The Princess Bride

 (Rated E. $20.)

By MATT PECKHAM

'The Princess Bride'

A Worldwide Biggies presentation of a game developed by Worldwide Biggies for PC and Mac. Reviewed on Mac.
 

More than 20 years after its initial release, "The Princess Bride" has made the transition to videogame via this breezy, animated romp through the lands of Guilder and Florin. Downloadable PC game integrates a broad variety of gameplay elements while hewing closely to the plot and iconic countenances of Rob Reiner's beloved 1987 adaptation of William Goldman's 1973 swashbuckling spoof. A bit pricey for its short length, this worthy tribute nonetheless stands to do brisk business if publisher Worldwide Biggies can get the word out.

Almost inconceivably, publisher/developer Worldwide Biggies delivers the goods that "Princes Bride" fans will expect in a Flash-animated casual mouse-clicker rather than dropping millions on a high-end console game. Experience is helped tremendously by voice work from many of the movie's stars, including Robin Wright Penn (Buttercup), Wallace Shawn (Vizzini) and Mandy Patinkin (Inigo Montoya), as well as a nearly flawless stand-in for narrator Peter Falk.

Those familiar with the movie will instantly recognize the game's five main episodes with names like "Battle of the Wits," "The Fire Swamp" and "Miracle Max." Each of these has its own set of a half-dozen puzzles with a unique style of play. In "As You Wish," players must keep Wesley's taskmistress Buttercup from glowering by completing click-and-drag tasks like watering fields of carrots or chopping cords of wood. Later stages expand the challenges to include sword-fighting R.O.U.S. (Rodents Of Unusual Size) in the Fire Swamp and mixing potions for Miracle Max.

Highlight of the bunch is a battle of the brains against Vizzini via a series of timed trivia questions that proffer rhyme-completion, anagram scrambling and multiple-choice trivia about the movie itself. Questions quickly escalate in difficulty, but the mandatory phases remain forgiving enough to encourage young or casual gamers.

Finishing the tasks required to heal Wesley and Buttercup's broken hearts and win the game takes only a couple of hours, not a great value for $20. However, experienced players can keep occupied with tougher, optional challenges.

Pre-rendered cut scenes have a vaguely washed-out cast that stands in contrast to the game's otherwise bright gloss.