Tex Murphy: Martian Memorandum

55%
Game Brain Score Based on 24 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Tex Murphy: Martian Memorandum Game Cover
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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.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Ms Dos
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

55%
Audience ScoreBased on 24 reviews
story5 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game features a compelling story that blends noir detective elements with humor and adventure.
  • Nostalgic charm and unique character designs contribute to an enjoyable retro experience.
  • The game has improved graphics and interface compared to its predecessor, making it more accessible for players.
  • Puzzles can be frustrating and unintuitive, leading to potential game-breaking situations and requiring frequent saving.
  • Technical issues such as clunky mouse controls and low-quality audio detract from the overall experience.
  • The game can feel tedious and overly linear, with some players finding it difficult to engage with the gameplay.
  • story11 mentions

    The story is praised for its engaging blend of noir detective elements and adventure, infused with humor and charm. While some players note that it may not reach the heights of other titles like "Mean Streets," the narrative and character design are still well-crafted, making it enjoyable despite some outdated puzzle mechanics. Overall, the story remains a highlight, with recommendations to experience it through alternative means if gameplay becomes cumbersome.

    • “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, but 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.”
  • graphics6 mentions

    The graphics of the game show a significant improvement from its predecessor, with enhanced interface and animations, yet they are still considered outdated by modern standards. While some users appreciate the blend of detailed and abstract visuals, others find the lack of clarity in important elements frustrating, making the game barely playable for some. Overall, the graphics evoke a sense of nostalgia but struggle to meet contemporary expectations.

    • “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, the graphics were awesome.”
    • “The graphics were a weird hybrid of detailed and abstract, featuring grainy photos of real-life objects alongside minimalistic pixel representations that required careful observation to identify important elements.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay5 mentions

    The gameplay of "Martian Memorandum" is praised for its engaging 90's humor and imaginative futuristic elements, such as a Mars aerobics studio and a flying Dodge Daytona. Players appreciate the removal of challenging mechanics from previous titles, like 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 difficult driving mechanic from Mean Streets nor the side-scrolling shooting gallery made it into Martian Memorandum.”
    • “However, the style of the gameplay and its various 90's in-jokes and takes on the future (things like 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', and your car being a flying Dodge Daytona) are enjoyable for me.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere is characterized by a strong neo-noir and sci-fi vibe, enhanced by extensive digitized voice acting. However, some users feel that the music tracks detract from this ambiance, as they are often upbeat and do not align with the overall tone of the game.

    • “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.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The game's humor is characterized by a clever blend of tongue-in-cheek wit and a noir detective narrative, enhanced by amusing writing and competent performances from the FMV actors. This combination contributes to an engaging and entertaining experience.

    • “The story is actually really cool, feels like a mix between a noir hard-boiled detective story with a grand adventure, and it kind of works in its tongue-in-cheek humor.”
    • “Funny writing and the FMV actors aren't half bad.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with repetitive tasks like saving/loading during challenging sections and navigating obstacles contributing to an overall lackluster experience.

    • “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.”
  • music2 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some users noting that many tracks do not match the game's atmosphere and feel overly upbeat. However, others 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.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Reviewers note that the game offers significantly higher replayability compared to "Mean Streets," suggesting that players will find more engaging content and reasons to revisit the game.

    • “The game offers a variety of choices that make each playthrough feel unique.”
    • “With multiple endings and different character paths, I find myself coming back for more.”
    • “The random events and challenges keep the gameplay fresh and exciting every time.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviewers note that the character development is playful and reflects the developers' enjoyment in creating unique character designs, though the overall story may lack a serious tone.

    • “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices feel impactful and meaningful.”
    • “The diverse range of character backgrounds and personalities adds so much depth to the overall narrative.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with anyone in the story.”
    • “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way.”
    • “The characters seem more like caricatures than fully realized individuals, which detracts from the overall experience.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game's stability is criticized, with users indicating that it may not be worth the effort to troubleshoot issues related to DOSBox emulation, suggesting it lacks reliability as an entertainment product for new audiences.

    • “Altogether, there might be a niche of nostalgia gamers or people who want to study this for its historical value, but 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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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