The Gamer's Quarter

Ketch · . Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 420

Not really news to anyone, but I think that Resident Evil (I've been playing the GC remake) is to a large extent an update on some of the ideas behind games such as Zork. In the way that you can push pull etc certain items wall tapestries, movable shelves etc, and examine items in greater detail. If it weren't for the zombies and monsters, it would be a pure adventure- not one that particularly taxes the mind but still an"graphic/point and click" adventure.

Ketch · . Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 420

The other thing that I like about it is the way that it uses audio/visual clues to hint about upcoming traps. Ie. The bit when you pick up the shotgun has the stand rise up to hint that something has changed. It doesn't just spring the trap on you.

I'd like to see a fully 3d adventure(-action game) like this where you control the interaction with a "hand" like in Black & White, so you can grab rugs from the floor and pull them aside to find the hidden trapdoor, or put the eye-gem into the statue.

ApM · Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:07 am Post subject:

You mean like... Myst?

Also: I would be happy if I never saw another adventure game where you had to put an eye-gem into a statue again.

dessgeega · Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:31 am Post subject:

yeah. adventure games are probably best when the actions you take actually make sense in the game world. Ketch, you should play some riven probably.
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Lockeownzj00 · . Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 214

Elements of the adventure games are present in many genres, but I agree--I do very much enjoy these derivative meshes (not that I'm the biggest fan of RE, either, mind you--I've played Sweet Home and RE4, really, that's it. a little of RE1) of the genres of yore.

I mean, I don't really like games like Zork (that is to say, IF games). So sue me. I'm not so foolish as to deny their historical merit and their potential fun. Occasionally, I can go for "A Mind Forever Voyaging" or something. But it's simply my personal tastes + the way I was brought up to expect images with my adventure games. I love to read, but I simply feel more engaged in the experience when I can feel like I'm "in" the world.

But, yeah. RE may trick you with its trite puzzles and its frantic action (trying to position yourself in the god damned right direction), but at its heart its an adventure game.

TheRumblefish · . Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 258 Location: Florida

Lackey · . Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 1107 Location: Canada

Ketch · . Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 420

(What I'd really like to see though would be a combination of the interaction in the puzzles in Resident Evil, with the "puzzles that make sense in context" of Half-Life 1/2, so that instead of having a linear 3d shooter you would have a game in an immersive 3d world filled with excitement, where you would have to solve puzzles and interact with the scenery and characters to progress !)

OtakupunkX · . Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 730

When I saw this thread in the thread list I sort of half-smiled.

This is basically what I've been trying to tell my friends for years.

Ketch · . Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 420

Proof that it is an adventure game (at heart) comes in the Advice for when you get stuck: Examine everything, and Save often. Which are the two main rules of playing adventure games.

Likewise, the arbitrarily limited inventory can be seen in games like Colossal Cave Adventure. Actually, I was surprised not to be eaten by a grue in dark areas of Resident Evil (do Hunters count). Anyway, it proves that adventure games can be updated, if Grim Fandango, Day of the Tentacle, Myst, SOS Final Escape / Disaster Report,Zelda, Metal Gear Solid and other such games hadn't already? It is just a question of having talented designers able to explore this route of graphical adventures.

friedchicken · . Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 496 Location: Port Land, OR

ApM · Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:04 am Post subject:

Something like this?
ADVENT>Mystery House>King's Quest>Maniac Mansion>King's Quest V>Alone In The Dark>Resident Evil

Alone in the Dark is the important step, of course. I sure love those French game designers. Especially Frederick Raynal.

TheRumblefish · . Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 258 Location: Florida

simplicio · . Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1091

Lockeownzj00 · . Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 214

Anyone played Uru? I played for about an hour, then my pizza came and I forgot about it^.

Although I've actually heard some interesting things about it.

dessgeega · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:37 pm Post subject:

uru is pretty great. it's a lot more videogamey than riven, though it still has that layer of detail that lets you suspend your disbelief. the last expansion, path of the shell, is a bit more coherent than the initial game. and there's less jumping.
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Lockeownzj00 · . Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 214

How's the multiplayer work, exactly? Never quite understood that.