Maniac Mansion

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 107 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • humor
Maniac Mansion Game Cover
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In "Maniac Mansion" , you help Dale and his friends rescue Sandy from Dr. Fred by exploring the mansion, solving puzzles, and uncovering its mysterious past. With multiple ways to solve the mystery and a cast of quirky characters, this point-and-click adventure promises hours of humor and intrigue. The game features no typing, allowing you to easily point, click, and interact with the environment. Discover the secrets of the meteor, the strange inhabitants, and the weird objects in this comedic and slightly spooky rescue mission.

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Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 107 reviews
graphics4 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • Maniac Mansion is a classic point-and-click adventure game that revolutionized the genre, featuring multiple characters and unique skillsets that enhance replayability.
  • The game is filled with humor and clever puzzles, providing a nostalgic experience for those who played it in their youth.
  • Its innovative design, including real-time NPC interactions and multiple endings, makes it a significant milestone in gaming history.
  • The game suffers from technical issues in this release, including a problematic mouse cursor and missing audio elements compared to the original versions.
  • Players may encounter frustrating dead ends and unwinnable scenarios due to the game's trial-and-error mechanics and obscure puzzle solutions.
  • The lack of modern conveniences and documentation can make the gameplay experience tedious and confusing for new players.
  • music24 mentions

    The music in this game has been widely criticized for its minimal presence, with many users noting the absence of iconic tracks from previous versions, such as the NES and Commodore 64. While some sound effects are included, the lack of background music significantly detracts from the overall experience, leading players to prefer fan-made versions that offer better audio enhancements. Overall, the sparse musical component leaves a noticeable void, impacting the enjoyment of the game.

    • “The game has no music and isn't as I expected, but it is fun all the same; I just hope that you can add the music and finish all of the intractable things such as the loose brick in the dungeon.”
    • “Music and sounds are sparse as all hell, although the green tentacle has a bangin' tune on his demo tape - I gotta say.”
    • “This version of the game doesn't have music like the NES version did, but it has the innuendos that Nintendo wouldn't include in the console release.”
    • “But man.. you don't realize until you're playing without the music just how much you miss it.”
  • graphics22 mentions

    The graphics of "Maniac Mansion" have received mixed reviews, with players appreciating the nostalgic charm of the original low-resolution visuals while also acknowledging the improvements in the enhanced version. While the enhanced graphics offer more detail, many players feel that the original's retro aesthetic holds a unique appeal. Overall, the game is recognized as a significant milestone in the graphic adventure genre, despite its dated visuals and sound effects.

    • “Excellent graphics on my 4K monitor!”
    • “I loved the odd colors, the blocky graphics, and everything else about it that screams 'it's the 80's!' I was really looking forward to replaying through this odd little game, and hopefully, finally, getting to the end of it!”
    • “That leaves you with the original version with low-res DOS graphics and PC speaker sound.”
    • “The very first graphic adventure by LucasArts has a redundant command prompt, poor graphics, poorer sound effects, and several ways to make the game unwinnable (I hope you use several save slots on your first gameplay) but it is amazing anyway!”
    • “There are no gameplay differences between the two versions; the enhanced version just has better and more detailed graphics, but the original version has a higher nostalgia factor, at least in my opinion.”
  • humor13 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending quirky absurdity with cleverness reminiscent of classic LucasArts adventure titles. Players appreciate the funny scenes, well-thought-out puzzle solutions, and the memorable charm of the characters, although some find the humor less impactful. Overall, the game successfully mixes creepy elements with humor, creating a unique and entertaining experience.

    • “It's a classic piece of adventure gaming with a good sense of humor which LucasArts was known for.”
    • “The humor is top notch and you can usually find plenty of added jokes in inspecting the environment.”
    • “Every puzzle has a logical solution, the big pool of characters allows several subsequent playthroughs and the humor of the game is the right mix of creepy and absurd.”
  • story13 mentions

    The story of *Maniac Mansion* is considered weak and lacking in depth and character growth, despite its historical significance in gaming. While it features a somewhat interesting premise involving a mad scientist and multiple endings based on character choices, the overall narrative is minimal and often overshadowed by obscure puzzle-solving elements. Players may find it more enjoyable to watch others play rather than engage with the game themselves, as the story does not provide a compelling arc or substantial dialogue.

    • “The friends you choose to bring along each have their own way of finishing the story, and the game has multiple endings.”
    • “I get that Maniac Mansion was very important for video games as a storytelling medium at the time of its release.”
    • “Maniac Mansion was a LucasArts game from the year 1987 that revolves around the plot of a mad scientist named Dr. Fred Edison who wasn't quite himself after he came into contact with a mysterious meteor from space that has mind-controlling powers that took away Dr. Edison's free will.”
    • “The story isn't that interesting, but it's an old game after all.”
    • “In my opinion, it's better to just watch someone else play through the game if you want to experience what little story there is than to actually play this.”
    • “Save yourself the headache of a game with almost zero storyline.”
  • gameplay11 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a trial-and-error mechanic that some players find frustrating, though it is appreciated for its innovative design for its time. Players can experience multiple endings and character options, enhancing replayability, while the command prompt system offers simple, intuitive controls. However, issues like erratic mouse movement and unwinnable scenarios detract from the overall experience, despite the nostalgic value and improved graphics in enhanced versions.

    • “As far as gameplay, it's like riding a bike and I still remembered most of the hidden spots, woohoo!”
    • “One of the unique features in this game was that it incorporated multiple endings and that you could play with different characters for different gameplay options and endings.”
    • “The play mechanics, which are basically an extension of text adventuring, are simple and easy to learn.”
    • “It's based on trial and error, a mechanic that most people find quite annoying nowadays.”
    • “Mouse cursor jumps around like crazy during gameplay, which is a problem, seeing as it's a point-and-click adventure.”
    • “I personally found it to be a bit annoying in practice, as mentioned, since the aforementioned trial and error gameplay keeps that feeling going throughout, but I do appreciate the idea - and for its time it's quite remarkable.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability through its multiple characters, each presenting unique puzzles and challenges, allowing players to explore different strategies and outcomes. While some reviewers suggest the addition of achievements could enhance this aspect, the existing variety in character choices and routes provides a solid foundation for replay value, surpassing that of many other adventure games.

    • “This gives the game a good amount of replayability, much more than most adventure games have.”
    • “- It's short, but replayable thanks to multiple characters and endings.”
    • “Maniac Mansion has a lot of replayability value due to the player's ability to play the game with a different character composition, changing quite a few of the puzzles and opening up other routes.”
    • “- it's short, but replayable thanks to multiple characters and endings.”
    • “Multiple characters with their own puzzles add to replayability.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    Reviewers highlight that the mansion features a captivating atmosphere, contributing significantly to the overall experience of the game.

    • “The mansion has a captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”
    • “The eerie ambiance of the game creates a sense of suspense and intrigue.”
    • “The rich details and haunting sounds contribute to an immersive atmosphere.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, significantly hindering the overall gameplay experience.

    • “It makes gameplay go extremely slow and feels very tedious.”
    • “The grinding is so repetitive that it drains the fun out of the game.”
    • “I find myself doing the same tasks over and over, which becomes incredibly boring.”
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Critic Reviews

90% average critic score

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