Missed Classic: The Dark Half - Won and Final Rating

 Written by Morpheus Kitami

Welcome to Miriam's Apartment in scenic New York (MAY NOT ACTUALLY NEW YORK IN THE GAME) where we, who are definitely not George Stark, will investigate Miriam's death. There are a lot of objects I can examine here, but I suspect a flowerbed is the only one I can do anything with. Oh, well, inside we go.

No wonder Miriam got murdered, she lives in Vincent Price's apartment building.

I'm not so sure Stark wasn't doing the world a favor, apparently Miriam really likes green. 10 CAPs for your best explanation of why this room looks like this. The couch, the trashcan and the sign aren't really important, but since we already know that the paper is useful, we'll take it. Inside her apartment we go.

Police Quest: Open Season - Looks Like We’ve Got a Cop Killer On Our Hands

By Alex

Oh, baby, this game is throwing the kitchen sink at us. We’ve got rappers! Nazis! Murderous backstabbing women! Shoes! A shoot-out! Pixel hunts! Another dead cop! Things are total chaos in L.A.! What’s a cop to do?

I’ll tell you: stay alive and solve puzzles!

Hand of Fate - In Your Head, They are Fighting

Written by Michael

We could call in Rosella, and the dwarves could give her gemstones as payment for cleaning.  Or, we could just play the first game in this series, and get as many gemstones as we want.

Last time, I had just gotten inside the city gates.  Now, it’s time to explore.

The Year Ahead - 1994

 Written by The TAG Team

Sadly, "It stinks!" could be said about way too many of the games Morpheus has played.

1994 was a year of missed release dates.

Discussion Point: Interesting Inventory Items

Written by The TAG Team

You are carrying: Nothing.

An adventure game wouldn’t be an adventure without a character walking around and picking up anything he sees that isn’t nailed down.

So, what’s the most unique item you’ve picked up in a game?  Or the funniest?  Or the most disgusting?

Maybe something grosser than the mucus of Largo LeGrand from a pole in the bar?

Sometimes, items are homages.  Larry Laffer starts his first game with lint in his pocket because of Infocom games.  There’s a monkey named Guybrush you can interact with in The Longest Journey.

What items stand out in your memory?

Police Quest: Open Season: Welcome to the Jungle

By Alex

Exciting police action! I spent three hours playing, and did a lot of questioning witnesses and gathering evidence and taking notes. I mean, legitimate, real-world by hand notes. I really feel like a cop! I even got to shove a reporter!

No, not in real life, sadly. That was in the game.

Missed Classic: The Dark Half - I am Definitely Sane

Written by Morpheus Kitami

How are things going in the land of poorly pixelated Timothy Hutton?

Beaumont picking a bad time to start up a X Japan cover band.

Well, whenever I reload a game, I'm not sure if the game is crashing, which is a good sign. Seriously, there's an in-game moment before the sequence starts, which is just confusing as hell. There also seems to be just one long music track, which isn't bad, but it's just one for a significant area, it seems.

I pick up all I can from the shed, which is a rope and a flashlight. The way out from the graveyard is left from the start. We're not doing great with area transitions.

Hand of Fate - We Are Stardust, We Are Golden, We Are Billion-Year-Old Carbon

Written by Michael

Last time we talked, I was in a dark cave.  

"My life is a dark room.  One. Big. Dark. Room."

But, thanks to having played the previous game in the series, I already knew the solution:  the fireberries.  Trouble is, I don’t have the hardened skin of King Brandon.  When I try to touch the berry bush to pick a bunch, I’m told they are too hot.

Much like myself.

Ten Years After: The Anniversary of the TAG Community Blog

 Written by The TAG Team

A DeepAI rendition of the TAG offices

The TAG blog is growing up.  In November, it will become a teenager!  But the most amazing thing is that the blog nearly didn’t make it to its third birthday.  The original blogger, Trickster, retired just before the 3-year mark.  This is the story of the ten years that have passed since.

Trickster might have taken on too much early on.  His blog (then called “The Adventure Gamer”) tried to keep pace with the blog that inspired it, CRPG Addict.  But writing about RPGs isn’t nearly as taxing as a well-crafted adventure game, since there’s more plot development to discuss, more unique actions to consider.  Many RPGs involve grinding away at the same skills, exploring lands for treasure, and fighting creatures, sometimes over and over to reach a goal.  

We’re not debating which one is more fun (although we have our opinions).  We’re just saying that one is easier to write about than the other.

Most of the readers of his blog were disappointed when he left.  But some of the commenters also suggested a takeover by the readers.

Perhaps the first to say this out loud was loyal reader Rowan Lipkovits, but others soon joined in the conversation.  Including some names that should be familiar to current readers of the blog.

Another loyal reader and frequent commenter, Ilmari Jauhainen, started to make a plan.  Instead of just one person at the helm, a handful of people would be sharing the duties, so this time, no one would get overwhelmed.  He was soon joined by Joe Pranevich and TBD; and Aperama volunteered to review the next game in the schedule. He made the first post of that review ten years ago today, on October 24th, 2014.

And so began a new era.

The blog was reborn as a community project, with online calendars and email chains helping to coordinate the efforts of people who had never before met each other in person, from all corners of the globe.  Over time, small changes were made to the structure of the blog, like occasional diversions playing “Missed Classics” that were skipped in the chronology of the blog. We've tried to shake up the mold a little. by even having done simultaneous posts with other blogs for games that cross over into both of our interests, such as Loremaster and Lucifer's Realm. We've even had multiple reviewers tackle a game at once -- an unforgettable experiment, one we should really try to do again.

More than 200 games later, we’re still chugging along, and most of the early admins are still involved with the blog, and some of the original reviewers and commenters as well.   

• Ilmari, even as he’s grown up and has more family and work responsibilities, still enjoys playing games for the blog, like the recently completed Inca II.  

• Joe is the father of the Missed Classic, playing the first one, Mystery House, soon after the reorganization of the blog. Over the last decade, he has built up a family in that time, and still stays connected with the blog, around his commitments.  He’s taking a short leave of absence, but will be back in the coming year, if only because there’s no way he would ever leave his Zork and Infocom marathons unfinished.  

• The next addition to the admin team, Will Moczarski, is in the middle of a playthrough for the blog as we speak.

• We’ve lost touch with TBD, but thank him for all the work he did shaping our style in those early years.  Some of us have fun emulating his humor in our CAP distributions to this day.

• The arresting skills of our in-house lawyer reviewer, Alex, continues to this day.  His first review was over nine years ago, and his take on Open Season just started a few days ago.  Unfortunately, that means that Jim Walls has also been a companion on the blog for so many years.

• Other reviewers over the past decade have come and gone, but Reiko and Zenic Reverie have still kept involved, both finishing their most recent games over this past summer.  

• Commenter (and occasional reviewer) Andy Panthro still provides valuable insights, and we hope he will still be able to finish his next (but long-ago scheduled) game on the schedule.

• Our commitment to the holidays remains strong. Next week, Morpheus will continue our tradition of honoring Halloween, and Joe has made sure we enjoy an adventure each Christmas. We've observed many April Fool's Days and other holidays as well.

We’ve injected some new blood into the mix (Admins MorpheusKitami and Michael, and Reviewer Vetinari) and, after a little lull during the pandemic, have just had our strongest year since. This year, we’ve written the most posts since 2019, and have had a lot of fun doing it!

In about a month or so, we’ll have over 5 million views on the blog.  Trickster celebrated milestones like 50,000, but who knew how big the project would grow?

On behalf of the entire TAG Team, we’d like to thank you for being here.  Everyone contributes in their own way; some comment, some write reviews, and others who just read the reviews, well, we need you too!  (Although we really wish you’d comment, just to help us guide our writing...)  Ilmari touched upon it in a blog birthday post back in 2017, but it bears repeating: we are constantly trying to reinvent TAG, to keep it fresh for the readers and reviewers both, and keep it going for decades to come.

We’re getting ready to start picking out the games to be played for 1994 on the blog, and look forward to you joining us.  

Yours in Gaming,

- The TAG Team, 2024 Edition

- Ilmari, Joe, Will, Morpheus, and Michael

Please, we’d love to hear your thoughts about the ten years past and the future as well in the comments below.

Death in the Caribbean - Lost! (with Final Rating)

Written by Michael

This is the only acceptable ghost this time of year.

There’s not much progress to report here.  I found a known bug in the game that prevents me from winning.  Apparently only the C64 version is finishable.  And I don’t feel like starting from scratch in a new system; this game just isn’t worth it.  There’s more important things in life, like waiting in line at the DMV, or getting your teeth pulled.

Still, let me tell you what I’ve done, and what could have been.

Missed Classic 135: The Dark Half (1992) - Introduction

 Written by Morpheus Kitami

Stolen shamelessly from MOCAGH.

Yeah.

Game 149: Police Quest: Open Season (1993/1996) - Introduction

by Alex

Here I go again on my own . . .

Hand of Fate - Long-Haired Freaky People Need Not Apply

Written by Michael

When we last left our whiny heroine, Zantha was outside her laboratory, recently ransacked.  And from the swamp, there were some eyes looking at her, curiously.

Sadly, she didn’t say “Watch it, slimeball” the way Officer Hooks would have.

Clicking on the eyes produces some large lizard monster-looking thing.  Zanthia quickly grabs their tongue, ties it in a knot, and admonishes it for wasting her time.  It slinks away, with its metaphorical tail between its legs.  “Sometimes I have to be strict.”

Kronolog - Won (And Final Rating)

Written by Morpheus Kitami

Welcome to 1942, we have a crackerbox-style house behind us, housing Livingston, our target. There's a rainwater barrel next to Hoffmann, empty because there's no rain, and more cacti on the corner. I can peak in through the window, but alas, the curtains are drawn. I can go to the left, though.

"I've been shot, which is why I'm going to stand like I'm trying to reach a high shelf!"

And it's Livingstone, just after having been shot by Schmidt. Hoffmann tells him not to worry, and to go back to his own time, because he has this. He doesn't quite understand, but does so. If I were inclined to think this game might have a cruel ending, I would think I have just guaranteed that time is a loop rather than things changing and creating new timelines.

Getting closer to the house, it changes to the front porch. The fishing gear and swing are flavor. While I can see in through the windows, I don't see anything of interest. The chest and door are locked. The answer is surprisingly easy at this point, because of that well-known cliche of hiding a key where you can find it if you lose it. Where is it? In the mouth of the fish on the left. This allows me to open the chest, which has a piece of orange cloth with two grommets (those ring things you tie things into, not a noob skateboarder) and nothing else. The key does not unlock the front door.

Death in the Caribbean - How Long, How Long to the Point of No Return?

Written by Michael

Well, this post won’t be as long.  I’ve given up on this session after reaching what was almost definitely a dead end.  And that’s after beating the darn ghost!

This will be less of a blow-by-blow of the steps I’ve taken, and more of just a list of failures and frustrations.

First, going back to the grave to dig up stuff that was stolen from me results in death, from what cause I can’t really figure out.  

Kronolog - No Time to Cry

Written by Morpheus Kitami

By observations of what's noticeable in a scene it is the most visible...but then again, it is supposed to be...

As nobody else really felt like looking up a walkthrough to give hints, it fell upon Ilmari to once again look up the walkthrough, giving me the clue that I should check the electrical box. On the left, with the obvious markings. The game says its suspicious, but when I use it, tells me off. 100,000 amps feels good any day, which caused me to put it under the "flavor" part of the game's environments.

If only I had a pair of wire cutters...

What I didn't spot was that I was supposed to look at it, up close. I can open it up easily, revealing the circuit breaker for this floor. I guess the 100,000 amps was a red herring. I'm not sure what I can do here. Ilmari also mentioned that you should press the dot on the exclamation mark, which isn't a hotspot. This reveals...

Game 156: The Legend of Kyrandia, Book Two: The Hand of Fate (1993) - Introduction

Written by Michael

Way back when, in 1992, Westwood Studios tried something a little different.  They had been known as competent designers of games, in all sorts of genres, but they hadn’t really had a big hit yet, and they were only ever credited as a designer while another company’s logo graced the box.  But their acquisition by Virgin Entertainment opened a door for them.  Now, they were able to distribute and market their own games.  And their debut adventure title was a beaut.  

Pepper's Adventures In Time – Always One Of A Kind

By Will Moczarski

The last time I ended my narration on a cliffhanger, promising a grisly death scene - however, that was only half true. But more about that in a while. When we last left the game we were busy collecting items to build a Leyden jar and subsequently conduct the famous Kite/Key experiment in order to get Ben Franklin out of his cozy hot tub. On the surface of it he promised to help me with my experiment if I topped up his tub with some hot water - however, my secret agenda is to get the man back into science, obviously.

Death in the Caribbean - Ghost Robbers in the Sky

Written by Michael

Hey, it’s almost Halloween!

Last time, I left a little grumpy and stuck.  I slept on it and was able to make some progress in the game.

That’s the good news.  The bad news is that I discovered one of the most annoying game mechanics ever, that, to the best of my knowledge so far, is only in the game to lengthen it.  Or, maybe just the author is a sadistic jerk.  I’m hoping it’s the first choice.  But we’ll get there soon enough.

Pepper's Adventures in Time – Can You Handle The Taste?

by Will Moczarski

Shortly before the ending of act 2 the game switches back to Lockjaw who's still serving time as a playdoll for the spoiled daughter of the Pugh family. There's a brief cutscene showcasing Lockjaw's torments at Ima's hands (and voice, particularly) before we get to take control of the dog once more. 

Death in the Caribbean - I Believe this Motel Will Be Standing Until I Pay My Bill

Written by Michael

In the introduction, I started to explore the game world and landed in the afterworld.  So let’s start again.  I start out on the same path and go exploring.

Inca II – Final Rating

By Ilmari

My short affair with Inca II – and oh boy was it short, this is a quick game – has finished with more amiable terms than the stormy relationship I had with the progenitor. While both were pretty to look at, Inca senior was definitely the grouchy one, always kicking me in the groin when I least expected it, while the offspring was more tender and forgiving to play with. We’ve agreed with Inca II that this was it and we won’t ever be getting back together, but at least the little time we had together was entertaining enough. I am sure the fonder memories will reflect on the final rating.

Missed Classic 134: Death in the Caribbean (1983) - Introduction

 Written by Michael

I’m back to an Apple IIe game this time, from another short-lived company from the early days of adventure gaming.

In the early 80s, computer firm MicroLab created a gaming division, MicroFun.  Their role was to publish games created by others.  They made some interesting acquisitions, but were somewhat unfocused.  Arcade games, adventure games, sports games, but no specialty.  They published the ColecoVision port of Electronic Arts’ popular basketball game, One-on-One, the original of which would be the baseline upon which EA grew a sports game empire.  While today, we know them as leaders in the world of micropayments, in the 80s, they were generally the best sports game publishers in the industry.  This game was an officially licensed product, using the pixelated likenesses of Hall of Fame basketball players Dr. J (Julius Erving) and Larry Bird.

Homeworld - Final Rating

Written by Reiko

It's been a bumpy ride with Gateway II: Homeworld, including some technical issues, but I'm finally able to put together my thoughts on what made this game fun and where it surpassed or fell short of its predecessor. You might remember that I really enjoyed the original Gateway for a number of reasons. I enjoyed this one too, but I suspect that the overall result may not be quite as high as the first. Sequels are hard: providing everything that made the first installment good while creating new but similar content is a very delicate balance. Let's see how Homeworld compares.

Puzzles and Solvability

I found the puzzles to generally be fair and logical. There are only a few places where points seem optional, most notably when saving Diana. I may have been helped by remembering some bits of the puzzles, but even so, I think the pieces fit together well. I had very few issues solving anything. The puzzles are clever in a way that makes the player feel smart for figuring them out.

The puzzle with the magnetic clamps is one of my favorites.

I enjoyed mapping the ice maze even though it wasn't necessary, but it's good that there was an interesting non-mapping solution to finding the way through as well. While mazes are cliche in text adventures now, that is a maze done right.

Score: 7

Inca II – Won!

By Ilmari

Now that was easy! But let’s not be hasty, since we still have things to do.

Breathtaking landscape, part XVI

Discussion Point: Modern Adventures

 Written by the TAG Team

One of the most well-known adventures of the new century, but there's been others.

In our blog posts, we've focused on the past.  30, 40 years ago, during the so-called Golden Age of adventures.  But while the genre slowed down after that, it didn't stop completely.

What are your favorite adventures from the past 20 years?  Perhaps even ones that the other commenters have never heard of.  While everyone has likely heard of games like Thimbleweed Park, SpaceVenture, and Hero U, there have been others.  Something not written by one of the household names of the 90s?  A great Kickstarter you were happy to be a part of (unlike, say. the experience with SpaceVenture?)

Have no worries of spoiling our appetites for these games -- the blog won't be getting to them anytime soon.  But it might give us something to play in-between posts.

Inca II – By the power of Inca

By Ilmari

Last time I had crash landed on a planet, where a local astronomers set up her computer to calculate positions of three planets, where I should place three great powers of Incas, which would help to destroy an asteroid, which Aguirre, leader of space conquistadores, used for some malevolent purposes. While the computer was doing its calculations, I took a train to…

…search some caves?

I thought I was supposed to use the train to transport my spaceship. Apparently not. Caves it is then.

Kronolog - More Games About Buildings and Food (Request for Assistance)

Written by Morpheus Kitami

Last time, I stopped just after the Proconsul's secretary told me I had something to pick up in his office. It's another elevator down, and as I go down to floor F, I get told that today's thought is "remember the Zeppelin". Some interesting stuff here, cuttings from the now defunct Black Forest, and in this world, everyone's a big fan of Ministry's hit song "Everyday is Flag Day". Well, in Germany everyday is Flag Day, anyway. I wonder if the door I can't enter is a trap or not, or in fact, where I'm actually supposed to go. Oh, looking tells me. I appreciate that a lot.

Sweet digs, but I can't help but notice that the secretary isn't here. On the right we have some classy stuff, pay no attention, it's just there for flavor, you can't even open the cabinets. The game calls the painting on the right a mediocre example of German naturalist, but it still looks better than most modern art I've seen. The one in the back looks about right.

I go behind the desk and the scene changes. Somewhat unnecessary, because as soon as I look at the desk, other actions are invalid...

Inca II – Training session

By Ilmari

Last time Atahualpa was caught sneaking to beat some conquistadors by his papa, Eldorado. The conquistadors were still pissed and started an all out attack.

The WWI flying ace is also here

Papa don’t preach

So, the goggle guy took his fighter and Eldorado took my ship and they left me waiting in the main ship. With nothing else to do, I tried to access the ship controls.

Caught red-handed

The Han Solo wannabe wasn’t angry, although I was meddling with his ship and had even disarmed all the alarms, but he also asked me to be careful with his precious cargo. I still couldn’t help in the fight since the gun turret were broken and some joints were frozen.

Even the control lever is not doing anything

Pepper's Adventures in Time – The Dude Abides In Philly

Welcome back to the first exploration phase of Pepper’s Adventures in Time! A short recap: Our pet was dognapped by the spoiled daughter of an evil British colonist and we are looking for clues on how to infiltrate their mansion and bring Lockjaw back. Also, Pepper is looking for Ben Franklin who has succeeded in turning Philadelphia into a veritable Hippie town. Parts of it, at least. Our objectives for this act are simply to meet the colonists and Ben Franklin. To pass the obligatory test we’ll need to be all ears whenever somebody starts talking about British taxation acts, millinery shops, Ben Franklin’s influence on the colonial post office, the Penn family, and potholes. 

It may just be my pot-luck. 

It’s right on the first screen that we meet some laid-back fella called Marty Hardy tossing a frisbee off the screen, calling me “little dude”, going on about “big bad Ben” and whatnot. He’s not exactly helpful with any of my inquiries; we only learn that the Guvner is big on taxes and curfews. Marty also tells me that the “flying disk” (aka, the frisbee) is Ben Franklin’s greatest invention which would not be too shabby for anybody but people like Ben Franklin, I guess. 

Who will win? Historical inaccuracy or the last-minute addition of self-referentiality?

I leave the screen to the left and arrive at the Governor’s Mansion. Unfortunately, there are several guards blocking my passage, and I am unable to sweet-talk them into letting me pass. Maybe Pepper’s story is just not good enough – she’s claiming to make a delivery of nice, fresh air. Try selling fine leather jackets next time, kid! There is some kite string stuck in a tree but Pepper can’t reach it. The two guards mock me when I try to grab it but they still take it down and give it to me. When I talk to them one of them hints that he may be corruptible if I bring him food. Other than that they are quite rude, insulting me when I try to approach the bridge or even the little river.