Alright here's the draft I wrote for a thread I want to make
It's a thread about how this year was an interesting year for PnC and Adventure style games. Feel free to contribute or provide impressions...because as you'll see I left a few entries blank mainly as I either did not play that game yet or don't own it ^^;
I really would appreciate this becoming a group effort too if possible :3
2015 has been an interesting year for the genre; I can count maybe a dozen well done games released within this year alone, in fact if I had my way, my GotY list would mostly contain PnC/Adventure-style games.
This even shows when
Sony showcase PnC games during their events such as PSX, and with various PnC-style games being available on consoles.
With the Steam Winter Seal going on, now is as good time as any to get back into one of the main cornerstones of PC gaming.
Listed below are some titles that are representative of not only PnC-style games making a comeback but why the genre is so appreciated and offer great hours of entertainment.
Technobabylon
Technobabylon is a PnC game in the vein of Monkey Island, only its set in a cyberpunk dystopian future ala Blade Runner. Published by Wadjet Eye it features their trademark pixel art and animations, with great voice acting, impressive pixel art design and a simple and straightforward gameplay.
It may not bring anything new to the genre but it goes to show that even the traditional style can still be entertaining when adapt any setting to offer the player a riveting experience.
Life is Strange
Notice how Ive written PnC and Adventure-
style in my previous sentences; Life is Strange is one game I would describe as such.
If it were made back in the 90s era it wouldve had its watercolor theme and work well as a PnC game.
Life is Strange was a major hit with console and PC owners alike thanks to its basic and simple gameplay (consisting of light puzzle elements), but more for its immersive characters, story and setting. As well as its hella hip dialog, shaka brah!
It is those elements that relate it to PnC games IMHO, even if it doesnt have cat-hair ripping puzzles.
Grim Fandango
One of the most well revered PnC games during the last years of their popularity, GF has been a game that hasnt been available on digital mediums such as Steam or GOG until it was announced for release way back in 2014 to not only PCs but Sony systems as well.
The fact that such a classic would get revealed during a
console focused event was mindblowing and raised hope of more LucasArts classics being available again. Which came true with Day of the Tentacle and Full Throttle getting re-release slated for 2016.
Broken Age
I wasnt a backer of this game, and it seems to have gotten WAY too much flack, but after beating it earlier this year, I found myself liking it a lot. While I do admit getting stumped at the knot puzzle, I gotta confess; if a puzzle is getting in the way of my enjoyment of a PnC game, Ill just look up its solution.
This doesnt mean I do this for ALL games or throughout any PnC games playthrough, but at the end of the day why do we play Video games? Because theyre fun and they entertain us, and in the case of PnC games why let frustration get in the way.
and I dont know about some of you but I was pleasantly entertained by Broken Age all things considered and said and done. I liked its art style (limited however it may be), I liked the humor, characters and dialog.
It may not do anything new for the genre as well, but its still a PnC game Id go back to after months to re-experience it.
Kings Quest 2015
This was the last thing one would expect Activision to greenlight, featuring a host of noteworthy actors voicing a variety of characters, Kings Quest makes a comeback in 2015 with a strong start.
The puzzles arent that complex, but it manages to stand out by its colorful graphics, simple humor and wacky characters (WHISPER CAN DO IT!).
Although only 2 episodes released so far, the future looks promising for the entire package to offer a great experience set in a colorful fantasy setting.
Armikrog
Armikrog is the latest game from Doug TenNapel who worked on The Nevrhood and Earthworm Jim.
Sadly Armikrog released with a variety of issues and bugs that are still being ironed out, I confess that even I got hit by one; a bug caused my characters to be frozen in a screen and the one save data I have is from an a hour before that section! But that is for another thread.
If one were to look at Armikrog without any of its bugs, theyll find a beautifully handcrafted world and setting with some nice puzzles.
Other than that I gotta say that the games intro is
pretty slick.
Aviary Attorney
Let me start off by saying that Aviary Attorney is a rather short game; but it is still satisfying and entertaining to play through.
Aviary Attorney is a successfully funded Kickstarter, with the premise being an Ace Attorney-like game set in 1848 France; years after the July Revolution. Only the characters are animals drawn in the style of J. J. Grandville.
One of the positive elements of the game is that the writing and dialog is well done, containing various jokes and shoutouts (step-ladder!), while at the same time having a riveting story thatll keep the player wondering whatll happen next.
There is also an overarching story that begins with the first chapter and continues onto the final chapter of the game.
Being a newly released game it may be disadvantaged by being out by the Winter Steam Seal, but do consider giving it a chance and it may end up be well worth the price of admission especially when there are multiple endings and having some of the best characterizations a video game can have.
Do it for Bird-Jesus!
Contradiction
FMV games make a fantastic comeback this year with 2 surprise hits. The first of these is Contradiction, an FMV game where you play Detective Inspector Jenks who is investigating a murder at a rural British town.
Contradiction managed to win people over primarily thanks to actor as Jenks and his many facial reactions that them not achieving worldwide meme status is a damn mystery.
The overall gameplay is simple and straightforward but the performance of the characters, story and Jenks make this game an entertaining experience that cannot be missed.
Her Story
Tales from the Borderlands
Considered among the top 3 Telltale games have released in the past 5 years, since they started their current traditional style of Adventure games, TfB has won over a lot positive reception since its conclusion. It can even be enjoyed whether youve played a BLands game or not (the latter applies to me).
While the story does have a few plot holes, the overall journey, humor and characters are among the best that Telltale has produced.
The Silent Age
Read Only Memories
Goosebumps the game
Dropsy
This isnt to say that prior years havent had their share of great games, but this year makes it worth reflecting on how PnCs have become now. Some of the notable releases or series of the past year include
Blackwell Series
Presented as a 2D pixel art PnC game, the Blackwell series follows Rosa Blackwell and Joey Mallone as they help ghosts transition to the afterlife. Despite the premise sounding simple, the overall journey, story and characters are great and make replaying the games still as entertaining the first time.
Book of Unwritten Tales
Tesla Effect: Tex Murphy
Frogwares Sherlock Holmes series
Broken Sword 5
The Wolf Among us
In addition, while Visual Novels arent exactly seen as PnC Adventure games, they can be seen as a form of sister series to it.
For the past 2 years or so, a variety of Japanese Visual novels released on PC and on Sony systems, to name a few-
Clannad
Narcissu
Steins;Gate
Higurashi: When they cry
Amneisa: Memories
Its so refreshing seeing such Japanese VNs making their mark outside of Japan when for years they would be difficult to find digitally, or didnt have official translations at all.
The future is looking bright too, with some notable upcoming releases such as
Thimbleweed Park by Ron Gilbert of Monkey Island fame, and Gary Winnick
Day of the Tentacle Remastered
Full Throttle Remastered
The Pillars of the Earth, slated for 2017 release. Yes THAT Pillars of the Earth
Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders
Sherlock Holmes: The Devils Daughter
In conclusion if you have any interest at all in PnC-style Adventure games or would like to get into the genre, now is as a good time as any. Whether it be via Steam, PS4, PSVita or TouchPads or TouchPhones, PnC games be enjoyed by people of all ages and entertain everyone for years to come.
This one suited me much more then other kickstarter adventures, like Broken Sword 5 and Dreamfall Chapters.
