There is a particular pleasure in playing a game which lets you interact with beloved characters. For that matter, even when the characters are obnoxious and annoying, it's sort of fun to interact with them. Telltale Games' new Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People: Episode 1 Homestar Ruiner offers you a chance to be a part of the strange, animated world of Homestar Runner. (www.homestarrunner.com)

Playing as Strong Bad, players will point-and-click their way through familiar locations in Free Country USA. Prompted by an e-mail which suggests he should pummel Homestar, Strong Bad heads off to the track where the Free Country USA Triannual Race to the End of the Race (FCUTRER) is about to begin. Inspired by the circumstances (and possibly afraid he won't be able to dodge Homestar's invisible fists) Strong Bad decides to hold off on the pummeling. Instead, he'll beat Homestar in the FCUTRER. Hilarity and humiliation ensue in equal amounts.

Players familiar with the Homestar Runner universe will have a chance to meet some recognizable faces including Coach Z, Marzipan, Bubs, the Poopsmith, King of Town, the Cheat, Strong Sad, Strong Mad and (of course) Stick. In-jokes abound, delighting Homestar fans and shooting over the heads of non-fans.

The game mechanics are simple and hark back to the adventure games of yesteryear. Click on the ground to have Strong Bad walk to a certain point. Find an object? Click it to interact or pick it up. A control-panel on the top left corner of the screen allows you to use items from the inventory, jump to different locations on the map, or take in-game photos. In the Wii version, players will be able to attach photos to Strong Bad-themed e-mails which they can send to Wii friends.

Along the way there are mini-games such as Videlectrix eight-bit classic Snake Boxer V, the events of the FCUTRER, and a chance to create more Teen Girl Squad comics.

The toon-shaded graphics perfectly capture the world of Homestar and the voice acting is (of course) spot-on. The story unfolds in typical adventure game fashion; players explore areas, find items, get stuck, use items on other items, slap themselves soundly on the forehead when they figure out what should have been obvious all along, and proceed to the next area. The puzzles are occasionally frustrating, but never illogical and perfectly suited to the Homestar universe.

Which is to say that the game includes crude humor, mild language and plenty of bad attitude. This is, of course, what the fans want and it's what makes Homestar funny. Parents might want to take this into consideration when considering the game and anyone who isn't familiar with Homestar should swing by the website and watch a few of the episodes before putting out the cash for the game.

Taken in total, Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People: Episode 1 Homestar Ruiner is an amusing and diverting adventure. Everything you'd expect from Homestar is in the game and it offers players the chance to stand in the shoes (and behind the lucha libre mask) of Strong Bad. For fans of Homestar, it's a must have. Fans of classic adventure games might enjoy it, but may be a little lost without some background in the Homestar world. (Hint: If you have a teenage child at home, they might be able to fill in a few of the gaps for you. Alternatively, you could check the Wikipedia which is pretty much the same thing except it costs you less in food and gym shoes.)

Homestar Ruiner is the first of five monthly episodes. Following the pattern they've established with Sam and Max, Telltale Games is selling individual episodes for a price of $8.95 each or $34.95 for the entire, five-episode season. (As a bonus, players who order the entire season will eligible to get a free disc version for just the cost of shipping when the series ends.) It can be purchased at the Telltale Games website for the PC or through the Wii shop channel.