Any good 'recent' games?

[Poindexter]

Hey, what up AG.

Allow me make this my first post here.

So i'm and old school point and click gamer.. back in my childhood when i'd spend forever trying to complete the classic PnCs.

Only recently, i've realised people are still making games in my beloved genre after a 8 year hiatus.

So I went and purchased So Blonde.. and to be blunt.. i didn't like the game. The target market for that game appeared to be for young girls!

I ended up using a walkthrough as I couldn't bare it any longer.. and using those 'show all hotspots' things. I don't like them either but i guess they could be bareable in a game that is immersive enough to not make want to draw for a walkthrough.

I played Broken Sword 2.5 and enjoyed it for the nostalgia of the older games in the series. Although, I think this was a fan made edit of the game? Either way, it felt to me like there was still so much more that could have been done with the game. I also couldn't resist using a walk through and so completed the game in no time.

Walkthroughs are so bad arn't they? It's a real shame and I wish I could go back to the old days of coming home from school and trying to solve the same puzzle for sometimes days on end... and BAM.. you find the clue you have been missing and the story progresses that little bit further.

I also played "Mental Repairs" .. a freeware game I found here. I enjoyed this game more... it had a deeper pschological thrill to it.. but i can't help feeling the game designer was just going through the traditional click and point motions.. was that game a project for a pschology course or something? The puzzles were simple and it took me less than an hour to complete.. but I can't complain about that in a free game can I?


So... in my anticipation of the new Monkey Island release.. i'm wondering if there are any games that I might have missed in the last 8 or so years you think I should try? I get the feeling this new Monkey Island is going to be aimed at kids again.. like So Blonde.. that's how it looks to me. I'm glad the series is being continued but things like hints and show all hotspots... no thanks LOL.. but I hope it proves me wrong.

So what games? Is it really an outdated genre? Where are the ADULT PnCs??

Thanks for your help.

[Ascovel]

Try some from here: http://www.bigbluecup.com/games.php

This months' pick is for example both very fun and difficult in terms of puzzles.

However, for an ADULT PnCs, you may want to try this one: http://www.bigbluecup.com/yabb/index.php?topic=37767.0

[aries323]

Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened and Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper are two of the newer games that feature a mature theme, dipped in mystery and a great story.

Overclocked is good, too. Reprobates/Next Life is good, too.

[tastebud]

Heres some of the better adventure games that i bought in the past 8 years or so; i recommend looking for demos of the games since most of them have one:

Indigo Prophecy (called Fahrenheit outside of the U.S. i believe): sort of a nontraditional adventure with a unique control mechanic and interesting story. 4/5

Jack Keane - while i would recommend it for the right person, i never finished it. 3/5

The Longest Journey - by now this is considered a classic. 5/5. It also has a sequel called Dreamfall, the same quality and love was put into it as well. however, its more of a 3D action/adventure game.

Sam n Max Seasons 1+2 - very smart and funny writing, downside are the constantly repeated art assets from episode to episode 3.5/5

Sherlock Holmes The Awakened (awesome 5/5), Sherlock Holmes vs Arsene Lupin (too much focus on puzzles, but still interesting 3/5), Sherlock Holmes vs Jack the Ripper (playing this one right now, almost as good as awakened 4.5/5) - i really like the sherlock holmes games, what makes them interesting, especially lupin and jack the ripper is that they have interesting real life locations such as the tower of london and museums etc. Jack the ripper is especially informative and interesting as its almost like watching a sort of interactive documentary. try the demo, cause i know there are many people that dont like the games.

Downfall - this is sort of an independent adventure project. it has the same old graphics as back in the early 90s. however this one stands out by its over the top violence, which has become rare in adventure games these days. however its also pretty smart and has a thick atmosphere. if it was merely violent i wouldnt recommend it. its relatively short, but only costs $10. (4/5)

Syberia 1+2 - they are considered to be very good, but i never finished any one of them.

Secret Files 1+2 - very good, but yet again i didnt finish them (4/5). very sleek, traditional adventure game with a sort of mystery thriller story

Vampyre Story - great art and atmosphere, but the humour is less hit than miss (4/5)

Lost Crown: A Ghosthunting Adventure - very rough around the edges (such as inability to click through dialogues leading you to have to listen to the same thing over and over if u click on it; pretty bad voice acting), HOWEVER this one is very scary and has an awesome atmosphere. made by john boakes who has a pretty big following in the horror adventure genre (4/5)

Ceville - very good traditional comedy adventure game, similar to Legend of Kyrandia 3 (4.5/5)

The Book of Unwritten Tales - this is the big one, currently only the German version is available, however its without a doubt the best adventure game i've played in years. think lucasarts with modern technology. only downside is that its relatively easy, which for me is a big plus actually (6/5!!)

well that was fun writing down my thoughts on some of these

[Fantasysci5]

I also played "Mental Repairs" ..was that game a project for a pschology course or something?

Actually, it was made for a class. It was completed as a final project for his Bachelor's degree from Zurich University of the Arts.

I would also like to suggest "The Longest Journey" and "The Lost Crown".

[Gazzoid]

There's also Still Life and its sequel, Still Life 2. Both are dark/mature themed games.