When Games Make With The Funny
Over at Edge Online, they've got a rather fun article discussing the use of humor in video games, and starting with the line: "They say there are only seven stories in the world. Others, particularly those who’ve recently read a copy of Viz, say there are only seven jokes. But ask people to name funny games and you begin to feel like there are only seven possible answers."
Much of the article takes the form of an interview with Ron Gilbert, the original 'funny guy' of game design, who notes perceptively: "The problem with games is that you’ve taken timing away from the author and given it to the player, so in order to do comedy, you can’t use a lot of the same techniques that linear artists are used to using in comedy, because they can’t use timing."
As for the seven possible funny games, ever? "The Secret Of Monkey Island usually pops up first. Sam And Max and Day Of The Tentacle next. Conker’s Bad Fur Day might get the British vote, Leisure Suit Larry the American. After some brow-furrowing for a more modern title – probably The Bard’s Tale – you’ll be back to where you started with Grim Fandango. Take Ron Gilbert and Tim Schafer out of the running, and things look pretty bleak." What's missing, though?
Comments
I think I would forego Conker and Larry for the Space Quest series.
There's gotta be some funny games out there that aren't adventure games though. Doesn't there...?
Posted by: boohiss | April 5, 2006 1:43 PM
Both Earthworm Jim 1 & 2 were very funny. In Earthworm Jim 1, one of the first things you do is launch a refrigerator into the air. It's never referenced again until the very end of the game when it helps you defeat the boss. Funny stuff.
Shiny had several funny games. MDK was dark, but had a strong element of humor. One of the weapons was a decoy that was just a crudely drawn version of yourself on a stick, but of course it worked perfectly. Sacrifice had some stuff too.
Oh, and the opening to the NES 3 Stooges game. "Hey fellas! We're in the wrong game!" Still funny to me.
Posted by: Jeff | April 5, 2006 2:43 PM
I thought Metal Gear Solid 3 was funny. The bosses blew up when you beat them, and much of the dialogue was funny. Then there're items like "the box" and Raikov mask (and character), inside jokes, etc... The MGS series is half comedy.
I strongly disagree that "they can’t use timing." You can time and script events based on actions easily in videogames. Also, most games have a lot of linearity as far as storytelling goes. Voiced conversations, cutscenes... I think there's more linearity in videogame storytelling than people realize. It's nice when developers stray from that, but it's just plain easier to create linear chunks.
Posted by: Segadult | April 5, 2006 2:52 PM
The You Don't Know Jack trivia games stick out in my mind as funny. Particularly the way the host berates the players.
Posted by: Chris L | April 5, 2006 4:23 PM
If you want to go outside western games, there are funny Japanese titles like Disgaea and Phoenix Wright. RPGs usually try to have "the funny guy" with varying results. The Shadow Hearts series in particular I have found very funny.
Posted by: EvilH | April 5, 2006 8:41 PM
River City Ransom -- great great, greater funny.
Posted by: Obiter | April 5, 2006 8:59 PM
Any comments on paper mario, especially the game cube verions? I couldn't stop laughing.
Posted by: Danny | April 6, 2006 11:17 AM
anything by Planet Moon
Posted by: skaboy52 | April 6, 2006 11:39 AM
Katamari Damacy
Viewtiful Joe
Toe Jam and Earl
Under a Killing Moon
Grand Theft Auto (supposed to be, at least)
Smash Bros Melee (Which is about random explosions followed by funny sound effects)
Even Killer 7 has some humerous parts. (That crazy Viniculum gate music)
Posted by: stoic | April 6, 2006 12:07 PM
Don't forget Threads of Fate (aka Dew Prism in Japan)! Mint is one of the funniest characters I have ever come across in a game - just as good as any Schafer character, in my opinion.
And how can we forget Katamari Damacy? The King of All Cosmos is insanity incarnate!
Posted by: rapsodist | April 6, 2006 12:09 PM
Nevermind my KD mention... stoic mentioned it while I was still typing...
Posted by: rapsodist | April 6, 2006 12:11 PM
paper mario 1+2, mario and luigi 1+2, viewtiful joe 1+2, and pretty much everything else from nintendo is 100% full of excellent humor.
Posted by: cycle | April 6, 2006 12:16 PM
My top choices have always been Day of the Tentacle, Conker's Bad Fur Day, and Earthbound.
After that, If I had to skip Gilbert/Schaefer, I'd say the Paper Mario and Mario and Luigi games.
Posted by: Peter O | April 6, 2006 12:53 PM
I agree with Danny - Anything by Planet Moon....
Skull Monkeys!! Followed by A Dog's Life and watching 2 people play Guitar Hero.
Posted by: John | April 6, 2006 2:04 PM
Katamari Damacy, Phoenix Wright, the Paper Marios and Mario and Luigis (two each), ToeJam & Earl III (woefully forgotten), Earthbound certainly....
If we're going back to 16 bit times, then ToeJam & Earl is the best. On computers there's the Lucasarts adventures.
Many of the console examples are on Nintendo systems, which I think is important. Nintendo's typically less of a good home for angstfests than other systems, and they're more willing to make jokes at their own expense (which are a highlight of the Paper Mario games).
Posted by: John H. | April 6, 2006 2:07 PM
Wario Ware anybody? Cutting dripping snot with a pair of scissors is funny to me.
Posted by: Jake H. | April 6, 2006 2:13 PM
I'm surprised nobody mentioned Full Throttle...
Flatout was really funny, at least in the modes where you get to throw the driver through the windshield
Posted by: Josh | April 6, 2006 9:27 PM
some of the talkback radio in GTA:Vice City is hilarious
Posted by: dj | April 6, 2006 10:38 PM
I recently finished Giants: Citizen Kabuto and it's got some of the funniest dialog I've heard in a video game. Check it out!
Posted by: Brixtone | April 6, 2006 11:23 PM
Destroy all humans, makes telepathy which could have been an annoying and tediuous actvity actually worth it for the dialogue.
Posted by: loadquo | April 7, 2006 9:22 AM
Clearly not enough old timers on this board...
Steve Meretzky's classic Infocom adventures: Planetfall, Stationfall, Bueauracracy, and of course Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy. Also, The Space Bar in later years as a graphic adventure.
Also, honorable mention to Jeff O'Neil for Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Heads or Tails of It, the most inventive adventure game ever, based completly on wordplay.
Posted by: Tony Van | April 10, 2006 5:59 AM