What Makes an Adventure Computer Game Really Great?

There are quite a few genres of computer games. One of the earliest is the Adventure Game. We won't get into the definition or other technicalities here, but I will merely discuss what I consider makes an adventure game particularly great in comparison to other adventure games (AG).

AGs have usually have a theme and a setting, just like a story. The story can even be a silly one and the game still be exceptional. For instance, one of the greatest adventure games to date has to be Curse of Monkey Island, a.k.a. Monkey Island III. The story involves pirates, which is an exceptionally popular theme. It involves monkeys, though, and the pirate is a lovable nerd called Guybrush Threepwood. He is anything but an Errol Flynn, and certainly is no swashbuckler. It is only in his imagination that he is a "mighty pirate." Nevertheless, the game works. Why? Let's use this game as an example of what makes a great adventure game.

Monkey Island has phenomenal music! Care to hear a sample? See the URL I include with this article. How marvelous. Caribbean Steel-Drums. Ah!

Then, there is the absence of bugs. Errors can make a game very frustrating, and shows a lack of consideration. They are common among games that are not amply beta-tested before release. A game with no bugs is like a refreshing breeze.

The graphics are a bit cartoonish by today's standards, but let's be fair about this. There is nothing wrong with cartoons, as long as they are great. And Monkey Island III has the greatest cartoon graphics I have ever seen. When they said they were going 3-D for Monkey Island IV, I contacted the makers and asked them to please reconsider. Now Monkey Island IV is very good. But, frankly, it was a letdown for me. If you love polygons, you will love Monkey Island IV.

So far, we have an excellent setting and theme and superb music, along with bug-free operation. But that is not all there is to Monkey Island III. By no means. Monkey Island III has great dialog, a simple and trouble-free interface between computer and player, and it has a superb plot. The characters are endearing, and the voices of a high quality. One of the voices is even recognizable from Hollywood. The puzzles pretty much go along with the story, and are not forced. Some computer games provide puzzles that do not connect to the story line at all, but MI III has puzzles that integrate well.

What else is good about Monkey Island III? Atmosphere. There is superb atmosphere here. I love the visit to the Good Soups. Marvelous. And a note on this. How do you know a game is truly great? You find yourself going back to it and playing it again and again and again. Sure, you know exactly what is going to happen, but you want to see it all over again, just the same.

Let's go to other games. Let's try Syberia I and Syberia II. While these games are not quite as perfect as Curse of Monkey Island was, it has some elements that are definitely superior. These games have Old World flavor. I mean, after all, Mammoths? Yup. Russia? A stodgy old university. An aviary. The atmosphere is there. And the puzzles are quite good. The graphics are very good and modern. The characters are outstanding. Who that has ever played these games can forget Oscar, the engineer? The automatons are an ingenious addition to the game. Again, immersion. You are there. The sound/music is so good. Some of the puzzles are just a bit of a drag, but not too bad. Certainly, the drama is not childish. The games are worth the money.

Another element is being different. The quality of uniqueness. What game outstandingly demonstrates that quality? Though it has its faults, that game is Obsidian, and it stands above the pack. No question. Not only is it different, it is strange! It is Outside the Box. Even the laws of Physics and Logic do not hold, here. The graphics occasionally leave a bit to be desired, as does the audio. In fact, when it comes to audio, there were one or two places where you couldn't even figure out what was being said. Still, I play that game over and over again.

To round out this discussion: What are some bad features of some computer games?

1. Poor character development. There seems to be no personality to leading characters in some games. Some have loud music and quiet voices!

2. Bugs. No need to say anything more.

3. Puzzles that are tedious and irrelevant. Including mazes.

4. Games that require extreme "pixel hunting." This refers to items you will need to complete the game that disappear in the scenery, and that you may never find.

5. Bad graphics.

6. Poor User Interface.

7. Bad language, needless violence, crude sexual references. Mature Audiences? I think not.

8. Overly costly.

9. Gameplay too short! The game is over before you start.

10. Games that are too hardware sensitive, so that only a handful of computers with just the right hardware are able to run the games.

My suggestions to all who are reading this article? Be choosy about the Adventure Genre Computer Games you play. Read the reviews. Consider who manufactures the game, too. If you are one of the many who love to play the occasional Adventure Game, then by all means, pick carefully, purchase wisely, and then enjoy!