Publisher: Infocom
Developer: Infocom
Year: 1982
Platform: Everything
An ambitious final entry into the original Zork trilogy that is a pleasure to read but a veritable nightmare to play, Zork III’s value now is mostly for posterity.
Category Archives: PC Games
Dreamfall Chapters
Publisher: Red Thread Games
Developer: Red Thread Games
Year: 2014, though released episodically through 2016
Platform: PS4, XBox One, Mac, Linux
After waiting six years for the second game in the series, fans of the epic The Longest Journey series waited eight years (and through a massive Kickstarter campaign) to play the final entry into the saga. The first is one of my favorite games ever and I feel similarly about Dreamfall, though in my review I compared it to The Empire Strikes Back: exciting and dark, but ending abruptly with many unanswered loose threads. And I must say Ragnar Tornquist did an excellent job tying up those threads; while Dreamfall Chapters is not always satisfying on a game level, the story itself resonates so broadly that it retroactively makes the first two games more satisfying as well.
Machinarium
Publisher: Amanita Design
Developer: Amanita Design
Year: 2009
Platform: PC, Mac, Android, Fire, iPad, PS3
If there was a Miss Congeniality award for adventure games, Machinarium would lap the field. Controlling a runt-of-the-litter robot whose goal is to save himself, his robot town, and his robot girl, charm endlessly abounds. Normally a game with no text or dialogue would turn me off completely, but with the exceptional use of picture thought bubbles and flashbacks, a thorough story is doled out to the player without the need for any words.
Her Story
Publisher: Self-published
Developer: Sam Barlow
Year: 2015
Platform: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Regrettably as the older I’ve become, the less effort I’ve found myself willing to put into playing computer games. I prefer to blame the time constrictions of maturation: fatherhood, home ownership, Netflixing with my better half. Ultimately, however, the greatest factor is my waning patience with gratification. This extends to all forms of media; if I have to wait longer than five minutes for stimulation, my interest wanders. Thus, the piled up bin of pilot episodes (sorry Nurse Jackie), second chapters (you too The Girl Who Played with Fire), and barely played computer games (maybe later Quest for Glory 2) awaiting continuation but more likely relegated to eternally gathering dust. Despite this I’m also not looking for cheap and unsatisfying thrills (I’m looking at you Angry Birds). Her Story may be my panacea, motivating me not only to play through its story, but also to forge on and try other games that have been sitting on my virtual shelf for far too long.
Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz
Publisher: Infocom
Developer: Infocom
Year: 1981
Platform: Everything
The second installment in this landmark text series is a definite improvement over the original, though still has some maddening features that would never be tolerated today.
Wishbringer
Publisher: Infocom
Developer: Infocom
Year: 1985
Platform: Everything
Touted as an adventure game for beginners by Infocom, and Wishbringer certainly fits the bill. I played this text adventure when I was fourteen and required no hints for the duration. But this romp is still enjoyable for people of all ages and abilities.
Under A Killing Moon
Publisher: Access Software
Developer: Access Software
Year: 1994
Platform: Windows; DOS; Mac; Linux
It took a few years after Martian Memorandum for Chris Jones to release another sequel in the Tex Murphy series, but considering he had to figure out how to utilize that new-fangled CD-ROM thingy, it is no surprise. The series has championed, or at least further developed, new software to enhance the gaming experience, and things are no different in this incarnation. Being released on four CD’s, Under A Killing Moon was the largest computer game in history at the time, while also sidestepping pitfalls seen in future FMV games (e.g. Phantasmagoria). Sadly, however, the innovations weren’t enough to elevate the game quality above the previous offerings.
Still Life
Publisher: Microids
Developer: Microids
Year: 2005
Platform: Windows, Xbox
These days I have little worry that when I pick up an adventure game that the production values are going to be fantastic. Sure, there’s going to be the occasional lemon, but with the glutton of previews to be found on the internet, you pretty much know what you’re getting into. Most people seem to agree on what constitutes passable visuals and I can shop accordingly. Unfortunately, the standards for character development do not seem to be so widely agreed upon. In a game where the focus in on the interactivity between the characters, those playing the parts must be charming, engaging, and memorable. Just like when I read a book of fiction, if I don’t care about who I’m watching, little of what’s left is going to affect me. Needless to say, I felt Victoria and the rest of the cast in Still Life left me wanting.
Star Trek: Borg
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Developer: Simon & Schuster
Year: 1996
Platform: Windows, Mac
This FMV Adventure by Simon & Schuster touts itself as an interactive movie, and that’s more or less what you get. With less than three hours of gameplay, the game works sufficiently with what it offers. Sadly, it offers very little.
Spellcasting 201: The Sorcerer’s Appliance
Publisher: Legend
Developer: Legend
Year: 1991
Platform: DOS
While a technical improvement in every area over the first game in the series, including graphics, sound, and breadth, I just couldn’t put my heart into Spellcasting 201.
Death By Troggles 
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