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*Sigh* I miss adventure gaming, GAF...
- Thread starter Tr4nce
- Start date
I'm with you. There's something about Telltale's games that rub me the wrong way. Individually, all the parts are there, but they just don't seem to come together for me. I've played five or six episodes from multiple series and the only characters or puzzles I can remember are the ones that I hated.Tr4nce said:
In most cases it's all about strong nostalgia goggles. They can't let go of the past and they assure themselves that nothing can beat the good old games. I'll admit that there isn't many games that can capture the feel of 90s LucasArts games since they really had outstanding talents working on those titles (art, writing, music, etc. were all top notch). But other then that the golden age games have been surpassed. Especially when it comes to Sierra titles while good games they were filled with awful gameplay designs that punished players unfairly.Blizzard said:
not saying op is like that. we all have our reasons to like and diss like certain games.
It's dangerous when you go making assumptions about the reasons people think what they do. You end up writing off their opinions before they've even had a chance to work through them themselves. Let the topic poster answer this. If he doesn't have a concrete reason for why he feels that way yet, he'll figure it out only by trying to answer it.CiSTM said:
As for me, I'm the same boat. Adventure games were my favorite genre. I wanted to get into videogame development because of Maniac Mansion. I've played most of the Sierra and LucasArts games and adore them all. I've tried playing newer adventure games - especially Telltale's stuff - and there just seems something off about them.
It's not nostalgia. At least, it's not nostalgia in the same way that all other games work. I mean, I feel nostalgic about 8-bit graphics and NES platformers, but that doesn't make me write off games like Braid or P.B. Winterbottom. So why should old adventure games, which for all intents and purposes are more like the new stuff than not, be so different? Why can I play an Infocom game for the first time in 2010 and click with it better than Syberia or Telltale's Sam & Max season 3?
LucasArts is, I believe, a sort of perfect storm of creativity. Similar to Xerox PARC, it was a place with a bunch of super smart, super talented people basically given free reign to create whatever they wanted. They created games FAST (MI2 took eight months, I think), loose, and they had a shitload of fun doing it. I don't know that the game industry can stomach such methods these days, but if there is anywhere out there like that, sign me up.
Blizzard said:
Oke sure. I'm not that into 3D adventure gaming. I just want oldskool 2D gaming, with beautiful graphics. Stuff like Monkey Island 2 or 3
szaromir said:
I'm not trolling new releases. The new Telltale games just don't appeal to me. The graphics don't have any atmosphere if you ask me. I just don't like em! I can have that opinion, now can't I?
jambo said:
No, no, no. I've played a lot of new releases. Telltale Games are just not my cup of tea. Graphic style doesn't appeal to me.
Yes!
And where the hell are my Dreamfall Chapters >:[
How about something made with AGS? http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/
Most of these games have an "older" feel to them.
There are also fan-made King's Quest/Indiana Jones games you might consider.
Most of these games have an "older" feel to them.
There are also fan-made King's Quest/Indiana Jones games you might consider.
CecilRousso
Member
Tr4nce said:
You´re making a mistake there.
I am one of those who only sees the first two Monkey Island games as true games in the series. I barely accept Curse of Monkey Island, and I truly hate Escape From Monkey Island. I was very sceptical to Telltale's try at the series, but I was proven wrong. I have some issues with the graphical design, but other than that I truly enjoyed the episodes, and I consider them more true to Monkey Island than Curse of Escape ever was. They are well written, enjoyable and really really funny. Especially Episode 3-5.
Don´t let nostalgia blind you like this.
There are plenty fo games like that. Machinarium, The Whispered World, RunawayTr4nce said:Oke sure. I'm not that into 3D adventure gaming. I just want oldskool 2D gaming, with beautiful graphics. Stuff like Monkey Island 2 or 3
You can, but you don't give these games a chance - I also thought I didn't like Telltale style, however when I played ToMI the graphics were actually quite charming, facial animation is really well done.
LiquidMetal14
hide your water-based mammals
Strongbad's Game for Attractive People on PSN/PC/Wiiware. I'm gonna go through Sam and Max after this as it was free for PSN plussies.
TheShampion
Member
You should try Ben There, Dan That and Time Gentlemen, Please!
They are both together 5 bucks on steam, and it is 2-D, funny, adventure game goodness.
They are both together 5 bucks on steam, and it is 2-D, funny, adventure game goodness.
Long live adventure gaming 
I just finished Sam and Max Season 3 and Back to The Future last week, it was so satisfying though BTTF was too short. Greatly anticipating the next episodes and Jurassic Park this year.
As a shameless plug, here is a point and click adventure me and my team made last year. Definitely inspired by Lucasart's older games. It's definitely far from great but hey it's a little thing I'm proud of
I just finished Sam and Max Season 3 and Back to The Future last week, it was so satisfying though BTTF was too short. Greatly anticipating the next episodes and Jurassic Park this year.As a shameless plug, here is a point and click adventure me and my team made last year. Definitely inspired by Lucasart's older games. It's definitely far from great but hey it's a little thing I'm proud of
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Wow, didn't expect Humungous to come up in here. Their games were awesome, hell, I'll probsbly give themto any kids I have.
Mr. B Natural
Member
Telltale games are the whores of the adventure genre these days on so many levels. Don't let them make you disinterested in what a lot more talented, smarter, funnier, better but smaller indy devs are making. There's heart out there, but you won't find it from a dev that just buys up popular-niche IPs and makes mediocre adventure games out of them.
RPGCrazied
Member
Ahhhh. King's Quest, Space Quest, Quest for Glory, Day of the Tentacle, The Dig. I could go on and on. Just goes to show you how old I truly am!
I wish some of those franchises would make a come back.
I wish some of those franchises would make a come back.
CecilRousso
Member
Mr. B Natural said:
Seriously, stop the Telltale hate. Tales of Monkey Island and Sam&Max: The Devil's Playhouse are brilliantly written and entertaining adventure games. If other developers are even better, that's great, but Telltales offerings are also great.
Backfoggen
Banned
I don't dislike the Telltale adventures I just wish they'd make a full length and size game. (which won't happen since adventures don't sell too well) Can't stand the compressed nature of the episodes.
Mr. B Natural said:
I want the adventure genre to be big again. Telltale is one of the companies who tried to bring the genre back, and they are the one who met great success in re-introducing the genre to mainstream. Must I not like them because there are many greater indie games? Surely I can enjoy all of them if I really enjoy the genre.
Backfoggen said:
Much as I love Telltale, I agree with this to some extent. I like the episodic format in general, but I'd also like to see something more expansive from them. As an illustration, in the recent Back To The Future game, at most the inventory held, what, five, six items? A significant portion of which were never actually used? Compare that to Lucasarts' heyday, where you'd have ten-fifteen items, if not more, and enough puzzles around to need all of them. The expansiveness - the large number of puzzles available at once - just isn't quite possible with the episodic model, unfortunately. Compare, say, The Launch of the Screaming Narwhal (Episode 1, ToMI) with The Three Trials (Chapter 1, SoMI), and I'm pretty sure there's an awful lot more steps to get to the end in the latter.
I know they tend to *last* about the same amount of time, but I suspect that's largely because a lot of time in the modern games is taken up with voiced dialogue, when I'd read through the text dialogue in the earlier titles more rapidly. Or maybe I'm viewing all this through rose-tinted glasses!
I fear it can't happen because the episodic form suits them so well, but I'd be willing to purchase an experiment in that direction. Or one thing that did cross my mind: A game released in episodes but each episode *expands* the game rather than continues it; so if you buy in at the end and munge it all together, you get something approaching the expansive nature of older titles rather than an episodic one, or you can still get the episodic effect if you so wish.
I started playing Machinarium some days ago. Wonderfull game. Today I beat Samorost1 and have started Samorost2. Amanita rules. So much love!
BTW, I'm not a big fan of adventures in general. They are good, until you find the obscure puzzle (use knife with tree, then a bird appears that will bring a ring, which you will now hold and be the ruler of the world... wait, I used knife with tree, how's that even possible?). I wish they made more sense. I hate guessing instead of figuring out.
BTW, I'm not a big fan of adventures in general. They are good, until you find the obscure puzzle (use knife with tree, then a bird appears that will bring a ring, which you will now hold and be the ruler of the world... wait, I used knife with tree, how's that even possible?). I wish they made more sense. I hate guessing instead of figuring out.
fresquito said:
Well, er, that's an example of a bad puzzle. The good adventure games keep the bad puzzles to a minimum. Although it's also possible that you missed some cluing that would have led to understanding that.
Just *why* does putting a frog into the mouth of my past self cause a butterfly to move closer to a light, causing a small localised whirlwind to occur in the future?
(Yes, that's a real puzzle from a fairly high-profile adventure. I never quite got it!)
Vinterbird
Member
fresquito said:
Try out The Dream Machine then. It has very simple and logical puzzles, that make sense. First chapter is free on their website. thedreammachine.se
Haunted
Member
Always a good mention.Tempy said:
I particularly recommend Yahtzee's and Ben Chandler's stuff (they've both got several titles under their belt). There are a lot of singular titles worth checking out as well. AGS basically enables everyone to make their own SCUMM/Sierra games, which is why it should be particularly interesting to the OP.
As far as games with a more modern representation go, let me recommend the Secret Files games (Tunguska and Purita Cordis), which combine classic pnc gameplay to modern graphics.
As a fellow adventure-nut I can easily relate to the OP. I've played the majority of Sierra and Lucas Arts adventures during the 80s and 90s and haven't quite got the same experience from recent games. Broken Sword is up there IMO, and Machinarium (although it's more about figuring out sequences), but like someone else mentioned before, I feel that TellTale doesn't do the classic IPs justice. For example, all of the Sam & Max episodes are pretty one-dimensional in that they present you one problem (however sometimes the problem is split up in multiple parts) and you use items or dialogs from two or three environments to solve it, and then the episode is done. It feels all very sequenced and carrots & sticks design. It isn't like Day of the Tentacle where you could solve some puzzles with Bernard and when you were stuck or bored switch to Laverne or Hoagie to solve other puzzles in the meantime. Or like Indiana Jones where you could travel between many environments to look for and combine items. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed TellTale's Sam & Max and Tales of Monkey Island series for what they are, but not as true adventure classics.
I love adventure games. Played a huge amount of those in my lifetime and i still do.
Last year, my passion for these games came back when playing the fantastic Machinarium and the quite good Lost Horizon. The whispered world had a lot of potential too.
For this year, i hope Book of Unwritten Tales will get an english release eventually and looking forward to A new beginning.
It's a pity that Sokal isn't doing any adventure games anymore. Syberia is still amongst my favourite adventure games. Also pity we didn't see a Dreamfall sequel. I adored that game.
Sadly, i can't get into the Telltale games at all. Tried on multiple occasions and always gave up. Same goes for the Runaway / Pendulo studios games but for different reasons.
I wouldn't say that the adventure genre is in a healthy state though. Take away Germany and you'll end up with very few adventures released.
Maybe things like the iPad will bring back interest for the genre. In fact, playing adventures would be a big reason for me to buy a tablet.
Last year, my passion for these games came back when playing the fantastic Machinarium and the quite good Lost Horizon. The whispered world had a lot of potential too.
For this year, i hope Book of Unwritten Tales will get an english release eventually and looking forward to A new beginning.
It's a pity that Sokal isn't doing any adventure games anymore. Syberia is still amongst my favourite adventure games. Also pity we didn't see a Dreamfall sequel. I adored that game.
Sadly, i can't get into the Telltale games at all. Tried on multiple occasions and always gave up. Same goes for the Runaway / Pendulo studios games but for different reasons.
I wouldn't say that the adventure genre is in a healthy state though. Take away Germany and you'll end up with very few adventures released.
Maybe things like the iPad will bring back interest for the genre. In fact, playing adventures would be a big reason for me to buy a tablet.
dream
Member
Import a copy of Gray Matter! Jane Jensen-GAF absolutely loved it.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=413351
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=413351
CecilRousso
Member
Telltale's games not qualifying as classics? Well The Devil's Playhouse is much better than what Hit the Road ever was, so if the latter is considered a classic then......do I dare say it?
GhaleonQ
Member
Sciz said:
I was actually insulted by Back To The Future. I didn't pay attention to previews, so I wasn't aware that it amounted to a casual game with ample fanservice. It's still FINE, don't get me wrong, but there's no way people would bother if Telltale created their own properties (and all of the time and money that would require would hurt their bottom line).
It sucks, because I really admire writers there like Chuck Jordan. The puzzle stuff deserves any abuse it gets.
So I hit a dead end on Samorost2. This is the kind of thing I hate. First there was a bug where I needed an item I didn't pick up. I was caugh forever in the same place. I loaded and started anew, I picked the item I needed, advanced the thing, but just inches away. Now I have a taxi, an sleeping man that I can wake up and turn sleep again at will, a balloon full of gas that I can blow and... you know? I've tried synchronizing his awakening and the release of the gas, because that's like the last thing I can try. However, it's not possible and I don't really know what I have to do.
This is why I always stop playing adventure games. Because there's always a puzzle that makes no sense and where's there's no explanation as to what to do.
/end rant.
This is why I always stop playing adventure games. Because there's always a puzzle that makes no sense and where's there's no explanation as to what to do.
/end rant.
Just recently, I've gotten some newer point and click games that a lot of people don't seem to know about.
Everlight
A very European game about a boy learning about magic (reminds me of Harry Potter). Got it on Gamersgate.
Ceville
A cartoony adventure game about a cruel king, whom you play as. I haven't really played it yet, though. Just saw trailers. Also got this from Gamersgate but I just checked and it is on Steam.
Windosill
Demo at the link. Short and very visual, with some weird, possibly nonsensical puzzles for some people. But I liked it a lot and it has great, artsy visuals. Got this on Steam.
Axel and Pixel
Like an Amanita Design wannabe game that's a little more cutesy and less artsy. But it's still a neat game. Got this on Steam.
Two games I want are Kaptain Brawe and Lost Horizon. The latter was already covered, but Kaptain Brawe is only on Gamersgate for whatever reason. It's like a sci-fi, animated adventure game and looks fantastic, at least from the trailer. It even appears to have three-character gameplay, which is a bit reminiscent of Day of the Tentacle. And the main character is reminiscent of Ben from Full Throttle.
Some not-as-new games I got recently are Sanitarium and Runaway: A Road Adventure from GOG. Never played them when they came out and they still hold up very well. Runaway is comparatively pretty new, though (and pretty great, too). Also, the Wallace and Gromit Telltale games are highly underrated.
Everlight
A very European game about a boy learning about magic (reminds me of Harry Potter). Got it on Gamersgate.
Ceville
A cartoony adventure game about a cruel king, whom you play as. I haven't really played it yet, though. Just saw trailers. Also got this from Gamersgate but I just checked and it is on Steam.
Windosill
Demo at the link. Short and very visual, with some weird, possibly nonsensical puzzles for some people. But I liked it a lot and it has great, artsy visuals. Got this on Steam.
Axel and Pixel
Like an Amanita Design wannabe game that's a little more cutesy and less artsy. But it's still a neat game. Got this on Steam.
Two games I want are Kaptain Brawe and Lost Horizon. The latter was already covered, but Kaptain Brawe is only on Gamersgate for whatever reason. It's like a sci-fi, animated adventure game and looks fantastic, at least from the trailer. It even appears to have three-character gameplay, which is a bit reminiscent of Day of the Tentacle. And the main character is reminiscent of Ben from Full Throttle.
Some not-as-new games I got recently are Sanitarium and Runaway: A Road Adventure from GOG. Never played them when they came out and they still hold up very well. Runaway is comparatively pretty new, though (and pretty great, too). Also, the Wallace and Gromit Telltale games are highly underrated.
60_gig_PS3
Banned
I grew up playing those old adventure games. Modern adventure games dont cut it for me.
The fancy art styles and over the top graphics. It all about the pixelation!
In my book proper adventure games need to use that old-school art style.
The one I'm looking forward to on the iphone is Superbrothers. Heck the game might be good maybe it sucks, but at least it looks proper!
The fancy art styles and over the top graphics. It all about the pixelation!
In my book proper adventure games need to use that old-school art style.
The one I'm looking forward to on the iphone is Superbrothers. Heck the game might be good maybe it sucks, but at least it looks proper!
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Dragmire said:
Mac users might note that the Mac version of Kaptain Brawe is on the new Mac App Store at 30% off ($13.99 instead of $19.99)!
Haven't pulled the trigger yet but I'd love to hear some impressions!
RedAssedApe
Banned
Any news on The Longest Journey 3? Damn game ended on such a huge cliff hanger :lol
Dead Man Typing
Member
dream said:
There's a demo on the 360's UK marketplace, don't know if it's up elsewhere. I thought it was okay.
Manos: The Hans of Fate
Banned
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=279438
I love the sequel too.
Anasui Kishibe said:a long time ago, LucasGames was known in the gaming community as one of the best software houses around, and that title certainly was well deserved since almost all their games were no less than superb, in particular the point and click ones. A lot of us will never forget the supreme delight brought by playing games like Day of the tentacle, Monkey Island 1,2,3, Maniac Mansion (let's not forget Zak Mc Kracken!), Indiana Jones and the fate of Atlantis and more. It was awesome to be a gamer those days.
But as it usually happens in the gaming industry, when everyone's attention is focused at one direction, missing true gems is definitely a sure thing. And I'm going to introduce you one of those forgotten gems, a game that really has nothing to envy to the best LucasGames adventures. I'm talking about The lost files of Sherlock Holmes: The case of the serrated scalpel.
developed my Mythos Games, published by EA, this game deserves a comfortable seat among the gods of the genre. I will try to talk about its greatness without trying to sound too enthusiastic, but I'm no reviewer so forgive me if I'll sound way too overheated.
First thing: ask yourself, what do you love about games like DOTT, IJATFOA or MI? The story, obviously, comes first. Gripping plot, lots of twists, occasional humor (more prominent in other games, this is a mystery after all) but we all agree about one thing: the story must be good, and dialogues must be even better. In SH you have both
The story: a young stage actress is found dead just outside the thater. The responde is clear: homicide. Inspector Lestrade and Scoptland Yard are on the case, and surely they don't see how the best detective in the world, Sherlock Holmes and his trusted friend, Dr John Watson, could be interested in what seems to be just an "ordinary" homicide. Holmes steps on the CS, and after a couple of minutes, he notices case's much more interesting that what it looks. Which is true, since you will have to investigate through the whole city of London to search hints, interrogate suspects and witnesses and run for your very life to break the case and arrest the vicious killer. A heavy number of plot twists await you, and you will have to use your brain to see who's behind this terrible plan. As Holmes used to say a number of times, the game is afoot
Dialogues are incredibly well written, and they do really make you feel like you're into a Conan Doyle's story. You ARE in Victorian London, you ARE Sherlock Holmes, you're completely sucked in in a matter of seconds
Second: the music has always been a very important part in a PNC game, and this makes no exception. An intense, melancholic, atmospheric soundtrack sets the right mood, and the suspension of disbelief is guaranteed.
Third: classic interface? Check. You've got the usual serie of commands here, just like in other games. Which is still good and very intuitive.
Fourth: graphically, game looks great (for the genre, and for the time). Animations are top notch and everything looks very detailed. Did I mention EVERYTHINBG is clickable in the game? Yes, even if a chair doesn't carry hints or a music box doesn't have a double bottom, you'll read a very detailed and well written description of it. Another big point in an already finely crafted game. Oh, you can skip descriptions with a single click, so don't worry.
Fifth, and probably my last point: is this game lenghty? You bet it. The excellent story follows the typical pattern: a small thing leads to a bigger thing, a bigger thing leads to a more complicated one and at the end of the game, you'll have spent at least 25 hours, visited a variety of places (a zoo, a college, 221B Baker Street, a morgue, a theater, an apartment, a mansion, a park and more) and met at least 30 characters. And better yet, you'll feel satisfied because game's NOT EASY AT ALL.
In short: if you happen to be a fan of the old PNC games, if you want to sink your body and soul inside one of the best, original, unofficial Sherlock Holmes stories, if you want a incredibly well written, immensely detailed and captivating game, get The case of the serrated scalpel. It really is a forgotten gem and like I said, it certainly deserves its mention among the other well-known titles.
I love the sequel too.