[Henke]

A redefinition of adventuregames. Yes it's that good.

[kuze]

Originally Posted by Henke

A redefinition of adventuregames. Yes it's that good.

Care to elaborate? I haven't got a clue what you're talking about.

[Melanie68]

Originally Posted by kuze

Care to elaborate? I haven't got a clue what you're talking about.

News item - it's a new game from DoubleFine.

[Diduz]

Originally Posted by Henke

A redefinition of adventuregames. Yes it's that good.

Totally agree so far.
I had been waiting for this game, but I was just expecting a funny and stylish puzzle-game. I've a feeling I just stumbled in an unforgettable adventuring experience.
I have still to beat the whole thing, so I may change my mind until the end.
Hope not.

[Henke]

Originally Posted by Diduz

I have still to beat the whole thing, so I may change my mind until the end.
Hope not.

The game gets better and better all the way to the epic final, so I'm pretty sure you won't.

[Jackal]

Based on playing for about an hour, I wholeheartedly agree on the quality issue, but please, for the love of all that is holy, let's NOT go down the "redefinition" path. It doesn't redefine anything. It's just a very clever and wonderfully-made example of how diverse the genre can be, built entirely around a gimmick that can't and shouldn't be repeated (overall, I mean, not referring to sequels).

[Henke]

He he he, granted. All games should be unique and redefine the players preconceived notions. Obviously that won't be possible if they copy each other to 100%.

[Origami]

The game gets better and better all the way to the epic final, so I'm pretty sure you won't.

This sentence had me sold(even though I already planned on getting it...only sometime later).
I love games that build up and go out with a bang instead of falling flat in the end. A virtue a lot of games seem having trouble with lately.

[Diduz]

Originally Posted by Jackal

It's just a very clever and wonderfully-made example of how diverse the genre can be, built entirely around a gimmick that can't and shouldn't be repeated (overall, I mean, not referring to sequels).

If you're talking about the "stacking dolls" game mechanics, you're perfectly right.
But I wasn't thinking just of those mechanics: I see the "redefinition" in the way the game organizes and presents the challenges.
The multiple-solutions system is a perfect way to let the player decide the game's length and difficulty. You can actually breeze through it or inhabit each room at your pleasure.
Moreover, you can do this free-roaming, doing stupid & funny things if you like! Frogware tried that with 80 Days, but didn't succeed. Stacking nails it.
It's been ages since I experienced such sense of freedom in an adventure game... without getting bored.

[Panthera]

I've played the first few missions, and while I really like the game and enjoy running around finding unique dolls and different solutions, it is not a model I would like more adventure games to adopt.
For me, the openness and multiple-solutions construction is crashing with my immersion in the story.
Competing a puzzle, seeing the person run off and then being transported to the beginning of the puzzle with the chance of doing it again, while the person is still gone, totally throws me out of the story.
This game is a platform-game with puzzles, and lots of fun things to do and collect, but the story seems to be butting heads with the openness, constantly urging urgency, and making me feel bad for the other lost siblings that are slaving away, waiting for me to save them, while I'm running around having fun.

I find the difference between an adventure game and a puzzle game to be the importance of and focus on story, which is why, I do not see this game as an adventure game, instead it follows the tradition of console games which largely focus more on gameplay than an immersive story (besides Heavy Rain of course), and does not have a model I would want other ags to emulate.

And, because I've always preferred story-driven ags, I also really miss proper conversations and a focus on dialogue, besides the random snippets the dolls have, that usually just gives you the solution to their puzzle.

[Henke]

Tip: Talk multiple times with characters and you will get more information about their stories. Collect an entire series of unique dolls and you will be presented with their story.

[noknowncure]

The stacking mechanic is basically 'Yoshi' for Adventure Games, surely. It's not a new idea, but it's been presented in a unique way.

Instead of riding a character with different abilities, we're inside a character with different abilities.

It's a great game!

[Origami]

I played the demo and was pleasantly surprised. The game looked gorgeous and oozes with style and artistic design.

The only minor complaint I have(which will probably disappear when I get familiar with the game) is the game felt a bit overwhelming in the beginning. You got to access a huge area real soon filled with all kinds of 'dolls'. I like a little build-up to get familiar with the game. But not a big problem though since after I played a little I began to see patterns and that a lot of dolls reocurred

[zane]

i wish double fine would make more pc games
I'll have to store this one in the back of my head and play it someday
Also psychonauts 2 would be fantastic...

[Balderduck]

I'm playing this at the moment, and although I'm not sure that it "redefines" the genre, I'm sure happy to see new and interesting game mechanics! I also appreciate the openness of the puzzles. It's something that I always thought was missing in adventure games. Multiple solutions.

All in all a great game, and if you want to find all the solutions it's actually challenging, but you can also breeze through it if you want a more casual experience

Too bad it's not on PC

[Henke]

Anybody played The Lost Hobo King? Extremely short but really fun.

[Oscar]

Where do I get this game? I've been looking for it everywhere...

[Henke]

It's available on XBLA and PSN.

[Oscar]

And for PC?

[Henke]

It's not available for PC, it might be in the future but I wouldn't hold my breath (instead I would buy an XBOX).