Tex Murphy: Martian Memorandum

About

In "Tex Murphy: Martian Memorandum," players assume the role of a private detective investigating a missing person case that leads to a conspiracy on Mars. The game features a combination of adventure and puzzle-solving elements, with a unique film noir style and 3D rendered graphics. Players must interrogate suspects, examine evidence, and solve complex puzzles to unravel the mystery and save the day.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Tex Murphy: Martian Memorandum screenshot

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 48 reviews

story10 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game features a compelling story that blends noir detective elements with humor and adventure.
It offers a nostalgic experience for fans of classic point-and-click games, with a charming atmosphere and engaging characters.
The interface improvements and the removal of frustrating mechanics from the previous game make it more accessible for players.

The puzzles can be inconsistent and frustrating, with some being unintuitive and leading to potential game-breaking situations.
Technical issues such as clunky mouse controls, pixel hunting, and bugs significantly detract from the overall experience.
The graphics and audio quality have aged poorly, making it difficult for modern players to fully enjoy the game.

story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
41%
14%
The story is praised for its engaging blend of noir detective elements and adventure, infused with tongue-in-cheek humor and charming character designs. While some reviewers note that the puzzles have not aged well and the gameplay can feel linear, the overall narrative remains compelling and well-written, making it worth experiencing, even if through a video guide. Comparisons to other titles suggest it may not reach the heights of classics like "Mean Streets," but it still offers a unique and enjoyable storyline.
- “The story is actually really cool, feels like a mix between a noir hard-boiled detective story, with a grand adventure, and it kinda works in its tongue-in-cheek humor.”
- “There was still a charm to the design, and the story and characters really still had some things going for it.”
- “You can tell the developers had fun with things like character designs and how the overall story lacks a serious tone.”
- “There are times when you need to do more than just talk to people in these screens, such as give them items in order to move the story along, and I didn't realize this until I read a guide.”
- “That said, the game then becomes rather linear, but it's still a pretty neat story even today.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The graphics of the game show a significant improvement over its predecessor, with a mix of detailed and abstract elements that can be both engaging and frustrating. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm, many criticize the outdated visuals, noting that the lack of clear indicators for important objects makes gameplay challenging and less enjoyable. Overall, the graphics are seen as a mixed bag, with some fun aspects overshadowed by their obsolescence.
- “This game came out 2 years after Mean Streets and it is a marked improvement across the board in terms of interface, graphics, music/sounds, and animations.”
- “But back then... awesome graphics.”
- “The graphics were a weird hybrid of detailed and abstract, so while you'd sometimes have a grainy photo of a real-life object, other times there would be two beige pixels nestled unobtrusively in a scene, that you were supposed to realize were important and click on.”
- “In my view, this game is barely playable due to the outdated graphics.”
- “The graphics were a weird hybrid of detailed and abstract, so while you'd sometimes have a grainy photo of a real-life object, other times there would be two beige pixels nestled unobtrusively in a scene, that you were supposed to realize were important and click on (because it was a piece of paper or something). Since this is before the days of highlighting, there was never an indication of what was and wasn't an important pixel, so you could click all over an object and get a generic response, not knowing that the slightly lighter pixels were the ones that would give you the clue you actually needed.”
- “Ok, the graphics are outdated but it is still pretty fun.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay of "Martian Memorandum" is praised for its engaging style and nostalgic 90's humor, featuring quirky elements like a flying Dodge Daytona and an aerobics studio on Mars. Players appreciate the removal of challenging mechanics from previous titles, such as the difficult driving and side-scrolling shooting gallery, which enhances the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The style of the gameplay and its various 90's in-jokes and takes on the future, such as an aerobics studio on Mars, a novelty wave machine in the background of an apartment, an IBM PC as a workstation, and referring to an under-construction skyscraper as 'the new Sears Tower,' along with your car being a flying Dodge Daytona, are enjoyable for me.”
- “I am pleased that neither the driving mechanic from Mean Streets, which was difficult at best and caused you to miss out on a lot of the previous game's flavor, nor the side-scrolling shooting gallery made it into Martian Memorandum.”
- “The gameplay is a refreshing departure from previous mechanics, allowing for a more enjoyable experience.”
- “Also removed from this game is the driving mechanic from Mean Streets, which was difficult at best and caused you to miss out on a lot of the previous game's flavor.”
- “Another mechanic taken out is the side-scrolling shooting gallery.”
- “I am pleased that neither of these mechanics made it into Martian Memorandum.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The atmosphere is characterized by a strong neo-noir and sci-fi vibe, enhanced by digitized voice acting. However, many users feel that the upbeat music tracks detract from this intended atmosphere, creating a dissonance in the overall experience.
- “Gone is your flying car and navigating a map, but now you get a lot of digitized voice acting and a lot more neo-noir/sci-fi atmosphere.”
- “Most of the music tracks don't fit the atmosphere at all and are somewhat upbeat.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a blend of noir detective storytelling and grand adventure, enhanced by its tongue-in-cheek humor and witty writing. The performances of the FMV actors also contribute positively to the comedic elements, making for an engaging and amusing experience.
- “The story is actually really cool, feels like a mix between a noir hard-boiled detective story, with a grand adventure, and it kinda works in its tongue-in-cheek humor.”
- “Funny writing and the FMV actors aren't half bad.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, with repetitive tasks like saving/loading during challenging sections contributing to a lackluster experience. Overall, the gameplay is criticized for its monotonous nature, making it feel frustrating and unengaging.
- “Whether it's having to save/load over and over while crossing quicksand, or hoverboarding around lasers, this game is just incredibly tedious to play.”
- “Thinking back on my standards around the time this game came out, I would have found it lackluster and tedious even back then.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many users noting that most tracks do not align well with the game's atmosphere and are overly upbeat. However, some reviewers acknowledge that the music represents a significant improvement compared to its predecessor, "Mean Streets," enhancing the overall experience.
- “This game came out 2 years after Mean Streets and it is a marked improvement across the board in terms of interface, graphics, music/sounds, and animations.”
- “Most of the music tracks don't fit the atmosphere at all and are somewhat upbeat.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users highlight that the game offers significantly greater replayability compared to "Mean Streets," suggesting a more engaging and varied gameplay experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Character development in the game is marked by playful and creative character designs, reflecting the developers' enjoyment in crafting them. However, the overall narrative lacks a serious tone, which may affect the depth of character growth and emotional engagement.
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional and their arcs are predictable, leaving little room for growth or surprise.”
- “Despite interesting character designs, the development is lacking, resulting in a story that feels disjointed and unengaging.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game's stability is criticized, particularly regarding its compatibility with DOSBox emulation, making it a frustrating experience for new players. While it may appeal to nostalgia gamers or those interested in its historical significance, it is not recommended for casual entertainment due to these technical issues.
- “As an entertainment product for a new audience, I can confidently say that it is not worth fishing for walkthroughs or troubleshooting issues with the DOSBox emulation.”
- “There might be a niche of nostalgia gamers or people who want to study this for its historical value, but the stability issues make it hard to recommend.”
- “The game suffers from significant stability problems that detract from the overall experience.”

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