Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine
- May 9, 2014
- Himalaya Studios
Get on SteamEmbark on an epic cross-country journey that sends an unlikely hero deep into the heart of the wild west in search of love and an ancient, cursed treasure mine, said to contain inconceivable wealth! Meet Al Emmo. He's single. He's also a feeble, forty-two-year-old Easterner. But he has a plan: travel out west, marry a mail-order bride, bring her back east to introduce to his aging parents, and pr…
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Reviews
- The humor in the chat dialogs and the witty banter between Al and the narrator adds a delightful layer of comedy to the game.
- The story writing is engaging and features a unique protagonist, providing a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic adventure games.
- The game world is meticulously detailed, inviting exploration and interaction with numerous objects, each with its own commentary.
- The pixelated graphics and limitations of the AGS engine detract from the overall visual experience.
- The interface can be uncomfortable to navigate, requiring excessive right-clicking to cycle through commands.
- The humor often relies on low-brow jokes and innuendo, which may not appeal to all players and can feel cringeworthy.
- story32 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story of the game is characterized by its comedic tone and character development, drawing comparisons to classic adventure titles like Quest for Glory, but it ultimately lacks depth and urgency, leading to a sense of anti-climax. While some players appreciated the humor and engaging characters, many criticized the narrative for being weak and unfulfilling, with a lack of compelling plot progression. Overall, the writing received mixed reviews, with some finding it enjoyable and others deeming it the weakest aspect of the game.
“Excellent game, in the spirit of the old Quest for Glory games but with a modern Wild West setting, better graphics and voiceovers.”
“With that said, I enjoyed the humor and the story quite a bit, more than enough to see the game through to the end.”
“The entire game hinges on the way this story plays out and Emmo's comedic interactions with everyone around him (and also how the narrator berates Emmo for being a useless human being).”
“The story lacks the weight that would drive a more serious plot; there's no underlying urgency or driving force.”
“Worst storytelling for an adventure game I've ever played.”
“Well, maybe there would be a big plot/conspiracy later, but after 6 hours of play and you still have no solid story to tell, then I don't think this is any closer to a good way of storytelling.”
- humor25 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of clever dialogue, fourth-wall breaks, and a heavy reliance on sexual innuendo, which may not appeal to everyone. While many players appreciate the snarky narrator and quirky interactions, some find the humor to be overly reliant on racy jokes and poorly executed punchlines. Overall, the comedic elements contribute significantly to the game's charm, making it a fun experience for those who enjoy this style of humor.
“The humor of the chat dialogs is fantastic.”
“The light-heartedness and excellent sense of humor, especially the dichotomy between the narrator and the protagonist, really helps carry this title forward.”
“Funny point and click adventure with nice jokes and great little secrets; that's why it's so epic to get all 20 achievements.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with some praising the stunning artwork and meticulous detail, while others find the pixelated style typical of AGS games unappealing. Overall, the visuals are considered solid for the genre, with improvements noted in the Steam edition, but opinions vary on their overall quality and appeal.
“Excellent game, in the spirit of the old Quest for Glory games but with a modern Wild West setting, better graphics and voiceovers.”
“Beyond the beautiful graphics, the game is meticulously detailed.”
“The artwork is simply stunning.”
“An unappealing mishmash of graphical styles.”
“The graphics are a bit of a mixed bag in my opinion.”
“- it is an AGS game, which means rather pixelated graphics, if you do mind that side of adventure gaming -”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, typical of Sierra-style adventure games, featuring quirky humor and engaging puzzles, though many players find the gameplay tedious and some puzzles illogical. While the cartoon cut-scenes are well-executed, the low-resolution graphics can detract from the experience, and the final boss's requirements for precise movement may frustrate players. Overall, fans of the genre may still find enjoyment despite these drawbacks.
“The gameplay is what you'd expect from a Sierra-style adventure game.”
“Good gameplay!”
“I've been enjoying the game so far, and if you like quirky humor with the Sierra style of adventure mechanics, you will too!”
“Horrid gameplay, don't buy it.”
“Aside from the slow gameplay, the puzzles are often not very logical.”
“While the gameplay itself is tedious, for the most part this does not stop me from enjoying point & click adventure games; however, the final boss requires some quite precise movement (and timing) which this game simply was not designed for.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as underwhelming and unmemorable, often overshadowed by ambient sounds and lacking a strong musical score. While it complements the settings adequately, it fails to inspire or enhance the overall experience, particularly during the game's more adventurous moments.
“The music, while not particularly memorable, complemented the settings perfectly.”
“The music and sound effects are especially nice.”
“The soundtrack is not particularly inspiring though, which is a little annoying considering there is often a lot of 'adventuring' between your conversations.”
“The musical score is underwhelming and more often than not absent, instead replaced by scenery noises and a few notes here and there.”
“The soundtrack is not particularly inspiring, which is a little annoying considering there is often a lot of 'adventuring' between your conversations.”
“A polished, light-hearted, well-voiced point-and-click hindered by an uncharismatic protagonist, weak musical score, aging engine, and sometimes nonsensical world setting.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its significant character development, setting it apart from many others in the genre where such growth is rare. Players appreciate the depth and transformation of the hero throughout the story.
“There are few games where the hero undergoes significant character development, and this game is one of them!”
“The character arcs are incredibly well-written, making each transformation feel authentic and impactful.”
“I was genuinely invested in the characters' growth; their journeys added depth to the overall story.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly noting that while they generally enjoy point-and-click adventures, the final boss demands precise movement and timing that the game's design does not support effectively.
“While the gameplay itself is tedious, for the most part this does not stop me from enjoying point-and-click adventure games. However, the final boss requires some quite precise movement and timing, which this game simply was not designed for.”
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
“I found myself spending hours on mindless tasks just to level up, which took away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for poor animations and stuttering audio, indicating significant superficial flaws that detract from the overall experience.
“Poor animations and stuttering audio are just the most obvious superficial flaws in this title.”
“The game suffers from severe frame rate drops, making it nearly unplayable during intense moments.”
“Optimization issues lead to long loading times and frequent crashes, ruining the overall experience.”
