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Return of the point-and-click adventure game – Wish-list for the future

After lending you my thoughts over the past few days on the return of the point-and-click adventure genre via Sam & Max, Monkey Island™, and Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, I now offer my hopes for the future…

Future Point-and-Click Adventure Release Wish-List

If I had my say in what point-and-click adventure games to re-release next, my top choice would easily be Day of the Tentacle. Screenshots:

This sequel to Maniac Mansion (which would also make for a fantastic remake) epitomizes everything that is great about the point-and-click adventure game genre. The artistic style is completely off the wall and is just begging for a talented artist to come and and redraw it all in HD.

Day of the Tentacle’s original voice acting is superb and would not need to be touched. Hopefully the original recording masters are still lying around a hard drive somwhere.

I still have my original Day of the Tentacle game discs and I’m regularly tempted to pop them in and play through the whole story again. However, I’ll hold off with the hope of a remake emerging some day.

In a close second place, I’d love to see Telltale Games take on Grim Fandango and bring Manny Calavera back to life… er, death. Screenshot:

This was LucasArts’ entry into the world of 3-D adventures and it closely resembles what Telltale Games is doing now with Sam & Max and Monkey Island™. It seems like it would be a no-brainer for Telltale to pick up where LucasArts left off and continue this unique story.

But until these come to a console near you, those of you who want to enjoy these classic point-and-click adventure games should check out ScummVM. It’s an emulator that allows you to play any of these old LucasArts games that use the “SCUMM” engine. Of course, you have to have a copy of the game too.

That wraps up my series of posts about point-and-click adventure games. Weigh in with your thoughts on this genre by commenting!

  1. Chris D. says:

    All of the LucasArts adventure games were great but I’d say “Sam & Max: Hit the Road” is still my all-time favorite. “The Dig” is also a good one if you like something more “serious” (the game has a bit of a James Cameron “Abyss” feel to it).

    I remember ordering the “LucasArts Adventure Pack” back in ’96 and not really knowing what I was in for (mostly I wanted “Rebel Assault”). That collection included “Sam & Max”, “Tentacle” and “Fate of Atlantis.” Needless to say I was happy with that purchase!

  2. Mike says:

    You should do some more point and click adventure game reviews!
    Maybe going on to Flight of the Amazon Queen, Loom, and other non-scumm based games like Broken Sword and The Longest Journey. This genre needs and is starting to get its revival!

    Also, this may be a better question for Inside the Magic, but do you know anything about Disney ever making another Walt Disney World Explorer? Do you know any other Disney park based games other than Walt Disney World Magical racing tour?

  3. Ricky says:

    I’ve never played any of those games – but I may have to! Once I finish the first episode of Tales of Monkey Island, I’ll have nothing new left. :)