two of a Kind is the latest game from Dave Gilbert. You can find the others at his website. It is freeware and can be downloaded for free from its website.

About fifteen years ago LucasArts was one of the big names in adventure gaming. They created such classics as Sam & Max Hit the Road, Full Throttle, Day of the Tentacle and, of course, the Monkey Island series.

PC technology back then was severely limited, competing with the Commodore C-64 and being blown away by the Amiga. But LucasArts made the most with what they had. They used the limited graphics to make cartoons which had flair and attitude. They compensated for the low sound quality by using a biting and edgy humor throughout.

The result was a style uniquely their own which continues to have a fan base to this day. This is the style Dave Gilbert attempted to achieve.

Story

LucasArts did not attempt high art. They took their stories straight from American “B” movies. They were not intended to be analyzed or meditated upon. They were meant to be enjoyed as pure amusement.

Gilbert follows this tradition quite well by taking a low budget detective story and combining it with cheesy Sci-Fi elements. It is ridiculous, unbelievable and totally enjoyable.

For achieving exactly what he wanted, I give the story a “B.”

Puzzles

LucasArts was not going after the cerebral crowd. Their games were strictly for the Saturday morning cartoon gang (note: this was before Cartoon Network and cartoon shows tended to be aired just after school or on Saturday mornings.)

So do not expect any logic puzzles which require great skills of deduction. These are all inventory based puzzles, usually of the type “I'll give you this if you get me that.”

The challenge, and comedy, comes from using your inventory is unusual ways. For example, you might have to combine the squirrel with the bicycle pump and then use that on the cheerleader in order to get the desired results.

Gilbert fully captured the lunacy, and frustration, of LucasArts puzzles. That gets a solid “B.”

Navigation

Gilbert again uses the Classic style. Look at the screen shots. All of the actions are represented as icons. Just click on the desired action – Walk To, Get, Talk To, Use, Open/Close – and then click on the screen where you want to do it. Simple and effective.

You can play the game as either the brother or the sister. Sometimes you will need to be the sister as she can talk to animals. Sometimes you need to be the brother as he can float about a foot off the ground. Both useful skills. And if you need your sibling to join you, just click on “Follow” and they instantly appear. Very handy.

There were only a couple of rough spots. At one point on the second floor of the mansion I was not able to move the brother because the sister was in the way. Also, it is sometimes impossible to leave a screen if you start right next to the exit. You have to back up and get a running go in order to leave. But neither of these were show stoppers.

All in all it was obvious where you were and it was easy to get where you wanted. A solid “B.”

Graphics

The graphics are low resolution, solid colors with no shading, and cartoony. Exactly was is needed for this type of game. I give them the “B” they deserve.

Sound

The background music is thin and cheesey – just what you would expect from someone who has upgraded their PC speaker to a primitive sound card. It is perfect, endearing and nostalgic. Sound effects? I can remember two, but I'm sure there were more. Games back then didn't use many because the system they were run on might have only had the PC speakers. Gilbert faithfully follows in the traditions of his fathers.

Again, sound was exactly as intended and gets a “B.”

Playability

Ah, now we are getting personal. It all boils down to whether you like this style of game or not. Personally, I do not. I could not bring myself to finish Monkey Island. But I loved Sam & Max. So go figure.

Conclusion

The old LucasArts games are true classics and I would encourage anyone to try Sam & Max Hit the Road. They still have a large following and Two of a Kind is a worthy addition to their ranks.

I give the game a “B” and encourage you to download it. Hey, the price is right and you just might get hooked, become a pirate and sit around all day drinking grog <Ar, Ar, Ar, Ar, Ar!>.

Final Grade: B
(find out more about our grading system)