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8-bit Adventure Anthology: Volume I

88%Game Brain Score
music, graphics
story, atmosphere
88% User Score Based on 132 reviews
Critic Score 0%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

PCPCXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlaystation 4Playstation 4WindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStationLinuxLinuxMac OSMac OSXbox OneXbox One

About

"8-bit Adventure Anthology: Volume I" is a compilation of three classic 8-bit adventure games: "The Secret of Monkey Island," "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis," and "Loom." These games are remastered for modern systems while maintaining their original 8-bit graphics and gameplay. Players can explore, solve puzzles, and interact with characters in these nostalgic, critically acclaimed adventures.

8-bit Adventure Anthology: Volume I screenshot
8-bit Adventure Anthology: Volume I screenshot
8-bit Adventure Anthology: Volume I screenshot
8-bit Adventure Anthology: Volume I screenshot
8-bit Adventure Anthology: Volume I screenshot
8-bit Adventure Anthology: Volume I screenshot

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 133 reviews
music16 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions

  • The addition of mouse support significantly enhances the gameplay experience, making it more enjoyable compared to the original NES controller.
  • The collection faithfully recreates the classic NES games, preserving their charm, music, and graphics while adding modern features like adjustable resolutions and filters.
  • The darkly humorous writing and trial-and-error gameplay provide a nostalgic and entertaining experience for fans of retro adventure games.
  • The collection lacks additional content such as hint systems or unlockable material, which is common in other retro game collections.
  • Some players have reported technical issues, including save system glitches that can lead to lost progress.
  • The gameplay can feel outdated and frustrating, often requiring players to consult walkthroughs to progress through the puzzles.
  • music
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and memorability, particularly in the NES versions, which are considered superior to their PC counterparts. While the chip music effectively sets the atmosphere, some players found the main menu music too loud and out of sync with the game's tone. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's appeal, enhancing the overall experience despite some minor criticisms.

    • “The music, ambiance, and gameplay itself were extremely smooth.”
    • “Music itself is very memorable.”
    • “I can't recommend it enough, though one gripe is that the main menu music is too loud and not really in tune with the games.”
    • “The chip music sets the atmosphere as you try to figure it all out.”
    • “I have played Deja Vu on my old Amiga computer, and for me the NES versions were surprisingly as entertaining as the PC versions, mostly for the music in my opinion.”
  • graphics
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the games are generally considered outdated, with simplistic 2D visuals that remain unchanged despite resolution options that merely upscale the original assets. However, some players appreciate the charm and production quality, noting the detailed graphics and various filters that enhance the experience, particularly in terms of nostalgia and overall presentation. While the visuals may not meet modern standards, they still hold value for their artistic style and integration with the game's humor and music.

    • “Music, beautiful graphics, wonderful new mouse-based interface.”
    • “Great production quality with the menus and the different graphic filters (I like the CRT option a lot).”
    • “They have an indescribable charm to them, with great music, graphics, and silly dialogue.”
    • “The visuals are the same, the sounds are the same, the logic and script, etc. are the same.”
    • “While there are options to change the resolution for the games, all this does is scale up the simplistic low-quality art assets used to make the games, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
    • “Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the ancient 2D visuals.”
  • gameplay
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of these early adventure games is characterized by clunky mechanics and outdated point-and-click puzzles typical of the 1980s, which may feel disjointed to those unfamiliar with the genre's nostalgic appeal. While some players appreciate the charm of trial-and-error gameplay and the smooth ambiance, others note occasional stuttering that does not significantly detract from the experience. Overall, the gameplay offers a nostalgic glimpse into the evolution of interactive media, despite its age.

    • “That being said, the game is exactly what it describes itself as - the music, ambiance, and gameplay itself were extremely smooth.”
    • “The games in this collection are full of trial-and-error gameplay, but I feel this adds to their charm.”
    • “As a general note, these are early adventure games, and their gameplay has aged.”
    • “Gameplay is very outdated, even for point and click adventures, but it’s a wonderful look into early interactive media.”
    • “Gameplay in each of the games consists of basic adventure puzzles, negotiated through static screens as was the fashion in the 1980s.”
  • humor
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a dark and dry wit, particularly evident in the creative and entertaining death messages that players encounter. While the writing and achievements related to dying in various grim ways add to the comedic experience, some players note a lack of rewards for more traditional gameplay. Overall, the humor enhances the game's appeal, making it enjoyable despite its macabre themes.

    • “However, their darkly humorous writing is still entertaining, especially the various death messages, and the graphics and music are excellent by NES standards, so I think there’s still value in playing them today.”
    • “There are many creative ways to die, and they are accompanied by a dry sense of humor.”
    • “Achievements are pretty funny in that you are rewarded with dying in various grim ways in each game.”
  • story
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The storylines in these games are often described as dry and unengaging, with players showing little interest. "Shadowgate" features a medieval fantasy quest against an evil warlock, "Uninvited" revolves around a search for a sister in a haunted house, and "Deja Vu" follows an amnesiac detective on a journey to regain his memories.

    • “Shadowgate is a medieval fantasy story about trying to stop an evil warlock, Uninvited sees the player trying to find his sister in a haunted house, and Deja Vu follows amnesiac detective Ace Harding as he tries to recover his lost memories.”
    • “Dry storyline at times.”
    • “Hardly a success story; gamers just weren't all that interested in these games.”
    • “Shadowgate is a medieval fantasy story about trying to stop an evil warlock, while Uninvited sees the player trying to find his sister in a haunted house, and Deja Vu follows amnesiac detective Ace Harding as he tries to recover his lost memories.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its charm and immersive quality, reminiscent of classic NES adventure games. The chip music significantly enhances the experience, contributing to the overall ambiance as players navigate through challenges.

    • “If you have any interest in NES adventure games loaded with atmosphere and charm, and don't mind some frustrations along the way, try it out.”
    • “The chip music sets the atmosphere as you try to figure it all out.”

0%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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