FACEBOOK          TWITTER          INSTAGRAM          YOUTUBE          PINTEREST          PINTEREST

Tuesday 24 May 2016

MONTY PYTHON'S COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME


Founded in 1993, 7th Level's first title featured a comedy troupe they would revisit until the very end of the company's life five years later. Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time may have been conceived as simply an interactive way to view that dead parrot sketch again, but the final product turned out to be so much more.

The game is divided into four different main screens, a mini-game collection and a 'Pythonizer' (more on that later). Each are represented in the title screen by the lobes of a brain, which is apt because the entire game is mental. If there is a goal, it's to solve each lobe (which apparently needs to be done in order), though each of them goes beyond moon logic by just simply being insane. Who knows if there's any reason to any of it?

Upon release, there was a $5,000 competition for those who 'beat' the game. I say 'beat' the game, but there's no real clear objective. In fact, lucky Pythonites can enter by clicking randomly in the hope that you might come across that specific hotspot which leads to that elusive piece of code. It's not really random, but it's certainly designed to feel that way.

The first lobe is the 'Loonatorium', a brain-fart of a collage consisting of Terry Gilliam's unique art style. Every click does something, whether it be a fart noise, a video clip or the unleashing of a flapping man-chicken that you have to kill. At this point your cursor turns into a crosshair and it's time to unleash bullet hell. Or not, as it may sometimes be the case. If you fail at some of these mini shooting galleries, you're sent to a penalty box where you're confronted with a clown or the Spanish Inquisition. It may seem like a punishment, but it's actually a clue on what to do next. For example, the Spanish Inquisition arrive through a door so you now have to find it. Once you do, you are transported into a maze where riddles will test you on your mundane Python knowledge. I'm sure everyone knows how many times the dead parrot is beaten against the shop counter (five) or which mountain has the biggest tits (hint: its peaks are massive too). Do this and you get some letters to solve a later puzzle cryptically hidden behind more surreal humour.

The other screens work in almost the same way. The Exploding TV Room lets you shoot up the fireplace or learn about penguins while the Portrait Gallery contains a treasure trove of clips along with a money-hungry slot machine. The Corridor has the most interesting mini-game by also being a pinball table. It doesn't compete with the likes to 3D Ultra or Pro Pinball but it at least adds some variety. To complete the game, the menu screen itself as well as the introductory theatre each have their own hidden mazes, but are amongst the last to be completed.

To round out the package, the last two lobes contain a trio of basic mini-games that are more frustrating than they need to be and a 'Pythonizor' which can change your desktop theme. The games are jokey representations of Whac-A-Mole and Pang with the third being some kind of floaty chicken death trap thing. These were my least played sections as the games hold little humour and get old fast while desktop theming hasn't been a thing for over a decade (not to mention it's incompatible to modern systems). It does contain some funny little audio clips so it has that I guess.

Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time lives or dies on whether you're a fan of their unique brand of British humour. If you are, you'll be laughing more often than not - even during the crappy game and maze sections. If nothing else, this is a hugely hilarious game. Even if you've seen every sketch a dozen times there's enough new here from the original team to keep it from being just a well-made excuse to put some low-res clips on a disk.

It may be a complete waste of time, but the time wasted was worth it.


To download the game, follow the link below. This custom installer exclusive to The Collection Chamber uses DOSBox running Microsoft Windows 3.1 to get the game working on modern systems. Manual included. Tested on Windows 10.
  02.03.2020 Version 2 - Updated DOSBox to 0.74.3. Added manual 

File Size: 676 Mb.  Install Size: 788 Mb.  Need help? Consult the Collection Chamber FAQ

Download


Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time is © 7th Level
Monty Python's Flying Circus is © Python [Monty] Pictures Ltd
Review, Cover Design and Installer created by me


Like this? Try These...

http://collectionchamber.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/monty-python-quest-for-holy-grail.html  Ace Ventura  Rock Star Ate My Hamster

22 comments:

  1. Great emulation. Brings back fond memories. But when I go to use a keyboard them (like Musical) there is a message that I need to install Pythfsx.dll to have keyboard sounds activated (asked for the location D:\python

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thans for letting me know. I don't recall any issues when I played through it. I'll investigate when I have the time.

      Delete
    2. Hello. I've played the game for a fair while now and haven't gotten any keyboard errors, though I'm not entirely sure which section you're referring to. Did it install correctly?

      Delete
    3. Thank you for replying!

      Yep, it installed correctly. If you go to the Pythonizer, click on "Noisy Bits," then in the Window that pops up with "Keyboard" at the top, the default setting is "None." Select, for example, "Musical" via radio button and you will get a message that says you need to install Pythfsx.dll from the D:\Python directory. I have the DLL from the original CD, but not sure how to mount it in the conf file (I have the dll in a folder on the C: drive call python.

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Pythonizer in musical mode allows you to play simple songs (like Mary had a little lamb) with fart or burp sounds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Again, this works for me. When you first select it, it asks you if you want to install the .dll. Just click yes and you're good to go.

      Bear in mind this is not a game that's run natively on Windows 10, but through an emulated version of Windows 3.1. As such it will be contained within the emulated operating system and not transfer to Windows 10 (or whatever your main OS is). In fact, none of the desktop changes in the Pythonizer (icons screensavers etc) are compatible with Windows 10, only on the emulated 3.1. Perhaps I should've made that clearer in the review.

      Delete
    2. Many thanks. Yep, I understand it's running within the emulation. I'll give it a try on Windows 7. I was running it on Windows 10. Are you running it on Windows 10?

      Delete
    3. I just installed it on a Win 7 PC and everything works. Not sure what's up with the Win 10 install, but I'm pleased it works on Win 7. Thank you for putting this together!

      Delete
  4. It downloaded fine but the file says that is not compatible with my windows 64 bits PC and it says its not compatible and when i try to run any of the .exe files on DOSBox it says it's a microsoft windows archive, if you could help me i would be very pleased!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry for the late reply, many things have taken up my time.

      I don't know what exactly you're trying to do. All 4 files needed to be downloaded, then the .exe run to install the game (it should be fine on 64bits). Then run the shortcut that's been created or Run.exe within the installed folder and it should word. Everything's included so you won't need your own version of DOSBox. Read the FAQ if you're still unsure

      http://collectionchamber.blogspot.co.uk/p/faq.html

      Delete
  5. Great site: this particular game, however, freezes at 74% for me, installing the PYTHS001.DLL file.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just tested. It does pause for a bit at that time (the installer program will do that when handling a large file like an ISO). Keep waiting and it will install.

      Delete
    2. Thanks! Should have been more patient.

      Delete
  6. A walkthrough (mazes and all) can be found here: ( http://www.bettycat.com/home/games/cwot/bccwotlk.html )

    ReplyDelete
  7. ( http://www.bettycat.com/home/books/cwotbook.PDF )

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is BettyCat. I not longer have my website but I will gladly help. I would be happy to send via e-mail the hintbook in PDF format. betty.cat1@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a new email. If you want a free copy of the CWOT game please write me at BettyCat@twc

      Delete
  9. The address is BettyCat@twc.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. File corrupt or unreadable CD\MONTYPYTHON.BIN

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello. Check the FAQ about why errors such as this can come it. Basically, you need to have all fines in the same folder before beginning the install.

      Delete