My father always said that Monty Python were very clever at devising skits that were alternatively offensive and hilarious but couldn’t sustain the momentum for longer than the half-hour they were allocated in their TV series. All the Monty Python movies have suffered from overlength and underfunniness and a general need for editing. Such is the case for The Meaning of Life, adapted and expanded from the 1983 movie of the same name.

STORY
There are some truly hilarious parts to this game but it also has more than its fair share of duds. The game is not really an adventure game, really more of a puzzle game with tenuous connections from one section to another similar to the 7th Guest, Cassandra Chronicles, and Jewels of the Oracle. The game follows the format of the film. It is a journey from birth to death in chapters. For the most part, it is an inventory-based scavenger hunt, though later acts involve some clever and bizarre puzzles. The first part, based almost entirely on the movie is reasonably good and finished in 2-3 hours. Up until this point I was enjoying this game. At this point the game deteriorates into pointless wandering, collecting items that have only a very tenuous link to the storyline about the meaning of life. I quit the game at this point as it became too much to bear so I can’t claim to have a complete review here. The story gets a D for tedium.

GAMEPLAY
The interface is very easy to use, though, and any novice adventurer would not have to read the instructions to be able to jump right into the action. The game can be saved anywhere including in the middle of puzzles. The game offers ten save game slots, so you will have to save over some of them more than once. The game has an inventory with space for about eight items (though I never had more than two at any time). Again, use of the inventory is intuitive. The keyboard is not used in the game. All action is mouse-based point and click. This inspired interface deserves an A.

GRAPHICS
The graphics are of three main types. There is footage from the movie that is grainy and runs with strobe-like fashion, as though the rendering is occurring only half as quickly as it ought to. There are the Terry Gilliam made animations for which Monty Python are famous, featuring buxom women of the ’20s, caricature men, and zany animals. The Monty Python team is essential in evidence as stills from the movie with exaggerated mouth movement (again courtesy of Mr. Gilliam) not unlike the characters in the games Dust or Titanic. Although avant-garde in presentation and therefore interesting, the graphics left me somewhat cold. Be warned that this game has adult references and those offended by light nudity or innuendo should give it a miss. Anyone who has seen any Monty Python media will know what to expect. I give them a B.

SOUND
The sound is surely one area that Monty Python ought to excel in any skit, movie, or game. The Monty Python team work hard to be as offensive sonically and this is not an unworthy addition to the fold. In fact, in both the visual and auditory domains, Monty Python manage to offend just about everyone! Although this may turn some people away (and if you hate Monty Python normally, don’t buy the game), the humor is so well performed by the whole team. Each actor is convincing in any role they play. The incidental sounds are realistic and alternately hilarious and bizarre. The songs are a uniformly excellent and are easily worth a second listen to catch what you missed the first time through. Again, be warned: there is the use of infrequent profanity and sexual innuendo that may make you think twice about allowing children to play (or you if you are easily offended) but this is completely in keeping with the Monty Python humor style. Even a disclaimer at the beginning of the game warns about whom the game will offend. If you can’t find yourself in the several hundred strong list of names, then you need to join a group of some kind! The sound thoroughly deserves an A.

SUMMARY
So is this game more than a sum of its parts? Well, no. Although the sound and interface are excellent, the game is missing the most important ingredient: a story. Because of the wide variety of material that Monty Python spans in its skits, I wonder if they could lend their skills to making an adventure game. They’ve made an ambitious attempt here but have missed the mark. Yes, I’ll admit it, I’m an eye candy junkie, and I will often raise my score of a game if it has featured pretty graphics. This one didn’t have that either, so I give it a C-: worth a look if you are a heavy Monty Python fan or not bored easily.

NOTE: As I said earlier, I did not complete this game. I would welcome rebuttal from others that have.

Final Grade: C-

System Requirements:

• Pentium
• Windows 95
• 16MB RAM
• 4X CD-ROM