I chose a side in the battle between PCs and consoles a very long time ago and have been happy ever since, but that doesn’t mean I can’t play for the other team once and while (you know what I mean, lwet’s keep it clean here people.). So I picked up a piece of software cheap to see just how far my mousing skills have deteriorated.

After popping the CD it prompts for to begin the installation process. Installing, I remember that! Hey consoles have that now too, whenever publishers need too meet quarterly sales numbers and don’t care about shipping buggy products. It could be worse I suppose, I couldn’t fix Relm’s Sketch bug no matter how long I fiddled with my soldering iron.

It turned out to be quite a challenge, the kind of cerebral test that is unfortunately unique to PCs, although the comprehensive tutorial made some elements too easy. The interface was handed very well, and I don’t see how a port to home systems could ever happen. The program also required an extensive amount of personal information, which while making the experience feel unique, can give the paranoid among us a creepy, Big Brother feeling, although that should of been expected form the outset.

The visuals are utterly underwhelming, I know it wasn’t a high priority in its development, but creamed spinach color isn’t very appealing. (It’s kinda like the background of this page…I should ask the boss for a change) (NO –ed.) The sound on the other hand is a totally different matter, it allows for a customized soundtrack, completely set by they player by and from his own library of songs.

When the end comes, it will be unique for each player, and the result could be either rewarding for punishing. In conclusion; this is a program that ultimately is less about entertainment, and more about filling a need. H&R Block’s TaxCut 2006 eared a final score of 7/10, but gets a 4/10…after taxes.

This is my stop.

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Comments? Questions? E-mail me at seth410@gamertransit.com. Complaints? That’s a joke, right?
Back of the Bus is © 2007 by Seth “4:10” Robison, used with exclusive permission by gamertransit.com. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.