Point n Click Adventure GAF 2014 No longer in our dreams, memories or just Germany.
- Thread starter Family Fry
- Start date
Broken Sword 1 & 2
Machinarium
Gemini Rue
The Silent Age
Simon the Sorcerer
Fester Mudd: Curse of the Gold
ScummVM is on there for emulating the old LucasArts stuff
Kaptain Brawe
Luisure Suit Larry Reloaded
Violett
The Shivah
Joseph Merrick
Member
yup
I just finished Blackwell Epiphany and I *loved* it. It's so rare to come by a great ending in any medium but it's especially rare in videogames.
Play the series, GAF. Even the clunky early stuff. Best modern adventure games by a long shot.
Play the series, GAF. Even the clunky early stuff. Best modern adventure games by a long shot.
Wadjet Eye has put out a bunch of games but Gilbert only directly wrote for the Blackwell series. I'm dying to know what he'll work on next.
Terra_Ex
Member
Just finished Epiphany. It's the best Blackwell game by far, but it's absolutely required to have played the rest of the series first. Spoilers galore below while I just unload my thoughts, don't read if you haven't finished the whole series:
Looking forward to seeing what Dave and co will be working on the future, I noticed he seems to be leaning towards one-shot IPs over multi game arcs in recent interviews, I hope that won't preclude another Blackwell-esque series - Resonance, Gemini Rue were great but I've really enjoyed the journey they've taken us on over the whole series. I also hope they won't come to regret ending Blackwell when and how they did in the future as presumably its purely new IPs from this point forward, with nothing to fall back on.
A stellar effort though - hats off to Wadjet for making this series and especially for Epiphany-
And, I might have missed or forgotten something (really need to replay the whole series)
Starting off, I do feel that we kind of leapt to this finale from where things left off in Deception - with the reveal of Gavin and this group of people that were siphoning off other peoples souls, that plotline was only briefly touched upon again in Epiphany (the japanese ghost guy in the padded cell) and to be honest (before Epiphany was revealed to be the last game) that's where I was expecting the Blackwell series to go next. Upon completing the game it still does feel like we skipped a logical step in the story of Joey and Rosa, at least to me. That (the missing step) didn't happen though and if memory serves, Epiphany was not stated to be the final game when it was first revealed, that information appeared later on, by my recollection. Now, after finishing off the game I stand by my original thoughts, that the series definitely had another game in it before ending it.
What I liked:
-Lots of ghosts of this one, each dealing with different issues, all really interesting stuff as always and more grounded in everyday life than other series. I liked the ghost pair that were split off into two particularly, though I saw that coming.
-I liked seeing the doctor again from the first games, really brought things full circle.
-Excellent performances from the voice actors throughout, I didn't notice any of that classic Wadjet microphone popping from their earlier games. Music was also very good throughout.
-The artwork - this is the series pinacle in my eyes, with the low point being Unbound (didn't much care for the style in that one). It's so good and so fitting that I feel words just don't do it justice. Across the board, this is hands down my most prefered art style from any current producer of point and clicks and I really hope Wadjet doesn't stray from it.
What I didn't like:
-Where's the overgrown plant gone from Rosa's apartment!?
-Early in the game we saw some conversations that popped up as you exploring the environments - the first building in particular. These sort of fizzled out pretty quickly, which was unfortunate as I quite liked the impromptu dialogue.
Overall, I feel it's a shame that things leave off here, when Blackwell has finally grown into what it was always aiming for - in terms of game length, aesthetics, content - the progress from Legacy (or perhaps more appropriately, Bestowers of Eternity if you've played that, and if you haven't I suggest you do just to see the origins of Blackwell) to
Epiphany has been great to bear witness to. When I first started playing Wadjet's games several years back I couldn't believe someone had actually recaptured the magic of the point and clicks with the nice pixel art and added their own flourish on top - when Blackwell clicked with me, it really clicked. The overall formula and approach is sufficiently different to anything else out there (whilst also being familiar) that its really carved out its own niche in my eyes. Nailing the game length is something I'm especially appreciative of as it's the one thing that's held the series back from being included among the genre classics.
What I liked:
-Lots of ghosts of this one, each dealing with different issues, all really interesting stuff as always and more grounded in everyday life than other series. I liked the ghost pair that were split off into two particularly, though I saw that coming.
-I liked seeing the doctor again from the first games, really brought things full circle.
-Excellent performances from the voice actors throughout, I didn't notice any of that classic Wadjet microphone popping from their earlier games. Music was also very good throughout.
-The artwork - this is the series pinacle in my eyes, with the low point being Unbound (didn't much care for the style in that one). It's so good and so fitting that I feel words just don't do it justice. Across the board, this is hands down my most prefered art style from any current producer of point and clicks and I really hope Wadjet doesn't stray from it.
What I didn't like:
-Where's the overgrown plant gone from Rosa's apartment!?
-Early in the game we saw some conversations that popped up as you exploring the environments - the first building in particular. These sort of fizzled out pretty quickly, which was unfortunate as I quite liked the impromptu dialogue.
Overall, I feel it's a shame that things leave off here, when Blackwell has finally grown into what it was always aiming for - in terms of game length, aesthetics, content - the progress from Legacy (or perhaps more appropriately, Bestowers of Eternity if you've played that, and if you haven't I suggest you do just to see the origins of Blackwell) to
Epiphany has been great to bear witness to. When I first started playing Wadjet's games several years back I couldn't believe someone had actually recaptured the magic of the point and clicks with the nice pixel art and added their own flourish on top - when Blackwell clicked with me, it really clicked. The overall formula and approach is sufficiently different to anything else out there (whilst also being familiar) that its really carved out its own niche in my eyes. Nailing the game length is something I'm especially appreciative of as it's the one thing that's held the series back from being included among the genre classics.
A stellar effort though - hats off to Wadjet for making this series and especially for Epiphany-
while it's not the ending I would have wanted, it's still a fitting one.
And, I might have missed or forgotten something (really need to replay the whole series)
but if Madeline/Jocelyn sent Joey through the portal in the past how/when did he find his way back after he was (presumably) locked in there with Madeline?
I do think that things like this could definitely have been done better, but most conveniently placed notes did require having to visit other locations and gathering further evidence through dialog so I felt it balances out in the end. Puzzles in point and clicks - I think its difficult to strike a balance, and even when one is found, let's say that the note is skillfully hidden, we're then back in the oh so joyous days of pixel hunting and being completely stuck for hours/days at a time because you missed the hidden item/bizarre solution. I've never seen a perfect solution, even among the best offerings in the genre. As an aside, I remember being stuck on Monkey Island 2's hard mode for ages as a kid because you needed to open the model lighthouse to get the lens out for a puzzle), the lighthouse wasn't even clickable in the Lite mode and as such it threw me off for god knows how long. I generally appreciate Wadjet's more straightfoward approach to be honest.
Just to touch upon that article - I'm not sure I'd agree with the writer that Wadjet has outgrown Blackwell, (hasn't it just grown from a one man band to a 3 man endeavour now) and it's been the downfall of many a company for their reach to exceed their grasp, metaphorically speaking, but it will be interesting to see what they produce in the future, certainly. You do get a sense that Dave regrets/dislikes some of his earlier work in some interviews though, he seems to feel that Unbound is a considerably better game than the original Legacy for example (something I don't agree with, there's just something quite endearing about the original Blackwell Legacy that makes me favour it over Unbound.) so in that respect in can understand why they'd want to create something new.
I did notice this with the Shivah. Rabbi Stone's walk to me looked to be exactly the same as Rosa's (feminine) walk cycle from Deception. I haven't compared them side by side but those two in particular stood out to me. I feel like he changed things up a bit in Epiphany now, or at least it didn't catch my eye in this outing.
Agreed 100%.
Versipellis
Member
I actually replayed it with the commentary, so it's Gilbert himself who admits to having put in some changes. Last minute changes even. Like
Rosa's Aunt, whose part was written with Madeline's previous host in mind - I think it's pretty clear when Lauren speaks with Madeline when they are both in the void: it's very slight, but the interaction there is pretty much the same you find in the flashback with Contis
as he was able to get in touch with Lauren's voice actress from Unbound and he decided to make the change to reply to fans requesting a coming back by Lauren. Also the flashback is the last thing he added, IIRC, and it doesn't really fit in the story
The "puzzle" with the note was rewritten too,
as it involved Rosa pointing a flashlight to Tanya's apartment to let Joey read the note
The ending itself was something
coming out of nowhere. I "understand" that you are able to "bestow eternity" to all the ghosts in the world, but resurrecting Joey? And It doesn't even seem like he wanted to be resurrected in the first place!), And when he goes to Rosa's corpse trying to have her grab the tie, I don't know, it reminded me of some animals going to their dead companion trying to "wake" them up. It felt a little awkward and out of place. But maybe this is just me.
Also I would like to know what happened in the beginning
when George gets killed. Who's the killer? How could George know where Rosa was (Lia was hidden in the sec room and she couldn't know about an undercover op like this one)? I'm also wondering if Heather and Peter were maybe "killed" by Madeline with her "pushing" them to their death (in a way I failed to understand, since she is weaker than Joey), but the game doesn't seem to imply this, but it doesn't give any clear answer either. Was it just a big coincidence? A curse caught for being part of the Grace Group?
I know it's not easy at all to get good puzzles in a realistic setting, but this doesn't justify their being bland (like my favourite, the note puzzle) or just oddly "complex" (like the one involving a dead man ID number). It's a pity that Dave didn't expand the idea of Joey having some influence on the world of the living (like with cats and tv screens in the previous episodes). Also Rosa's phone is barely used in Epiphany and dialogue puzzles are less than in Deception, where you had to gather a lot more info about a certain ghost before being able to free them (and that was pretty good and fit nicely in the setting). I mean, I think there is still some space for inventive, without resorting to some crazy use of your inventory items. In Epiphany most of the puzzles look uninspired and placed in the game "just because" it's a point and click.
Versipellis
Member
From interviews and the ingame commentary it is confirmed that there should had been 6 episodes in the series, but Gilbert decided to wrap things up with the fifth one, feeling that an entire episode focused
on Madeline
The missing
showdown with the big bad organization
Yeah, I'm pretty sure there's a flashback about that, but I can't remember the details or the episode you find it.
I don't mean that "easy/mundane = bad", of course, but I think that the setting had the potential to offer some "different" kind of puzzles. Some hints of this potential are clearly there, as I mentioned before (Rosa's notes and Joey's power).
Joseph Merrick
Member
and shivah. he's got writing credits in resonance as well according to mobygames. and emerald city confidential, which I've never played.
Plus a few other freeware games (including a REALLY early look at Rosa and Joey)! I just meant that he didn't write Gemini Rue, Resonance or any of the other recent Wadjet Eye adventure games.
edit: I played Emerald City Confidential for a bit. I wanted to like it but I think I'm allergic to hidden object games.
edit: I played Emerald City Confidential for a bit. I wanted to like it but I think I'm allergic to hidden object games.
Who is doing the Tex Murphy: Tesla Effect OT? No one has volunteered in the other OT thread. OT will kept simple if no one wants to do it. Sort of thinking of making a OT title that includes some reference to all past Tex Murphy games
Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure |OT| Under a Mean Martian Directive Overseer
Lame? Thoughts?
Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure |OT| Under a Mean Martian Directive Overseer
Lame? Thoughts?
Terra_Ex
Member
I see, I haven't done a commentary run of Epiphany yet but I agree that there's probably more to be discerned reading between the lines for that decision but it what it is I suppose.
Ha, I just noticed that Griff the teddy bear is there even in those early screens. I wonder if he had that particular plot point (
Griff's clothing rationale, as explained by Lauren
That reminds me, I still have Broken Sword 5 to finish.
Sir_Crocodile
Member
Finally had a chance to play Blackwell Epiphany today. So, so good, and a fitting end to the series. I think the series could have taken that one extra game personally, but at least the series ended on a high and I can easily recommend the entire thing to anyone looking for P&C games.
As an aside, Epiphany was light years better then Broken Sword 5 was.
Now back to Pegasus Prime - finding it really difficult, haven't played many P&C games like this before!
As an aside, Epiphany was light years better then Broken Sword 5 was.
Now back to Pegasus Prime - finding it really difficult, haven't played many P&C games like this before!
Tizoc
Member
Well I just finished Blackwell Legacy Ep. 1
That's it? Wow it was short, but it was a fun ride.
Are the next episodes as short? Cuz I don't mind that and I really like the style of the game so far.
That's it? Wow it was short, but it was a fun ride.
At first I didn't know I can save the Deacon until after the demon took him. I reloaded my save and saved him.
Terra_Ex
Member
Unbound is even shorter than Legacy. Convergence is a bit longer than Legacy iirc. Deception is considerably longer, and Epiphany is a decent length (the longest one).
It is? I thought it was longer. Or at least it appears to be longer since there's much more going on there (two sub-cases to solve, more people to talk to, more locations etc.).
Terra_Ex
Member
I remember completing it faster than legacy, it was just a chunk of what was once Convergence broken off into a quick separate game because Wadjet needed the cash at the time. I remember completing it in a single session. Depends on how you approach it I suppose but neither are particularly long games.
Spring-Loaded
Member
Do
characters just make cameos in Gemini Rue or is there a way to play as them?
Cowboy Bebop
Just cameos only. You get an achievement for finding all 4 of the characters.
Those are just easter eggs. You get an achievement if you find all of them.
Dice
Pokémon Parentage Conspiracy Theorist
I have these...
+ Entire Sam & Max collection, Gemini Rue, Blackwell Trilogy, Lilly Looking Through, and Beneath a Steel Sky... and if they count, Machinarium, Puzzle Agent 1 & 2, Rocketbirds, Nightmares from the Deep, and Mirror Mysteries 2.
How many have I played? ...none to completion. One ep of Sam & Max, a few chapters of Walking Dead, 15-20 mins of a handful of others.
...and yet I am still tempted to get The Raven on sale. I think I might be addicted to the idea of adventure games...
+ Entire Sam & Max collection, Gemini Rue, Blackwell Trilogy, Lilly Looking Through, and Beneath a Steel Sky... and if they count, Machinarium, Puzzle Agent 1 & 2, Rocketbirds, Nightmares from the Deep, and Mirror Mysteries 2.
How many have I played? ...none to completion. One ep of Sam & Max, a few chapters of Walking Dead, 15-20 mins of a handful of others.
...and yet I am still tempted to get The Raven on sale. I think I might be addicted to the idea of adventure games...
I have these...
+ Entire Sam & Max collection, Gemini Rue, Blackwell Trilogy, Lilly Looking Through, and Beneath a Steel Sky... and if they count, Machinarium, Puzzle Agent 1 & 2, Rocketbirds, Nightmares from the Deep, and Mirror Mysteries 2.
How many have I played? ...none to completion. One ep of Sam & Max, a few chapters of Walking Dead, 15-20 mins of a handful of others.
...and yet I am still tempted to get The Raven on sale. I think I might be addicted to the idea of adventure games...
Play less talking about games and play those games.
Start with Jolly Rover then go to Gemini Rue, Blackwell Trilogy, Beneath a Steel Sky and pick whatever you want afterwards.
When you do, use ScummVM and enable EGA undithering in the game options. You can thank me later
Sierra artists used almost 256 colors for the "EGA" background pictures and the interpreter dithered them to EGA 16 color. That option will effectively stop the dithering from happening, which results in way better looking games.
for example:
(bad screenshots removed, better screenshots posted a few posts after this one)
Sir_Crocodile
Member
First big review (at least that I've seen) up for the full broken sword five experience:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-28-broken-sword-5-the-serpents-curse-review
Seems about right, though I'd have probably gone with 6/10.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-28-broken-sword-5-the-serpents-curse-review
Seems about right, though I'd have probably gone with 6/10.
When you do, use ScummVM and enable EGA undithering in the game options. You can thank me later
Sierra artists used almost 256 colors for the "EGA" background pictures and the interpreter dithered them to EGA 16 color. That option will effectively stop the dithering from happening, which results in way better looking games.
for example:
That does look like it has HQx applied as well, which is... well, opinions and all that aside, a terrible filter to apply to a 2D artwork.
Absolutely. I don't like the option to remove the dithering either but at least that isn't a crime against nature.
Incidentally, I think the Scummvm.org site actually requires people to use those awful filters when submitting screenshots.
Extra Sauce
Member
I agree, that kind of filter muddies the original vision of the artists who created that pixel art.
That's surprising coming from the people who put so much work into making those old classics available.
That's surprising coming from the people who put so much work into making those old classics available.
Yeah, I'm sorry was at work and couldn't create my own screenshots. I don't like HQx either.
Colonel's Bequest looks just awesome.
Oh yeah, straight into my eyeballs.
Extra Sauce
Member
Way to make up for the filtered screenshots and then some!
I enjoyed Legacy when I first played it but I didn't fall in love until I started Unbound. The song in the apartment at the beginning plus the MASSIVELY improved voice acting on the main character* surprised the hell out of me. I didn't expect the change in setting either!
*I played Legacy before they replaced the voice acting on a few of the characters. Rosa sounded completely different.
TripleSun
Member
Wow, Momento Mori 2 coming to Steam on May 13th? That came outta nowhere. Been waiting on that for a while now. Time to replay the first as it's been forever.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/237970/?snr=1_550_552&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
http://store.steampowered.com/app/237970/?snr=1_550_552&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Whispered World Special Edition. Knowing Daedalic Entertainment they will charge full price for this patch.
Also Gods Will be Watching looks cool. Its one of those Adventure games where you make decisions, instead of the straight path they normally take.
It will cost $9.99 and can be pre-order through their site. You get both a Steam key and DRM free copy.
http://www.godswillbewatching.com/#preorder
Also Gods Will be Watching looks cool. Its one of those Adventure games where you make decisions, instead of the straight path they normally take.
It will cost $9.99 and can be pre-order through their site. You get both a Steam key and DRM free copy.
http://www.godswillbewatching.com/#preorder
Sir_Crocodile
Member
Quest for Infamy 's coming out on June 26th 2014.
https://www.kickstarter.com/project...re-game-by-infamous-que/posts/827735?ref=dash
This is really the most packed year for adventure games since the golden age.
A lot of people didn't, he went back to notes with the next game from memory. Epiphany definitely has them.
https://www.kickstarter.com/project...re-game-by-infamous-que/posts/827735?ref=dash
This is really the most packed year for adventure games since the golden age.
A lot of people didn't, he went back to notes with the next game from memory. Epiphany definitely has them.
Tizoc
Member
Just finished Convergence and am about to start the 4th game! One question though
EDIT: Ugh my Laptop is 1080p, but Deception doesn't have any good graphics option that can make the game run at my laptop's resolution at max anti-aliasing =_=
why was Charlie getting those people killed? That wasn't explained by the end of the game...
EDIT: Ugh my Laptop is 1080p, but Deception doesn't have any good graphics option that can make the game run at my laptop's resolution at max anti-aliasing =_=
Sir_Crocodile
Member
Been a long time, but from memory it was
simple greed. I think everyone he killed benefited his company.