Three Stooges, The

1989 KevätThe Three Stooges is a game for everyone who loves old films. That's because the game is based on the American comedy series of the same name, which has remained unknown in these parts. The main characters of both the series and the game are Moe, Larry and Curly, three bungling but quick-witted country bumpkins.

The game is set in Stoogeville, a small country village where a cruel banker is threatening to turf the orphanage's children out onto the street over rent arrears. The orphanage's matron, Mrs. Ma, is sitting on the steps sobbing her heart out when Moe, Larry and Curly come barrelling onto the scene. The good-hearted pals promise to get hold of the 5000 dollars needed for the rent. Bigmouths that they are, they promise at the same time to raise the money to do the house up as well. Delighted by this, Ma promises the boys her daughters as wives. But first the orphans have to be saved from the banker's tyranny.

The pals set off along Stoogeville's only street looking for work. Moe has a map in his hand, but he can't decide where to go next, because Larry and Curly keep fighting and getting in the way. Every now and then Moe has to hammer some sense into his brothers' skulls to get things moving. The pals have just 30 days to scrape together 10000 dollars and then some, so that Ma's daughters will agree to the marriage deal.

All the situations in the game are based on sketches from the series. The player's first task is to decide on Moe's behalf where to go next. Moe's hand moves across the map of the village and the player has to press fire at the spot they want. Then the pals get their arms pumping and hurry off to wherever Moe's hand is pointing. There are 10 different options in all. Money is raised by working at the hospital or the restaurant, and by winning quizzes, boxing matches and bread-eating contests. The pals can also find money in the street and either keep it or hand it back.

At the hospital you have to collect dropped items. Stoogeville's hospital is full of lunatics, which is why no member of staff lasts there long. Money comes in for every second the guys manage to stick at the job. The action is shown from above. The pals dash along the hospital corridors grabbing objects flying through the air. There are also patients moving about the corridors who have to be dodged. Knock over five patients and the pals get the sack.

At the restaurant the job is to "serve" pies to the customers. This is done by throwing the pies in the customers' faces. The customers, for their part, respond in kind, and the battle of the year is on. The pals get money for every pie that hits.

Only Curly can win the boxing match, because he goes berserk when he hears the tune "Pop Goes the Weasel". Argh, the radio got left at home and Larry has to run like mad to fetch it and make it back before the final round. His trip is hampered by open front doors, dustbins and street lamps, which Larry bangs his head on in his flustered haste.

All the answers to the quiz can be found in the manual, and a good thing too, since your average true-blue Finn would hardly know anything about the history of the Three Stooges. Time is limited, however, and sooner or later you'll have to learn the answers by heart.

There's nothing whatsoever to fault in the game's technical execution. The graphics and animation are a feast for the eyes. No part of the game is awkward to play or tiring to watch. The real salt of the game, though, is the sound effects, which have been sampled with really good taste. Many a time the player is on the verge of cracking up with laughter when a spot-on effect hits just the right spot. For music they've picked old film music that suits the atmosphere nicely, and it has even been arranged with real professional skill.

Three Stooges is really fun to play. The only pity is that the game is too easy for a seasoned joystick-twister. But as a first computer game, Three Stooges will certainly fit the bill very well. There's laughter aplenty, at any rate!