Leave it to Nippon Ichi to find the quirkiest titles and bring them stateside. Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! What Did I Do to Deserve This? is not only one of the longest names for a game ever; it is one of the most unique and addictive titles to come to the PSP to date. What makes this game so distinct is that it takes the traditional Japanese RPG narrative and flips it on its head. Instead of assuming the role of a spiky-haired protagonist, you will be protecting the evil overlord. This new twist on the played-out formula is one of the main reasons this will easily be heralded as one of the more sought after PSP titles when it launches this summer.
The whole idea of protecting the bad guy in a game is intriguing. Instead of working towards a goal of saving the world, this game contains a more comedic aspect of the epitome of evil running scared. Dungeon creation games are nothing new in Japan, but the premise and ideas are certainly new enough to make HIoPB stand out among the usual drivel of PSP offerings. Everything in the game can be done by using the d-pad and the square button. You maneuver around a pick axe that is used to dig soil. The key is to dig the right soil to produce a lower life form to begin the food chain. As you slowly gather these slime creatures they will fertilize other soil plots making way for more advanced creatures.
Think of it as a tower defense game that specializes in managing the constant growth of the food chain and you will get the general idea. As you begin to unearth these various creatures you will quickly realize that they all serve a purpose, and the more you create, the deeper the experience goes. Slime creatures are your basic organism. They will slither around depositing their waste into other soil to make it richer. Once their purpose is served they will drop anchor and develop into a plant that, if given proper soil, will sprout into more slime creatures. This process applies to all of your minions, and it is up to you to manage them all as they are available for creation.
Maintaining all of this may sound complex, and believe me it can become overwhelming at times, it really is rewarding when it all comes together. The preview version we got to play consisted of a tutorial and three story levels that only give you just enough to get the basic idea. The problem is that we wanted more after all was said and done. The levels are short and sweet, making them ideal for portable play. It is clear that this title was designed with multiple play-throughs in mind, and high scores being the ultimate goal.
The best part about Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! though has to be the presentation itself. Nippon Ichi has a knack for digging up the most unconventional titles, and this one is no different. The dialogue had me in stitches, especially the descriptions of the heroes in the included Almanac. As you are taken through the tutorials, the overlord continues to remind you why he should be teaching you how to do this stuff, and how you should already know it considering you are “God”. The way the story plays out and the idea that you are constantly being hunted by the same characters you have spent your life playing as is hilarious. Sound effects of each hero as they attack are also priceless. The game reeks of hilarity and clever writing, making the experience all the more enjoyable as you play through.
Even though out experience was short-lived we can't help but be excited about this quirky PSP offering from Nippin Ichi and SCEJ. The game is scheduled to ship in July with a demo in the coming weeks that everyone should definitely check out. When a game that breaks conventional methods and still manages to be as enjoyable as Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! it is hard to not appreciate it. If you enjoy games like Patapon, or any kind of tower defense game, and love a good sense of humor, this game will not disappoint. If you own a PSP this is one demo you simply cannot afford to miss out on.
