The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom

Netbook Game Review

Dear miserable Winterbottom, observe the signs.
For you my friend have become unstuck in time.

This uniquely beautiful black-and-white  game touches on a very serious topic for me in my life:  The everlasting pursuit of pie. But for as much as it reminded me of my daily struggle, it also opened my eyes to new and inventive ways to nab those renegade pies.

One word: Clones.

Mr. Winterbottom is a classy gent with a large nose and a very sturdy black umbrella. All he longs for – like any classy gent – are those sweet, elusive pies that always seem to be just beyond his reach. While he has the amazing ability to clone himself on command, it’s not as handy as you might think — clones are fickle.

I will be completely honest with you – this game will make you angry. You will slam your head against the wall, you will shout at your screen, you will rage-restart at least a dozen times. But the rewards feel so, so very sweet that you’ll find yourself right back at it in no time.  Like delicious pie, this game is a harsh mistress. Show her some unfaltering love and you will succeed.

The story of P.B. Winterbottom is told in the style of a 1920′s silent film with goofy plot lines and cheesy poetic verses. The art style is inspired by the work of writer/illustrator Edward Gorey and silent film greats Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton, and Charlie Chaplin. The puzzles  encountered — there are 80 total — really overclock your brain in the most enjoyable way. The unique visual style and extra levels definitely increased its replay value for me. And you? You’re a glutton for punishment, aren’t you? All for the love of pie.

The bad? If challenges aren’t your thing, back away from the download link now. This game goes from fun and easy to WHY DO THESE PIES HATE ME SO MUCH?! in seconds flat and then, like nothing happened, goes back to being a cute baby game for babies. But if you like mischief, time travel and delicious pie, I guarantee it’ll be worth the frustration.