Wednesday 16 January 2013

Game 28: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - Introduction


Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Title Screen: Notice the 1989

I’m certain that Indiana Jones needs no introduction. The movies starring Harrison Ford have millions of fans, and the first and third films in particular would be on many film lovers favourite movie lists. The game I’m about to play is based on the third of the movies which goes by the same name, and while it’s not the most important and critically praised Indy adventure game (Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis sits on that throne), it receives its fair share of admiration. I recall playing The Fate of Atlantis at least twice while a teenager, but for some reason I never got the chance to play The Last Crusade. I’m pretty damn excited to see how it compares, particularly after slogging my way through the awful Emmanuelle in recent weeks.


 Who doesn't love these movies?!

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure (as opposed to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Action Game that came out in the same year) was the third game to use LucasArts SCUMM engine (after Maniac Mansion and Zak McKracken). It was released to coincide with, and loosely follows the plot of, the film, and begins with Indy returning to his college having claimed the Cross of Coronado. From what I understand, the game featured an innovation for LucasArts, being a flexible point system called the “Indy Quotient”. The system works in a similar way to Sierra’s well established points system, giving players alternate ways to solve puzzles while rewarding what the designers considered to be the most ideal solutions. The Indy Quotient was LucasArts attempt to respond to the biggest criticism of adventure games – that they have little replay value.


The cover of the original EGA version of the game

The game was designed by Ron Gilbert (Maniac Mansion and Zak McKracken) and David Fox (Zak McKracken), with the addition of Noah Falstein. Noah is listed as Creative and Technical Support for the first two SCUMM games, so Indiana Jones marks his step up into a fully fledged game designer. The graphics were handled by Martin Cameron, James Alexander Dollar and James McLeod (all of whom worked on Zak McKracken in some capacity), along with Mike Ebert and Steve Purcell (who illustrated the National Inquisitor newspaper for Zak). The music was originally written by film score composer John Williams, but all the sound and music for the game was once again produced by David Hayes and David Warhol (both earlier SCUMM games), along with Eric Hammond. There are a bunch of other humorous credits associated with the game (such as Whip Researcher and Nazi Trivia Researcher), but I won’t go into them all here.


The VGA Title Screen: Notice the 1990

With all the superlative info out of the way, it’s time to discuss what may or may not turn out to be controversial. There are two versions of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure, with the first being a 16 colour EGA version released in 1989 and the second a 256 colour VGA version released in 1990 (converted by Ron Baldwin and Aric Wilmunder). There have been a few questions about which version I’ll be playing, but I think if I’m serious about the chronological nature of this blog, I have to stick with the EGA version. Yes, I could play the game at the end the 1989, therefore placing it neatly between the two years, but rules are rules. Besides, having run both versions using SCUMMVM this morning, the difference is not as massively noticeable as you might expect. I’ve put some screenshots below and while you can tell the difference, I doubt it’s going to affect my enjoyment of the game.


EGA College Exterior


VGA College Exterior


EGA College Interior


VGA College Interior

Just to be clear, the second version of the game updates the graphics only, and had no influence on the gameplay or sound whatsoever, just as was the case with the earlier two SCUMM games that also had two versions. What this decision does mean is that I will require the replica of Henry Jones’ Grail diary that was included with the EGA version. This diary contains a collection of background information of Indy’s youth and Henry’s life, but its real purpose is copy protection that wasn’t required for the VGA version. I’ve got myself a copy of the diary and the manual from the ever trusty Replacement Docs site and am ready to go. I haven’t watched the movie in many years, so I genuinely don’t have any idea what I’m about to experience.


Henry Jones' Diary

Note Regarding Spoilers and Companion Assist Points: I've recently written a set of rules regarding spoilers and companion assist points. Please read it here before making any comments that could be considered a spoiler in any way. The short of it is that no points will be given for hints or spoilers given in advance of me requiring one. As this is an introduction post, it's an opportunity for readers to bet 10 points (only if they already have them) that I won't be able to solve a puzzle unassisted (see below for an example). If you get it right I will reward you with 70 points in return (it's going to keep going up until someone beats me)! It's also your chance to predict what the final rating will be for the game.

From now on voters should pick whatever score they want, regardless of whether someone else has already chosen it. All correct (or nearest) votes will go into a draw, which I'm yet to figure out the form of (we'll cross that bridge when we get there).

Example Bet:

Va Fna Senapvfpb guvatf ner onq
V’ir ybfg gur sbez gung V bapr unq
Abj gur perngherf pbzr sebz sne
Gb rng zr va guvf tbq qnzarq one

Jung'f zl anzr sbe 20 PNCf?

Extra Note: Once again, Lars-Erik will gift the next readily available game on the list to the reader that correctly predicts what score I will give this game. So, if you predict the right score (or are closest), you will get 10 CAPs and a copy of Tex Murphy 1 & 2 from GOG! Good luck!

84 comments:

  1. Didn't realize there was an EGA version. I actually randomly own the VGA version on 5.25" disks, which was given to me by an aunt who got it bundled with a video card or something. I've always thought it was strange that it supported Adlib for music but not MT-32.

    Speaking of MT-32, I hope you're at least using an MT-32 emulator for this era of games. Most of these games' soundtracks were composed for the MT-32 and sound much better than the Adlib as a result.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Most of what they seemed to do when updating the Last Crusade to VGA was just adding noise texture to the flat colors and also fixing a few of the wonky EGA colors. So, a little nicer overall, but not a huge difference. In fact sometimes the textures in the VGA version look a little silly. Like every surface is covered with little bumps.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'll guess 66 for the final score. Last Crusade (if I remember correctly) was one of my favorite LucasArts games.

    A bit of trivia I picked up from one of the designers (play at least a couple of hours before decoding the ROT13): "Jr chg n ybg bs rssbeg vagb univat zhygvcyr fbyhgvbaf. Ubjrire, irel srj cynlref gevrq gur pbzong cngu; jr znqr vg gbb qvssvphyg naq abg gung zhpu sha." - Abnu Snyfgrva, cnencuenfrq.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yeah. EGA and VGA don't look that different.

    I'll be joining in and playing whatever version the Steam version is (which I assume is VGA)

    This game has some historical importance to me.

    It's the first adventure game I can recall finishing instead of getting permanently stuck and giving up (In the days before the internet made walkthroughs readily available.)

    Back in the day, I borrowed it from a friend over the weekend and because I only had it for a few days I went hard and finished it in 2 days.

    This suggests to me that the game will be very easy for an experienced campaigner like the Trickster.

    As for a Pissed score, I'm going with 60. I think it'll lose a few points for the fighting scenes and some simple puzzles, but get bonus points for interesting locations and story.

    Looking forward to playing it again too.

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  5. I think it'll score pretty high. I'll guess 65. It'll suffer a little in the puzzle section, but it'll clean up in Dialog and Acting in particular. First of all, I'm pretty sure this is the first game on Trickster's list with dialog trees. At least, it's definitely the first Lucasarts game with a "Talk" option, though at this point it's still fairly limited. Then there's also the "Look" command, which begins the tradition of Lucasarts protagonists wryly commenting on everything. And, finally, this game has a lot more custom animation than previous games (with some animated by the great Steve Purcell, I'm guessing) so the acting is also greatly improved. I dunno if I'll get any points if I get this right, but I'm willing to guess this game will get the first 7 in this category.

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  6. 50, just because I don't have time to look into how good this game is, but still want to guess. It's probably low-balling, but let's go with it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I really look forward to this!! I'll go 64. Big fan of the Indy games :) I was very tempted to make this a long post about my love affair with Indiana Jones in general, and eventual discovery of the computer games, but decided to truncate it since general interest is probably extremely low. Therefore: ON WITH THE GAME!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi! New reader. Just thought I'd introduce myself. I just found your blog and read it all in a week. My all time favorite video game is Quest for Glory. I replay all five of them every year in October, and have for the last 12 or so years. It's pretty rad that Corey Cole is a reader as well. I have a soft spot for all adventure and fantasy games. 30 years old, married, a Masters of Library Science student and work for Apple to pay the bills. I just moved to California from Oklahoma for my wife's work.

    Can't wait to see you play this one. I played the sequel years ago (The Fate of Atlantis) but not this one. Good luck! Also, in relation to your ever growing list of games... I know you have a long ways to go and all, but I just started playing Deponia and thought it would be perfect for your quest, even if it you won't et there for years to come. Now just to figure out how to earn some points.

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Well that's frustrating.

    I was most of the way into typing step by step instructions for people who have the Steam version of the game and want it working in ScummVM so they can change from the shitty sound the Steam version defaults to, when I accidentally clicked on the wrong button and deleted everything I've written for the past 20 minutes!

    If anyone is in the same situation and wants instructions, I'll happily put them up again.

    As an example, this is the sound you get from the Steam version
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rfKy...tailpage#t=21s

    And this is the sound you can get if you want to go through half an hour of effort and open the Steam files with ScummVM and choose Adlib as the sound
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3eSilCfRjA

    You can also choose the fabled MT-32 from ScummVM!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oops. The first link should be this
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rfKy0HdkGQ&feature=player_detailpage#t=21s

      Delete
    2. I got the Steam version and yeah, I'd like to use MT-32 or Adlib sound. I'd be interested in getting it running that way.

      Delete
    3. 1. Download and install Coreutils 'complete package except sources' from here.
      http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/coreutils.htm

      2. Copy the file "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.exe" from your steam folder "...steamapps\common\Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" to your Coreutils bin folder "...coreutils\bin"

      3. Run a command prompt: hold Windows key and hit 'R' then type cmd and hit ENTER

      4. Navigate to your coreutils bin folder using the cd command (i.e. cd "c:\\program files\coreutils\bin")

      5. type the following...
      dd if="Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.exe" of=00.LFL bs=1 skip=162056 count=6295

      6. Copy the 00.lfl file from the coreutils/bin folder to the steam folder with the other .lfl files "...steamapps/common/Indiana Jones and Last Crusade/Indy3"

      7. Download and install Scummvm from www.scummvm.org

      8. Now you can run it in Scummvm (or Dosbox). Scummvm is pretty simple to use. I'm not at my main computer at the moment so I can't give specific instructions until tonight but it should be pretty straightforward if you were able to get this far. Then you can easily try the different sound options to see what you prefer - I've set mine to MT-32.

      All up, it'll be an annoying amount of effort but I think it's worth it to have the best sounding game. Apparently the other Lucasarts adventure games in Steam have the same issue so if you plan on doing the same for the others, you're already most of the way there.

      These instructions were done partly from memory so please let me know if I've stuffed up a step or been unclear.

      Also, I can't take credit for this workaround, I stole these instructions mostly from here http://koti.kapsi.fi/~jvaltane/SteamLucasToScummVM/indy3.txt but had to edit them slightly to make it work

      Enjoy.

      Delete
    4. Yeah, I googled after reading your response and saw that article. The biggest pain is getting the dd executable for Windows. I'll give this a shot; I should have ScummVM from playing Zak McKracken. Do you need MT-32 ROMs to do this or does ScummVM emulate MT-32? Thanks for posting the steps.

      Delete
    5. ScummVM emulates it. But you might be right about it needing ROMS to do it properly. I'm sure someone here knows.

      That could explain why I thought Adlib and MT-32 sounded about the same when I briefly tested the two. All I did was select MT-32 in the ScummVM sound section.

      Oh well - whatever I'm listening to, it's definitely better than the Tandy music the Steam version defaults to

      Delete
    6. It looks liks ScummVM has the option to do both; they have an emulator and the ability to use the ROMs. I'm in the same boat as you; it beats whatever the Steam version was using.

      Delete
    7. Thanks TBD! Just bought game on Steam and was quite shocked that ScummVM doesn't recognize it. Found koti website but your post save me from booting up Ubuntu :)

      Delete
  10. 63--I wanted 64 but JosephCurwen beat me to the punch. And its the punch that will keep this game from getting any higher (or more specifically, its attempt to simulate the action of the film.) Although, making an adventure game adaption of a movie (especially a good one) presents some real challenges. One is constrained to following a general narrative that the player (in likelihood) already knows. Also, if the puzzles mirror the movie too closely, they are unchallenging, and if they stray too far, or if the games story strays too far, it risks loosing its legitimatacy. I think Ron Gilbert and co. did an admirable job, in fact.

    Ps I wonder if Mr Gilbert reads this blog--if so, it would be great to have him chime in about the experience/challenges of designing the game after the playthrough is over. Corey Cole can't be the only golden ager in the know :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. 62- I've started yesterday. The game is good but it find strange to be able to leave a place (country) without all the items in your inventory. I'm still able to go back, so I guess I won't have to start from scratch but it's odd.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm going to bet on Emanuelle effect taking its toll on you and guess a high 70

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Emmanuelle Effect? Does that mean he's used up all his "erotic potential" and can't score with the German lady?

      Delete
  13. So many fond memories of this one... One of the best, if not the best, movie adaptations ever made and a very fun adventure game. I'm going with 70 as I think this is the best game up to now and will replay it with you.

    Also, I'm gonna risk my 10 points with this bet (ROT13, although not sure if it can be considered an spoiler):

    bet: V org lbh jba'g or noyr gb orng gur tnzr univat sbhtug bayl bapr (abg pbhagvat svtugvat gur obkre va gur pbyyrtr)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow! I didn't even know about this bet and set out to achieve a no combat win anyway! My reason for doing it was that I read somewhere that it was achievable (I think on Wikipedia). If I'm reading your bet correctly, I actually managed to do it too!

      Delete
    2. The fight I was talking about was the one with the big giant guy in the third floor of the castle, but I think the bet was ambiguous enough so... Congratulations!! There go my 10 points... now to get some more so I can make more bets on the next LucasArts game :p

      Delete
    3. I decided not to deduct the points off you Deimar, since I'm not sure this bet was fai on either of us really. I think this is the sort of bet that needs to be visibly made, since it was only blind luck that I even attempted to complete the game without fighting. If I'd known that you'd made the bet, I would have tried even harder!

      I also still don't see any way to avoid fighting the guard on the zeppelin.

      Delete
    4. You don't need to take the zeppelin at all :)

      You missed three books in the venetian library: Mein Kampf (which you can give to the guard in the alarm room in the castle or get it signed by Hitler himself... not sure about the usefulness of that though), a map of the catacombs and a manual on how to pilot a biplane. Following the instructions on the last one, you can just take the biplane at the airport and skip the whole zeppelin scene.

      Delete
    5. The getting-Hitler's-autograph scene is the one I remember best from the movie. For a brief moment I understood how a release of tension can be funny in and of itself.

      Delete
  14. Oh my, back on top of the leaderboard! I knew playing that awful game would be rewarded somehow :)

    Indy’s going high, but how high? Probably somewhere around Hero’s Quest. I’ll guess 67.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Does the EGA version have Adlib/Soundblaster music? I thought it only had PC beeper, but I might be wrong with it..

    Anyway, I think this is a somewhat underrated game. They did an excellent job in the adaptation of a great film into a adventure game.

    I predict 69 points, just to the top of the scoreboard.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EGA version had soundcard activated. I don"t see much difference with the VGA. I've just noticed the enhancement by reading this post

      Delete
  16. "This diary contains a collection of background information of Indy’s youth and Henry’s life, but its real purpose is copy protection that wasn’t required for the VGA version."

    I think the VGA version that you're looking at is the CD-ROM VGA version. There was also a disk VGA version, which I believe still included the copy protection (or at least I have vague memories of running into it, and I'm pretty sure I had the vga version). This may explain why there's so much confusion about the years of release, in that there's not 2 versions of the game, but actually 3.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Just loaded it on my computer. It will be the second PC point and click game I have played so I am excited to play this one!

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  18. I'll go for a 61. I barely remember this one; I think I quit at the part I mentioned before. Corey's comment rings a bell and I agree.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I remember being stuck in the underground of Venice.. I'm also trying to get out right now! Atlantis was for me much much better.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh my god! This game was my freaking childhood!

    I remember how the giant saws used to scare the daylight out of me

    ReplyDelete
  21. My first Adventure game :)

    I love it, but must admit Fate of Atlantis is better

    I predict 65 points

    ReplyDelete
  22. The last time I checked (several years ago), there was no way to check Indy Quotient in ScummVM because it replaces the game's own save/load screen (where it normally would be displayed). It also let you save in places where it normally would be restricted by the game designers.

    If you want an authentic experience, you should use DOSBox for adventure games instead of ScummVM. The latter changes some stuff around, which is usually not a big problem, but is for purists like me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is good information Laukku. I was wondering when the Quotient thing was going to kick in.

      Ill have to consider starting over in DOSBox. Hmmm...

      Delete
    2. In ScummVM, you can see your IQ (Indy Quotient) in Last Crusade by pressing "i". Also you can see your IQ by bringing up the original Load/Save menu by pressing Alt-F5, but I don't think you can or should load and save from that screen.

      Pressing "i" also works in Fate of Atlantis.

      Delete
  23. Hmm... I think it won't get as high as Hero's Quest, though it'll probably get close.

    Looks like I'll have to share a score, cos I don't want to go too high or too low! It's bound to beat Zak Mckracken, so I think 64.

    I'm currently in the middle of an X-COM playthrough on my blog (which I haven't updated recently, going to have to make an effort this weekend!), but Indy will provide a useful distraction from killing aliens.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I played this on my Atari ST back whenever that was. I don't really remember it very well, but I think it was incredibly easy. It may be that it was possibly the first non-Sierra adventure game I played. I do remember I enjoyed it though So on my very poor memory of this game making me think it was easy and I do remember the fist fighting was either anoying or stupid (possibly both) I'm going to go slightly lower with a 61.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Frrvat nf V qba'g xabj bs nal bgure nqiragher tnzr punenpgref sebz Fna Senapvfpb, V'z thrffvat lbh'er cebonoyl evtug.

      Ohg jung gur uryy, va pnfr lbh'er jebat - Znauhagre 2 gnxrf cynpr va Fna Senapvfpb, fb V'z tbvat gb thrff "Znauhagre"

      Delete
    3. Or perhaps, if we're being a bit more like a cryptic crossword, "Fhfuv"

      Delete
    4. Sorry, but none of these are correct.

      I'm raising the reward to 30 CAPs.

      Delete
  26. I think that this is actually a kinda slightly unfair one to rate, as while Indy 3 is a great game.. it depends largely on the way you play it. I remember as a kid, I played it as a crazy bastard who went around starting fights with everything in sight - that was great fun as an eight year old, but there again.. eight year old me thought that 'The Rocketeer' was a great game (FIVE whole levels!) Still, it has to be not only better than Emmanuelle,

    I'm going to hope you play through in a way that YOU find more fun, instead of the way you feel it 'should' be, and hope for the equal of QFG1 in '68'.

    (Sbe gur org hc gurer, hz.. Cuvy Pbbx? V jnf chmmyvat bire vg ynfg avtug, naq V jnf tbvat gur jubyr Znauhagre natyr gbb - whfg ubcvat jr'er gnyxvat gur nagntbavfg vafgrnq!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Aperama! We have quite a few first new posters recently, which is great! :)

      Never fear. I'm playing the game exactly the way I want to and not based on some predetermined tactic. I don't feel it's unfair to rate it just because each player may play it differently. At the end of the day, my opinion and therefore rating is entirely subjective and based on what I like and how I play games. I'm sure any of you that have been reading for a while could guess that I'm unlikely to fight in the game unless I've exhausted all other options.

      Oh, and the answer has nothing to do with Manhunter.

      Delete
  27. Nice, nice memories from this one too. One of the first instances I remember of being able to skip whole segments depending on the path you choose (perfected by the vastly superior Fate of Atlantis, of course). I predict a score of 64.

    Related trivia: last month the University of Chicago received a mysterious package addressed to one Henry Jones, containing... a Grail journal! True story, not a hoax and though the mystery has been solved, it's delightful reading anyway:
    http://uchicagoadmissions.tumblr.com/post/37809971913/indiana-jones-mystery-package-we-dont-really

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What an incredible story - Thanks Charles!

      Delete
    2. That is an awesome story indeed Charles!

      Delete
  28. Riddle Continuation

    Va Fna Senapvfpb guvatf ner onq
    V’ir ybfg gur sbez gung V bapr unq
    Abj gur perngherf pbzr sebz sne
    Gb rng zr va guvf tbq qnzarq one
    Vs bayl V unq sbhe yrff srrg
    Gur erfg bs zr zhpu zber pbzcyrgr
    V'q znxr zl jnl gb Zrkvpb
    Naq fcraq nyy bs guvf jryy rnearq qbhtu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right you are! That's 30 CAPs for TBD.

      Did it just click or was Google involved?

      Delete
    2. The game's Bad Mojo for anyone unsure of who Roger Samms is. It's an adventure game where the main character has been turned into a cockroach.

      Delete
    3. A bit of both.

      The loss of 4 feet clue clicked a memory of a demo I'd played many years ago for a game called Bad Mojo where you played as a cockroach.

      I then googled Bad Mojo and found the wikipedia page and the ridiculously overacted opening

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkMabElIp3s

      which confirmed the rest of your clues and gave me the character's name.

      Delete
    4. Wow! That intro was absolutely terrible, and yet I couldn't stop watching it!

      I think the FMV period will be fun.

      Delete
    5. Oh man, Bad Mojo. I remember almost nothing of the game, but I played it a few years after it came out. I do remember finding it quite interesting and being slightly unsettled by it all. But I think it had some great, quirky gameplay.

      Delete
    6. I absolutely loved Bad Mojo, though I think I got stuck at some point and never finished it. Lack of subtitles was generally the scourge of the FMV era for us with untrained ears, but I still remember some of the several rhymes that act as clues in the game. IIRC the acting was supposed to be over the top with a main character that was apparently chanelling Jim Carrey. And the story and settings were quite disturbing, but it also had a poignant streak that made things intriguing. Looking forward to this unique game.

      A few years ago there was a remake called Bad Mojo Redux which made it playable on modern systems.

      Delete
  29. Oh. Yaay! We're up to the first graphic adventure of one Doctor Henry Walton Jones Junior! Hmm.. heck with it I don't know what anything will be rated any more! So I go with an outrageous 74!

    ReplyDelete
  30. My guess is 67. It is technically pretty much on par with Hero's Quest, but doesn't ooze as much charm and delight. Of course the last bit depends entirely on your preferences.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'll lowball it an go with 60, as only 3 games have broken it, so lets try that.

    ReplyDelete
  32. http://www.gog.com/gamecard/leisure_suit_larry :D

    Includes Leisure Suit Larry 1-6, the VGA remake of Leisure Suit Larry 1, and Softporn Adventure.

    Only $9.99 :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's excellent news! Is that the completion of all the major Sierra series? LSL. Quest for Glory. Police Quest. Space Quest. King's Quest. Gabriel Knight. Phantasmagoria.

      I guess now all we need is Manhunter, Laura Bow and the Conquest games. It would be great to see Rise of the Dragon and the Shivers games on there too.

      Delete
    2. Plus as Lleisure Suit Larry is their 500th release, Gog.com are having a competition to win 500 games . However I would prefer that none of you enter so that my already miniscule chances of winning don't get minisculer.

      Delete
    3. Well if we're hoping for off-brand Sierra projects in there too, I'd like to see Heart of China available someday too Trickster.

      Delete
    4. Ah, I knew I'd forget one...and I knew someone would tell me about it too. ;)

      Delete
    5. Most importantly, Larry-bundle doesn't contain LSL 7, right?

      Delete
    6. We can't forget Castle of Dr. Brain!!!

      Can you pull any strings Corey?

      Delete
  33. Need to dig out my Grail Diary so I can play along.. now where did I put that thing?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe you left it here:

      www.replacementdocs.com

      ;)

      Delete
  34. So, why the swap from your earlier games, where you played the VGA version, even if it didn't come out until years later? (Manic Mansion for example?)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually Trickster did finally deduct points from Maniac Mansion, because he should have played the earlier version. After that, it has become more of a rule that he plays best of the versions that were published in the current year and not some later version (for instance, there was some discussion which version of Zak McCracken he should play and it was finally concluded that both versions apparently came out same year, so he could choose the better option). Makes sense to me.

      Delete
  35. First Indy gameplay post should be up tomorrow. I've played three hours of the game.

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  36. Looking forward to this one Trickster. I've never played any of these Indy games.

    ReplyDelete
  37. The latest GOG sale has three adventure games in it.

    Realms of the Haunting - I remember playing the demo for this a long time go and thinking it looked eerie and cool. Didn't seem much like an adventure game though.

    http://www.gog.com/gamecard/realms_of_the_haunting

    Normality - This one's an adventure game. It looks truly psychedelic man!

    http://www.gog.com/gamecard/normality

    Litil Divil - Looks kinda cute, if you can call demons and devils cute. More of a puzzle based level by level type of game than a standard adventure game.

    http://www.gog.com/gamecard/litil_divil

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Does this mean that you'll get CAPs for this. Of course if you get enough you could be able to cancel a game you don't want to play and we all may be able to avoid something along the lines of the nihghtmare that was Emmanuelle

      Delete
    2. Now where's the fun in that!? ;)

      I like the unpredictable nature of the game list, even if it does mean I have to subject myself to the occasional turd.

      Delete
  38. If you want to play along, this game can be streamed from Archive.org at: https://archive.org/details/msdos_Indiana_Jones_and_The_Last_Crusade_1989

    Note that you can't save in the streaming version of DOSBOX they use, but if you want to give it a go with zero set up, give it a try.

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  39. Tangentially related fact: a friend of mine just adopted a German Shepherd puppy, whom she named Indiana after the Joneses' dog.

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