For the uninitiated, the Dangeresque series is a series of low-budget movies created by Strong Bad for the Homestar Runner website, about a crooked cop and his two partners; the original Dangeresque and its sequel are already out, and fans have been clamoring for the third entry for some time. After a rather lengthy wait, the title has finally arrived as the next downloadable Wiiware episode, and I can confidently say it was worth the wait. Dangeresque 3: the Criminal Projective is the best episode in the SBCG4AP series yet, with humor coming out of his ears, not to mention excellent gameplay as usual.

Dangeresque 3 places you in the shoes of Dangeresque, as he works with his partners, Renaldo and Dangeresque, to retrieve a serum for saving the rainforest, at the request of Cutesy Buttons. The story is full of silly plot twists and movie clichés, and while there won’t be too much that comes as a surprise, the entire thing strikes a whole new level of "so bad it’s good" that’s sure to keep you entertained. Not only that, but evidence of the film’s incredibly low budget can be seen everywhere, from the terribly-done backgrounds, to the iffy and hilarious editing job, even in the way the camera isn’t quite steady when giving a close-up on a character. It’s the little things that make these games truly funny, and in Dangeresque 3, these little things are everywhere. This is the funniest episode thus far, to be certain.

The puzzles, while largely the same as usual, have been adjusted a little bit in fitting with the script of the movie. While you may end up pondering puzzles over a larger period of time in previous Strong Bad games, Dangeresque 3 takes things scene-by-scene, which means you’ll be presented with puzzles much more directly, and they’ll be solved much more quickly. Some scenes use this to great effect, presenting you with very clever situational puzzles, my personal favorite being the chase scene. It’s a change that I’m sure isn’t going to stay, but this entry is a very welcome change of pace for both humor and gameplay. Another interesting change of pace is the music; while the previous episodes have taken to utilizing 8-bit, minimalist tracks for the most part, Dangeresque 3 breaks this trend with a full-blown spy movie soundtrack that straddles the line between appropriate and over the top. It’s definitely a treat for the ears.

The replay value, however, is one thing that hasn’t changed much. Teen Girl Squad is once again absent, and the bulk of your post-story activities are going to consist of collecting. Luckily, the Videlectrix game included this month is also one of the best. Flying through space, you’re challenged to capture and save circus workers, destroy the evil clowns, and avoid the giant floating circus foods, in an addicting and enjoyable mini-game. Replayability has never been the high point of episodic gaming, especially the story-based kind, so this is coming as less and less of a surprise; this story, though, is one that I just might end up playing through a few more times, due to its sheer quality. Like the others, this title is going to run you about three to four hours, depending on your puzzle aptitude, and your tendency to explore everything ever.

If you’re going to get any game in the SBCG4AP series, you should make it this one. Dangeresque 3: the Criminal Projective takes a very smart change of pace and uses it to great effect, improving the story, the humor, and the general gameplay experience. This episode gets a Yay!, and I can recommend this to almost anybody with a sense of humor. Let’s hope the season closes on a high note like this one.