Hector: Episode 1 HD Review

Telltale Games are true masters of the point and click adventure. Nearly single handedly, they've revitalised the genre and brought it back from the brink of extinction. Monkey Island, Wallace & Gromit, Sam & Max, Back to the Future...they're all great titles in their own right. Each providing great adventure experiences both on the PC/Mac and on the iPad. Now comes a much, much cruder affair in the form of Hector: Episode 1 - We Negotiate with Terrorists. Think of it as a true antithesis of Wallace & Gromit. It's not comfortable and sweet, but downright lewd and offensive with plenty of profanities and mature themes. It's also really quite fun for those wanting a bit more bite to their point and click adventure.

Right from the start, Detective Inspector Hector is in your face as a grumpy and unpleasant pig of a cop. And you know what? It's pretty entertaining. It makes a great change of pace from what players usually expect of point and click adventure. Fans of British cop dramas like Life on Mars or Hot Fuzz will know a lot of these themes as Hector has clearly been heavily influenced by the likes of Gene Hunt. Much of the language is very British too which might take a bit of adjustment for some. It's consistently humorous though.

There's a whole wealth of jokes covering everything from condoms, drug addicts, sex dolls, prostitutes and a heck of a lot of swearing. Pretty much the first puzzle consists of retrieving a paper clip from a vile toilet with a condom and a dismembered foot. This is the kind of experience to expect.

The puzzles are a little convoluted at times with combining items particularly important throughout. Fortunately, a fair amount of hints and tips are available, but old hands at the genre will enjoy the challenge set out here. This is the kind of adventure game that requires players to explore every single nook and cranny on the screen in order to find everything, just like in the old days. Controls aren't bad with one tap allowing players to look while two interacts with the object but it can cause a few mistakes here and there.

Ultimately though, Hector: Episode 1 - We Negotiate with Terrorists is a pretty fun experience for those after cruder humor than the norm. People of a sensitive disposition should stay clear but those looking for a game with adult jokes will greatly enjoy this. Who could resist a game that requires the player to remove all the pornography in the town so as to appease terrorists for instance? Yup, it's that twisted.