Developer: Pulse Entertainment
Publishers: Acclaim Entertainment (Original) ; Got Game Entertainment (Redux)
Release dates - Original: 23-02-1996 (US) & 27-04-1996 (UK); Redux: 09-12-2004 (US) & 08-06-2007 (EU)
Platforms: PC
Genre: Adventure
Mode: Single-player
The history of adventure games is long and very rich. What started off as a silly little genre in the 70s through text-based games, in which you read the scenario and then type out a single word or a sentence to advance the story or action, to an experience that rivals, or may even surpass films and tv series. But it seems that no matter how much time passes, or through how many other evolutions this genre will go through, the 90s is the era where these games truly reached the height of innovation and entertainment. The point and click adventure games thrived in this era. With colourful graphics, delightful or atmospheric music, and with just enough puzzle solving that would glue its players to the big ol’ CRT monitor for hours on end. Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, Monkey Island, Leisure Suit Larry, and probably tons more out there thrived in this era. These games brought so much on the table that not only adventure games, but video games as a whole follow some of their examples to be more entertaining and fun to play. Hell, I went through one tough adventure in an attempt to obtain the greatest sidearm in the history of mankind in Battlefield 1. I had to do Morse code, watch patterns, go to different locations. But it was worth it and I owe it all to this genre of video games. Mainly Tomb Raider, since those games are riddled with adventurous puzzles waiting to be solved with wit, wisdom, calmness and LOADS OF BULLETS!!!
Another topic that is connected with adventure games, although longer in duration than said genre, but just as influential and ever evolving, is of course… THE GOD DAMN COCKROACH!!!
Now hear me out. A normal person would write letters to the world leaders asking to nuke the planet once they see one of these creatures speedrunning in their house. And for a good reason: They’re disgusting, they always live in the trash or unclean parts of the house/building, they go after your food, they’re hard sons of bitches to kill, and they fly (only when they feel like it) and multiply better than rabbits. The real kicker is that this behaviour of theirs has turned them, in my own opinion, into apex survivors. They can survive artillery strikes, their immune system is the best in nature, their milk is REALLY strong, and are good for pulling a prank on your wife when she least expects it. Another pro I can point out is that when they’re wandering around, they end up in the darkest of places. The memories that belong to us, someone else, or some place. They will uncover secret memories, but never reveal them to anyone… Probably because they got annihilated whilst trying to escape the boot, broom or whatever was found to use it as a weapon on them.
You may be wondering, how on earth did I manage to combine two completely different things in today’s topic and somehow end up saying they have a lot in common? If the icon and cover art didn’t give it away, then you are obviously blind to what is in front of you. But do not hate nor fear yourself, for that is who you are. Running away won’t solve your inner problems…
