Maniac Mansion

About

Maniac Mansion is a 1987 graphic adventure video game developed and published by Lucasfilm Games. It follows teenage protagonist Dave Miller as he attempts to rescue his girlfriend from a mad scientist, whose mind has been enslaved by a sentient meteor. The player uses a point-and-click interface to guide Dave and two of his six playable friends through the scientists mansion while solving puzzles…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 94 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Maniac Mansion is a classic point-and-click adventure game that offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the genre.
The game features multiple characters with unique abilities, allowing for different puzzle-solving approaches and multiple endings, enhancing replayability.
The humor and quirky atmosphere of the game, along with its innovative design for its time, make it a memorable experience.

The game suffers from technical issues, including a problematic mouse cursor that can make gameplay frustrating and lead to unwinnable scenarios.
Some puzzles can be obscure and lead to dead ends, which can be frustrating for players unfamiliar with the game's logic.
The lack of background music and sound effects in this version detracts from the overall experience, especially compared to other versions like the NES.

music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
78%
13%
The music in this game has received significant criticism, with many users noting the absence of key tracks from previous versions, such as the NES and Commodore 64. Reviewers express disappointment over the minimal musical component, which detracts from the overall experience, and some suggest that the game feels incomplete without a more robust soundtrack. Overall, the lack of music is a major drawback, overshadowing the game's other features and leaving players longing for the richer audio experience of earlier iterations.
- “Music, on the other hand, would have made this a much more enjoyable experience.”
- “To this, however, we prefer the NES version due to a better soundtrack.”
- “This version does not include the background music for the characters, a really odd choice after all these years.”
- “The only thing wrong with this version of the game compared to the original is the music.”
- “But man.. you don't realize until you're playing without the music just how much you miss it.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The graphics of "Maniac Mansion" have been a point of contention among users, with the original 1987 version featuring low-resolution visuals and basic sound, while the enhanced edition offers improved detail and clarity. Despite the graphical upgrades, many players appreciate the nostalgic charm of the original's blocky aesthetics and vibrant colors. Overall, while the enhanced version provides a more visually appealing experience, the original retains a significant nostalgic value for fans of classic graphic adventures.
- “I have been playing on enhanced since the graphics are slightly better than the original.”
- “Excellent graphics on my 4K monitor!”
- “There are no gameplay differences between the two versions; the enhanced version just has better and more detailed graphics.”
- “That leaves you with the original version with low-res DOS graphics and PC speaker sound.”
- “This does include the original and enhanced graphics editions, but there's not much difference between them.”
- “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!”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, reflecting the classic style of LucasArts adventure games, with plenty of quirky jokes and funny puzzle solutions. While many players find the humor to be top-notch and memorable, some feel it falls flat, indicating a mixed reception. Overall, the blend of creepy and absurd elements contributes to its unique comedic appeal.
- “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.”
- “It is in the weirdness and humor that the game finds its cleverness.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The story of *Maniac Mansion* is a mixed bag; while it features a unique premise involving a mad scientist and a parody of B-movie tropes, it ultimately lacks depth and character development. Players can experience different endings based on their character choices, but the narrative is often overshadowed by obscure puzzles and minimal dialogue. Despite its historical significance in gaming, many reviewers suggest that the story is better appreciated through watching rather than playing.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “There is no really explainable story arc to help you understand exactly what you are doing.”
- “Save yourself the headache of a game with almost zero storyline.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Gameplay is characterized by a nostalgic feel, with simple mechanics reminiscent of classic text adventures, allowing for various commands and multiple endings based on character choices. While the original version suffers from poor graphics and sound, it offers a unique charm, whereas enhanced versions improve visuals without altering gameplay. However, some players note issues like erratic mouse control in the point-and-click interface, and the potential for unwinnable scenarios emphasizes the need for careful saving.
- “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.”
- “Commands like 'look', 'give', 'use', etc. were among the functions of the game, giving players various options during the gameplay.”
- “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.”
- “Mouse cursor jumps around like crazy during gameplay, which is a problem, seeing as it's a point-and-click adventure.”
- “I could be misremembering some of the puzzles, but there do seem to be some slight differences in the gameplay compared to the NES version I grew up with.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple characters, each presenting unique puzzles and challenges, which encourages players to explore different strategies and routes. While the game is relatively short, the variety in character compositions and potential endings enhances its replay value beyond that of typical adventure games. However, some players feel that additional achievements could further enrich the experience.
- “This gives the game a good amount of replayability, much more than most adventure games have.”
- “Multiple characters with their own puzzles add to replayability.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the mansion is highly praised, with users noting its impressive and immersive qualities.
- “The mansion has an incredible atmosphere that draws you in.”
- “The ambiance of the game is hauntingly beautiful, creating an immersive experience.”
- “Every corner of the environment is filled with a palpable tension that enhances the overall atmosphere.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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 takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- “I find myself doing the same tasks over and over, which becomes incredibly boring.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate a strong disapproval of monetization practices perceived as exploitative, with users urging others to avoid supporting publishers that prioritize profit over player experience.
- “I can't believe how aggressive the monetization is in this game; it feels like a constant push to spend more money.”
- “The in-game purchases are so overpriced that it ruins the overall experience.”
- “It's disappointing to see a game with such potential being held back by greedy monetization practices.”