Most Innovative Graphic Adventures?

Deshrill · 06-04-2005, 05:29 PM

Hey, this is Mathew Tschirgi. I am working on a book with a friend of mine on the history of graphic adventure games from an academic perspective and was wondering what the Adventure Gamers forum members thought on some examples of the most influential or innovative graphic adventure games?

Please give reasons supporting your choice(s). We've already come up with a list of 15 or so games, but wanted to see if you fans could come up with any great "diamonds in the rough."

Thanks!

convexion · 06-04-2005, 05:30 PM

I think the easy answer here is Maniac Mansion. The SCUMM engine pretty much completely changed the way adventure games were played.

Ninth · 06-04-2005, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deshrill

Hey, this is Mathew Tschirgi. I am working on a book with a friend of mine on the history of graphic adventure games from an academic perspective and was wondering what the Adventure Gamers forum members thought on some examples of the most influential or innovative graphic adventure games?

Please give reasons supporting your choice(s). We've already come up with a list of 15 or so games, but wanted to see if you fans could come up with any great "diamonds in the rough."

Thanks!

Omikron (The Nomad Soul) is the only adventure-action game I know (as opposed to action-adventure, if yu know what I mean), and as such is quite innovative.
Then there are the obvious choices : Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle, Gabriel Knight, the 7th Guest, Myst, Syberia.

insane_cobra · 06-04-2005, 05:35 PM

Check out this thread for starters.

DustCropper · 06-04-2005, 05:50 PM

I thought that the Last Express was quite innovative. As far as I know it's the only true real-time adventure game. It's probably not very influential, however, as it sold poorly and nobody knows about it.

Ninth · 06-04-2005, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DustCropper

I thought that the Last Express was quite innovative. As far as I know it's the only true real-time adventure game. It's probably not very influential, however, as it sold poorly and nobody knows about it.

Yes, that too.
Also, the Neverhood, albeit as unpopular as The Last Express, was very innovative.
As far as influential goes, Broken Sword might be a solid challenger.

Udvarnoky · 06-04-2005, 07:18 PM

I'd have to say Maniac Mansion here as well. However outdated it may seem now, it made what is probably still the most important step in interactive storytelling, and shifted the challenge of adventures games soley to the game's puzzles rather than a mixture between solving the puzzles and outwitting the game developer. It's also a good story game regardless of the revolutionary aspect. You could also argue that the new point 'n click engine made an impact outside the genre.

Bastich · 06-04-2005, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DustCropper

I thought that the Last Express was quite innovative. As far as I know it's the only true real-time adventure game. It's probably not very influential, however, as it sold poorly and nobody knows about it.

There were real-time text adventures in the 80's.

Ninth · 06-04-2005, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bastich

There were real-time text adventures in the 80's.

But then they were hardly innovative graphic adventures, now weren't they?

Bastich · 06-04-2005, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninth

But then they were hardly innovative graphic adventures, now weren't they?

I know the thread is about graphical adventures, however Dustcropper didn't specify, he simply said:

"As far as I know it's the only true real-time adventure game".

People don't give text adventures enough credit, so I'm pointing it out regardless.

Ninth · 06-04-2005, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bastich

I know the thread is about graphical adventures, however Dustcropper didn't specify, he simply said:

"As far as I know it's the only true real-time adventure game".

People don't give text adventures enough credit, so I'm pointing it out regardless.

I'm willing to give text adventure lots of credits, but alas, I can't bring myself to play them...
The furthest I can go in this direction is by playing the older Legend games (Gateway, Eric the unready, etc...)

Agustin · 06-04-2005, 08:18 PM

And even if you disregard text-adventures, Maupiti Island actually predates The Last Express in the real-time deparment by many years. I'd say it was quite innovative in the way you could handle characters, even superior to text-adventures in terms of interaction. Such a vastly underrated game...

Bastich · 06-04-2005, 08:24 PM

Although the game wasn't fully real-time, there was also Lure of the Temptress. The characters all had real-time agendas to follow.

Ninth · 06-04-2005, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bastich

Although the game wasn't fully real-time, there was also Lure of the Temptress. The characters all had real-time agendas to follow.

I wouldn't call it real time, though, because in this case there weren't any notion of time. Just of endless movement.

06-04-2005, 08:33 PM

King's Quest: Quest for the Crown:
The game that introduced graphics. I don't know where gaming would be without this game.

King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rossella:
A game that took PC gaming to the next level with it's innovative and dazzeling graphics and music. one of the first games to use mouse control.

King's Quest V: Absence Make the Heart go Yonder!:
One of the first games to support VGA graphics. I believe this was also the first game that supported voice work in gaming, too. It was sub par, but it paved the way for new technology

King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow:
Launched CD gaming into the mainstream. Unbelievable and revolutionary graphics, music, and voice work done by proffessional actors. Arguably the most groundbreaking game ever created.

Maniac Mansion:
The first game to use the now famous SCUMM interface. The game mastered the point and click scheme and eliminated the text parser for the sake of convience.

Maniac Mansion 2: Day of the Tentacle:
I believe this was the first game to use cartoon animation.

Loom:
featured the most original gameplay I've ever had the pleasure to play and some of the most original music.

The Secret of Monkey Island:
Not only is this, in my opinion, the greatest adventure of all-time, but it's also one of the most inovative. This was the first game to simplify the SCUMM system to perfection and enabled you, the player, to choose the dialog when talking to a character.

Lure of the Temptress:
The game that first used the underrated "Virtual Theater" system. This enabled the game world to be very life-like. NPCs would actually have minds of their own and go about their business instead of standing there. A shame that this system is not used.

The 7th Guest:
The first game to be exclusivly on CD. For 1992, the use of 3D graphics and groundbreaking FMV, this game was mind-blowing.

Bastich · 06-04-2005, 08:37 PM

Mystery House (1980) predates King's Quest for graphics in an adventure game, and I'm not even sure that is the first.

06-04-2005, 08:45 PM

Yes. It's first. But I don't really consider Mystery House a "graphic" adventure.

DustCropper · 06-04-2005, 09:12 PM

Oops! Well I did say "as far as I know."

Come to think of it, wasn't Titanic real-time as well?

I still think that the Last Express is worth mentioning though.

I should probably shut up before I make another mistake.

Gabe · 06-04-2005, 11:29 PM

Imo most innovative adventure of all times was Grim Fandango,using a built-in interface and inventory was absolutely marveolus

sideburnmania · 06-05-2005, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bastich

I know the thread is about graphical adventures, however Dustcropper didn't specify, he simply said:

"As far as I know it's the only true real-time adventure game".

People don't give text adventures enough credit, so I'm pointing it out regardless.

What are some of your favourite text adventures? I have played a few and don't mind them, some are definitely overrated.

06-04-2005, 05:29 PM	#1
Deshrill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 260	Most Innovative Graphic Adventures? Hey, this is Mathew Tschirgi. I am working on a book with a friend of mine on the history of graphic adventure games from an academic perspective and was wondering what the Adventure Gamers forum members thought on some examples of the most influential or innovative graphic adventure games? Please give reasons supporting your choice(s). We've already come up with a list of 15 or so games, but wanted to see if you fans could come up with any great "diamonds in the rough." Thanks! Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "How many good books suffer neglect through the inefficiency of their beginnings!" --Edgar Alan Poe

06-04-2005, 05:30 PM	#2
convexion Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 16	I think the easy answer here is Maniac Mansion. The SCUMM engine pretty much completely changed the way adventure games were played. Share Share this post on Twitter

06-04-2005, 05:35 PM	#4
insane_cobra gin soaked boy Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Virovitica, Croatia Posts: 4,093	Check out this thread for starters. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ What you piss in is yours for life.

06-04-2005, 05:50 PM	#5
DustCropper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,117	I thought that the Last Express was quite innovative. As far as I know it's the only true real-time adventure game. It's probably not very influential, however, as it sold poorly and nobody knows about it. Share Share this post on Twitter

06-04-2005, 07:18 PM	#7
Udvarnoky Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 632	I'd have to say Maniac Mansion here as well. However outdated it may seem now, it made what is probably still the most important step in interactive storytelling, and shifted the challenge of adventures games soley to the game's puzzles rather than a mixture between solving the puzzles and outwitting the game developer. It's also a good story game regardless of the revolutionary aspect. You could also argue that the new point 'n click engine made an impact outside the genre. Share Share this post on Twitter

06-04-2005, 08:18 PM	#12
Agustin Iä! Iä! Cthulhu fhtagn! Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 225	And even if you disregard text-adventures, Maupiti Island actually predates The Last Express in the real-time deparment by many years. I'd say it was quite innovative in the way you could handle characters, even superior to text-adventures in terms of interaction. Such a vastly underrated game... Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Slightly Deranged - Cult Cinema And Games! www.slightly-deranged.com

06-04-2005, 08:24 PM	#13
Bastich Iconoclast Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,169	Although the game wasn't fully real-time, there was also Lure of the Temptress. The characters all had real-time agendas to follow. Share Share this post on Twitter

06-04-2005, 08:33 PM	#15
SamNMax Guest Posts: n/a	King's Quest: Quest for the Crown: The game that introduced graphics. I don't know where gaming would be without this game. King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rossella: A game that took PC gaming to the next level with it's innovative and dazzeling graphics and music. one of the first games to use mouse control. King's Quest V: Absence Make the Heart go Yonder!: One of the first games to support VGA graphics. I believe this was also the first game that supported voice work in gaming, too. It was sub par, but it paved the way for new technology King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow: Launched CD gaming into the mainstream. Unbelievable and revolutionary graphics, music, and voice work done by proffessional actors. Arguably the most groundbreaking game ever created. Maniac Mansion: The first game to use the now famous SCUMM interface. The game mastered the point and click scheme and eliminated the text parser for the sake of convience. Maniac Mansion 2: Day of the Tentacle: I believe this was the first game to use cartoon animation. Loom: featured the most original gameplay I've ever had the pleasure to play and some of the most original music. The Secret of Monkey Island: Not only is this, in my opinion, the greatest adventure of all-time, but it's also one of the most inovative. This was the first game to simplify the SCUMM system to perfection and enabled you, the player, to choose the dialog when talking to a character. Lure of the Temptress: The game that first used the underrated "Virtual Theater" system. This enabled the game world to be very life-like. NPCs would actually have minds of their own and go about their business instead of standing there. A shame that this system is not used. The 7th Guest: The first game to be exclusivly on CD. For 1992, the use of 3D graphics and groundbreaking FMV, this game was mind-blowing. Share Share this post on Twitter

06-04-2005, 08:37 PM	#16
Bastich Iconoclast Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,169	Mystery House (1980) predates King's Quest for graphics in an adventure game, and I'm not even sure that is the first. Share Share this post on Twitter

06-04-2005, 08:45 PM	#17
SamNMax Guest Posts: n/a	Yes. It's first. But I don't really consider Mystery House a "graphic" adventure. Share Share this post on Twitter

06-04-2005, 09:12 PM	#18
DustCropper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,117	Oops! Well I did say "as far as I know." Come to think of it, wasn't Titanic real-time as well? I still think that the Last Express is worth mentioning though. I should probably shut up before I make another mistake. Share Share this post on Twitter

06-04-2005, 11:29 PM	#19
Gabe Schättenjager Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 815	Imo most innovative adventure of all times was Grim Fandango,using a built-in interface and inventory was absolutely marveolus Attached Images Share Share this post on Twitter Last edited by Gabe; 06-04-2005 at 11:34 PM.

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