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| Pass the salt |
Previous Episode: Sontaran Disturbance: England
Next Episode: The Snowmen: The Latimer Residence
Game version played: 2.4.1
The 11th Doctor is
swanning around in his new Stetson, and with Doctor #10 he has decided that our
next stop is London, England, 1892.
With The Snowmen: Backstreets
of London we’re back to a TV episode with Yellow Fragments to win.
There’s also a little portrait of a Yellow Adipose. However for the first time this
will be a Rare drop instead of automatic. We’re not being spoon fed any more.
My selected team for this level is the 11th Doctor (Rank 2),
Porridge (Lv. 4), Madame Vastra (Lv. 4), Jenny Flint (Lv.5) and Rory (Lv. 3).
We arrive on a snowy cobbled
street, with a warm cosy, glowing window on the left. Hang on. That silhouette
in the window, it looks like a …
Never mind that now, we're being attacked by a snowman.
He has a simple body but it's topped with an evil-looking head, with
attack eyebrows and fang-filled mouth. Worst of all he’s Yellow, and as we
all know yellow snow is bad news.
Maybe this one was built
with the wrong type of snow because he was reduced to slush in an instant. He
has some mates though and the backup is comprised of two more Yellow
Snowmen. They’re thirsty for revenge but slow, taking 3 turns to attack. The
cold must have slowed me down as well as it took me a few rounds to see them off. One even bit me for 40 damage. ‘Twas but a scratch but I was annoyed that
they got through.
The final wave sees two
Yellow snowmen flanking one big Blue snowman, sporting a smile that would give a
Great White pause. These blighters must be tough as they all survived my
first attack. Big Blue used his Black Ice power to convert all the Blue gems to
Black. That stopped the 11th Doctor doing any damage that round, but
it did supply Porridge with ammunition. Black is strong against Yellow so the two wingmen were then out of the game.
Big Blue converted some more
Blue gems to Black, but it was futile gesture. He melted like a snowflake in
Hell and I won a Time Crystal.
The level was over and I gained
enough experience to level up Porridge, Vastra and Rory. I increased their HP,
ATK and HEAL respectively. However no Yellow Adipose dropped to join my team
and there were no Yellow Fragments either. Humph!
So the game has presented us
with another choice. Do we carry on through the storyline to The Latimer
Residence? Or do we replay the Backstreets of London for one more shot at the
Yellow Adipose?
Playing the level again gives
you the same experience and the same chance of a drop. Keep it up and eventually you’ll get your own
sentient lump of fat. Your team will also gain levels but the rate of progress
will be slower than if you played on. This level earns 1,339 XP, but the next
level provides 2,014 XP, the one after that 3,195 XP. You’d have to play Backstreets of London four times to beat the experience earned by playing
through the next two levels.
My approach is to keep going up through the levels. When I get to difficult levels that are harder to beat, I go back and play for the remaining rare drops. This boosts experience and wins team members with new skill and colour combinations.
Of course knowing something
about the Yellow Adipose might help you make a decision. Well he/she/it has the
Lipogenesis ability, allowing it to convert Black Gems into Yellow. It has
balanced abilities, so it is almost a Yellow Jenny Flint. When levelling up I
boost its ATK ability to make the best use of the Yellow gems it creates.
 |
| Ooh he's so 'ickle. Born from my back fat don't you know |
If you do get Yellow Adipose
before moving on then slip it straight into the team. Unless you’ve bought
extra Companions you’ll still have a space and it makes no sense to leave the
slot empty. Yellow Adipose would partner well with Madame Vastra, boosting the
number of gems she’ll be able to attack with.
The Adipose first appeared in
Partners in Crime but they have cropped up a couple of times since, toddling
around as background colour. I admit they are cute and they make me chuckle. Being made of fat puts a disgusting spin on them that balances out
their appalling sweetness. They’re also different to most other Who monsters, innocent beings literally living off the fat of others. The temptation to bring them back one day, along
with their fully grown parents, must be strong for the show.
New Who beats Classic Who
into a cocked hat when it comes to humour. The first incarnation had satire and
irony, with the odd comedy scene thrown in like John Cleese in the Louvre. Most of the Doctors have been able to clown
or tell a gag. However some episodes of New Who are clearly intended to be
comedies first and foremost, with action and adventure to keep up the drama.
Even the scariest episodes have laughs to reassure you that it’s all going to be
okay. I’m with Joss Wheedon "Make it dark, make it grim, make it tough,
but then, for the love of God, tell a joke.”
The Snowmen: Backstreets of
London is quick and simple, but the introduction of Rare drops gives the game
one of its most addictive attractions.
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