The first episode of Penny Arcade Adventures (On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness) was released this morning on XBLA. I’ve played it for the first few minutes, and I can tell you the game is extremely solid. Not trying this game out means you are part of the problem.

The gameplay is very much like what you would expect from an adventure RPG, but attacks have minigames in them, similar to the type of thing found in Mario RPG, only more clearly defined. Successful completion of the game will result in more damage, etc.

The artwork is gorgeous. It’s like being submerged in a 3D version of Gabe’s drawings, but instead of a pure 3-D rendering, elements are embellished, giving it a very comic-y feel. It’s the kind of impression you get from seeing movie adaptations of Frank Miller novels, like 300 or Sin City. Add a splash of steampunk grit, and you’ve got something special.

The writing oozes Tycho at every corner, and i’ve been laughing my ass off since the title screen. From the cryptic disembodied voice to the ramblings of the Fruit Fuckers, this is solid stuff.

Frankly, this is a retail title, and if Gamestop wasn’t run by idiots, it would be on shelves very soon. Hopefully it will be anyway. That said, I’m happy it’s being digitally distributed. This is exactly the kind of thing that systems like WiiWare and XBLA try to bring out: Innovative, risque titles that might not find a place on the shelf next to the FPS of the week. Good work Hothead, get to downloading people.

If you don’t happen to own an Xbox, you can also get it for PC (And by PC I mean Windows, Mac, and Linux) through Greenhouse here.