Underground Scenes of the Week - 21 May 2007

After a brisk nap · 05-21-2007, 12:35 AM

To be perfectly honest, I know pretty much nothing about this game. I picked it out of a Top 10 list of Underground games. I could say that it's because I don't want the scenes to be completely skewed towards games that Squinky or I have played, but really it's because I'm traveling and don't have time to think of something.

So, has anyone played it?

Erwin_Br · 05-21-2007, 10:33 AM

I've seen that screenshot before... I might've played it a long time ago, I'm not sure.

--Erwin

Shany · 05-22-2007, 08:17 AM

I played it halfway through a while ago.
I remeber most of the humor was pretty dark, since the game is about the world after a nuclear bomb or something, there's a lot of bad taste.

Squinky · 05-23-2007, 09:23 AM

This game is quite the darling in the Underground scene, though at times I'm not quite sure why. I myself found it charming, but not really that exceptional.

Then again, I haven't played the sequel, nor have I played the deluxe version.

Erwin_Br · 05-23-2007, 10:45 AM

I suppose it's because of its production values. It's a short game, not overly original and groundbreaking, but it's polished. Polished games are quite a rarity in professional games, let alone in the "underground scene". Not only the graphics and animation, but also the dialogue writing and music. And good dialogue is, again, a rarity.

It could've easily been a LucasArts title from 1994. (If it actually was a game, and not a glorified demo, that is)

--Erwin

SSH · 05-24-2007, 01:49 AM

How many other games have rennet-based puzzles?

After a brisk nap · 05-25-2007, 03:58 AM

I'm not sure the image will work, otherwise you'll have to click the link. Mike Rubin, the developer, contacted me about this game. It's still not definitely decided whether it will be an Underground or indie title, but it's based on the free IF game (text-adventure) Vespers, so I guess that qualifies.

It seems like the IF and the avdenture game communities don't have much contact, which I suspect is a shame. Cross-overs like this might possibly bring them closer together.

Squinky · 05-25-2007, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by After a brisk nap

It seems like the IF and the avdenture game communities don't have much contact, which I suspect is a shame. Cross-overs like this might possibly bring them closer together.

I agree. While I haven't played all that many IF games (I have a bit of trouble with the parser interface, as well as the spatial reasoning required to map out locations), I'm really interested in some of their innovations, such as puzzleless gameplay.

AFGNCAAP · 05-26-2007, 04:53 AM

I haven't played Vespers, despite its acclaim (I have played almost no IFs from the last couple of years, which is silly for someone who likes them a lot), but this remake surely looks nice. Will it be an "illustrated text adventure" (as the parser boxes in the lower part of the screenshot imply), or will the graphical interface be also implemented?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squinky

(I have a bit of trouble with the parser interface, as well as the spatial reasoning required to map out locations)

I assume you tried some one-room games, then, in which the latter issue should not be a problem?

BerserkerTails · 05-26-2007, 10:48 AM

Oooh, I really enjoyed Vespers, despite a few silly puzzles. Would love to see a 3D remake of it.

Rubes · 05-26-2007, 09:08 PM

Thanks for putting that up, Brisk. Much appreciated.

It's an FPS-style 3D game that also uses text input and output. It does allow a certain degree of point-and-click as well.

05-21-2007, 12:35 AM	#1
After a brisk nap Elegantly copy+pasted Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,773	Underground Scenes of the Week - 21 May 2007 To be perfectly honest, I know pretty much nothing about this game. I picked it out of a Top 10 list of Underground games. I could say that it's because I don't want the scenes to be completely skewed towards games that Squinky or I have played, but really it's because I'm traveling and don't have time to think of something. So, has anyone played it? Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Please excuse me. I've got to see a man about a dog.

05-21-2007, 10:33 AM	#2
Erwin_Br Under pressure. Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Apeldoorn, The Netherlands Posts: 3,773	I've seen that screenshot before... I might've played it a long time ago, I'm not sure. --Erwin Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ > Learn more about my forthcoming point & click adventure: Bad Timing! > Or... Visit Adventure Developers: Everything about developing adventure games.

05-22-2007, 08:17 AM	#3
Shany I changed my title Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 653	I played it halfway through a while ago. I remeber most of the humor was pretty dark, since the game is about the world after a nuclear bomb or something, there's a lot of bad taste. Share Share this post on Twitter

05-23-2007, 09:23 AM	#4
Squinky Unreliable Narrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Le Canada Posts: 9,873	This game is quite the darling in the Underground scene, though at times I'm not quite sure why. I myself found it charming, but not really that exceptional. Then again, I haven't played the sequel, nor have I played the deluxe version. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Squinky is always right, but only for certain values of "always" and "right".

05-23-2007, 10:45 AM	#5
Erwin_Br Under pressure. Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Apeldoorn, The Netherlands Posts: 3,773	I suppose it's because of its production values. It's a short game, not overly original and groundbreaking, but it's polished. Polished games are quite a rarity in professional games, let alone in the "underground scene". Not only the graphics and animation, but also the dialogue writing and music. And good dialogue is, again, a rarity. It could've easily been a LucasArts title from 1994. (If it actually was a game, and not a glorified demo, that is) --Erwin Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ > Learn more about my forthcoming point & click adventure: Bad Timing! > Or... Visit Adventure Developers: Everything about developing adventure games.

05-24-2007, 01:49 AM	#6
SSH Super Scottish Hero Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edinburgh, UK Posts: 2,872	How many other games have rennet-based puzzles? Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ SSH's AGS blog "SSH is the best we have" - Pablo Bullian, IP Security expert

05-25-2007, 03:58 AM	#7
After a brisk nap Elegantly copy+pasted Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,773	I'm not sure the image will work, otherwise you'll have to click the link. Mike Rubin, the developer, contacted me about this game. It's still not definitely decided whether it will be an Underground or indie title, but it's based on the free IF game (text-adventure) Vespers, so I guess that qualifies. It seems like the IF and the avdenture game communities don't have much contact, which I suspect is a shame. Cross-overs like this might possibly bring them closer together. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Please excuse me. I've got to see a man about a dog.

05-26-2007, 10:48 AM	#10
BerserkerTails Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 359	Oooh, I really enjoyed Vespers, despite a few silly puzzles. Would love to see a 3D remake of it. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Play Two of a Kind.

05-26-2007, 09:08 PM	#11
Rubes Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5	Thanks for putting that up, Brisk. Much appreciated. It's an FPS-style 3D game that also uses text input and output. It does allow a certain degree of point-and-click as well. Share Share this post on Twitter

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