The Long-Awaited Return of Adventure Games
I mainly play games for story. If the storyline isn’t fun, the gameplay certainly can’t save it. I admit, I’m the guy most mainstream gamers seem to hate. I have patience for cutscenes that go on for several minutes. I’m not chomping at the bit to move on without knowing what the story holds – my primary motivation to continue. Truth be told, if I were to watch someone else play a game start to finish, I would be equally satisfied as if I had played it myself and there would be no need for me to play it over.
I daresay this could bring some intelligence back to the gaming world. One where puzzles don’t always involve shooting things in sequence, or moving heavy objects. A world where dialog isn’t an afterthought.
I am extremely excited about this and have been angry with developers (read: Lucasarts) because they stopped making adventure games altogether, opting instead to make some pretty mediocre ones – exceptions being the Knights of the Old Republic games, which are only a step removed from an adventure game so that’s ok. I hope that the world of gamers are with me in this, and I hope we can send a message to developers that says we are DYING for some good adventures. That there IS a market for it.
And then the floodgates will open again.
Im looking forward to the remake very much indeed. Monkey Island was the first game I got for my Amiga A500+.. Loved that game – the story is magical.. Then Monkey 2 came along and took it to an even greater level.
Did you see there is a NEW Monkey Island game in development?
http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland
What about Leisure Suit Larry? That game series was awesome!! I used to alternate between that and King’s Quest.
I never got into Leisure Suit Larry, until the newer Magna Cum Laude version. I was a bit young for the thematic material at the time. Fun game though.
And yes I saw the new Monkey Island. It’ll be released some time after the remake of the original. Personally I’d like to see them all updated, but admittedly I’d prefer to see Guybrush looking a bit less gaunt and emaciated. He looks a bit too piratey for a guy who is meant to stand out as different.
“I’m the guy most mainstream gamers seem to hate. I have patience for cutscenes that go on for several minutes.” – That doesn’t make you unique. Most people do. If that’s what they’re expecting or the story line turns out to be more compelling than originally thought. A series like Monkey Island already lends itself to a pronounced story line and less traditional action like say, Halo.
What pisses me off is when production studios know they’re making a blood squirting, face smashing, action packed game and they pretend that their story (or lack thereof) has Shakespearian roots.
Just dispense with the horrible voice work, the over dramatic soundtrack and character sentiment and get on with the reason we bought your game in the first place. At least keep it within moderation, please!
Agreed. As much as I love Halo and Half Life, they both have veil-thin storylines that rate just above porn. Games like Tekken are super fun but even worse offenders
Day of the Tentacle… greatest game ever
Never played, and now I fear my computer is too good to handle it. Maybe the scourge of television and Hollywood will take the gaming world by storm and we’ll see a number of remakes of the great classics.
King’s Quest is one of the greatest game series ever.