Big Brain Wolf Review

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? Well, after playing Big Brain Wolf, I'm not really any closer to having luposliphobia (look it up), but I certainly feel humbled. Why? Because Big Brain Wolf made me think harder than almost any game I've played. And it hurt.

The main character in Big Brain Wolf comes from a long line of man-eating wolves: the kind you see all the time in story books and fairy tales, known for devouring old ladies and being terrifying, etc. The protagonist, however, prefers veggies and playing chess to the carnivorous/villainous alternative. Needles to say, he's a bit of a disappointment to the rest of his family. Not only that, but he's almost finished his studies to become a genie. That's right, a GENIE. It's odd and completely unexpected, but that's part of the game's charm.

The game revolves around Wolf's efforts to bust his mom out of prison after she's been wrongly accused of murder (via digestion). The story is great fun, thanks to the consistently funny writing and dialogue. Some of the humor will be lost on younger audiences (the Star Trek references, for example), but it still is enjoyable on the whole.

Since Wolf is training to become a genie, his mentor follows him around throughout the game. This provides an explanation for all of the puzzles that crop up as the hero performs what would normally be mundane tasks. And the puzzles aren't your typical "move these blocks out of your way to advance" puzzles. They're logic puzzles, which are a LOT harder. As in, it's not uncommon to spend an hour (or three) on a single puzzle, which happened to me more times than I'll care to admit. While they're hard, they're never truly frustrating, so retrying the same puzzle for the ninth time doesn't seem tedious.

There's one issue with the puzzles, though. They start off plenty hard, but eventually, your mind starts to think the way the game wants it to, and the solutions come a bit more naturally. That's the first half or so of the game. Second part? The difficulty level skyrockets. It gets to a point where those who struggled in the first half may find the game too difficult to complete.

Difficulty aside, Big Brain Wolf is still a fairly attractive package. The graphics are very cartoony, which adds to the game's humor. Most of the animation is smooth, and the game sounds fine, minus some lackluster voice acting. There are lots of little touches that are fun to look out for, and some of Wolf's mannerisms are a riot (watching him take his inhaler never stopped being funny). If you're looking for a game that will truly challenge you and make you think, Big Brain Wolf will satisfy. I even felt my brain get bigger after I played! Though, that might be from bashing my skull with random blunt objects as I tried to solve one of the puzzles...

Graphics:
The game has a great cartoony style, and it works well with the gameplay. Plus, some of the depictions of classic storybook characters are clever.

Sound/Music:
The music is background music, the sounds are your basic sound effects, so on and so forth. They get the job done. The small amount of voice acting, however, is bland.

Gameplay:
Big Brain Wolf is a great point-and-click adventure, and the puzzles are imaginative. The puzzles will challenge, but won't usually frustrate.

Concept:
The world is unique and fresh, and the characters, story, and dialogue are quirky and witty. Big Brain Wolf does a great job in distinguishing itself from the pack, based on its creativity alone.

Value:
This is a fairly long game, and there are all sorts of optional side puzzles and brain training activities that add on to the main quest.

Fun:
Those who enjoy brainteasers will get the most enjoyment out of Big Brain Wolf. If you can't stand logic puzzles, or if you're looking for a more adventure-centered point-and-click game, this one may not satisfy you.

Overall:
This game will entertain some people, and drive others absolutely insane. Don't let it deceive you with its looks: Big Brain Wolf is one tough cookie. That being said, don't let the challenge scare you, either. It's a fun and engaging game, and it's one of the few games that will make you work some brain cells as you play.