Publisher: Freeware Developer: Legend Year: 1998 Platform: DOS
I’m stretching this by calling it an adventure game, as it is more of an edutainment title. But it was developed by Legend Entertainment and written by Bob Bates, so I’m going with it. This game is actually an ethics training program designed by the U.S. Government and used as an ethical training tool for its employees. As it was fully funded by the government, the game is freeware, and worth a play by anyone who is interested in ethics.
Publisher: Sierra Developer: Sierra Year: 1993 Platform: DOS; Windows; Mac
Sierra hired Daryl F. Gates to help design the fourth installment in this best-selling series. The former LAPD chief and founder of SWAT has a good sense for tension and has a breadth of knowledge regarding police procedure and office atmosphere. However, his ability to design an adventure game is not readily apparent.
Publisher: Sierra Developer: Sierra Year: 1992 Platform: DOS
Out of the many remakes that Sierra released of their original adventures, this one probably fared the best. But as is the case with most of them, they failed to actually improve the game. Of course, the production values are much better. The point-and-click interface also works as well as that in The Kindred. And surprisingly, Sonny has become a funnier guy.
Publisher: Sierra Developer: Sierra Year: 1995 Platform: DOS; Windows; Ma c; SEGA Saturn
Never before has Roberta Williams, or rather any game designer, integrated horror and humor to such monumental proportions. Of course, the humor derives itself from the George Lucas-type dialogue and poor acting, and much of the horror comes from the realization you had spent quite a bit of money to play this mess.
Publisher: LucasArts Developer: LucasArts Year: 1991 Platform: DOS; Amiga; Mac
While equally as lauded by most to the first game in the series, I didn’t get quite as excited about Monkey Island 2. It begins well, with our hero pirate Guybrush stranded on an island in search of the means to discover the treasure of Big Whoop. But about a third of the way in (pardon me) it jumps ship, and barely gets on track in time for a raucous ending.
Publisher: Access Software Developer: Access Software Year: 1991 Platform: DOS
On the successful heels of Mean Streets, Access Software released a sequel, attempting to build off their charming private investigator Tex Murphy, thrusting him into another save-the-world case filled with beautiful women, ruthless villains, and post-apocalyptic mayhem. From a technical level, they improved the game in nearly every imaginable facet. Unfortunately (but not as a direct result), the story and characters themselves take a bit of a downturn.
LucasArts’ first adventure game was an enormous success across several computer systems and the NES, helping to launch a successful empire in the industry. But while the creativity and ingenuity that would bolster the company is here in this offering, it more than makes up for it with questionable design choices and misguided puzzles.
Death By Troggles 
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