Loosely based on the 1983 film of the same name, the title sees the player traverse through the different stages of life while collecting items.[2] The Monty Python Mrs. Particle and Mrs. Velocity comedy sketch audio is included as an unlockable easter egg in the game.[3]
Development
The Meaning of Life was the third in a trilogy of Python games developed by 7th Level, after Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time and Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail.[4] Halfway through developing The Meaning of Life, 7th Level went bankrupt, leading to Take Two Software to take over the financing, development and publication of the title. Due to the hurried completion, the game was released with various bugs.[5] The game went gold on November 4, 1997.[1]
While preparing for the fall launch of the title, Eric Idle also worked on the expansion of PythOnline.[6]
Critical reception
The Los Angeles Times said the game is "heavy on disjointed, psychedelic cartoons".[7]
Destructoid felt the game had "completely nonsensical, illogical, weird-as-hell puzzles".[8] Adventureclassicgaming asserted that it plays more like an adventure game than previous Python titles.[9] Just adventure felt the interface was easy to use.[10]
PC Gamer gave high praise to its sense of humour.[11] Entertainment Weekly wrote that it "subverts multimedia conventions and good taste with equally silly vigor".[12] The AV Vault noted the game's use of dry off-the-wall humour.[13] Monty Python fansite Montypython.net wrote it is "difficult, maddeningly illogical, silly and sure to offend".[14]
