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Granted, there's only two...

So - if you had to rate the games from best to worse - what order would you put them in?

Maybe say what you liked or disliked, to explain the order, to generate some conversation?

Even though it is the same protagonist, I do not think that they are that comparable. They both do their thing very well. TCB is one of if not THE EGA jewel in Sierra's crown. It showed just how much was possible with the limited technology of the time. Dagger is great in its own way.

I hold both LB games in equally high esteem. They're incredibly well-designed, evocative and suitably creepy. I never tire of either of them.

That being said, I was introduced to Dagger first, so it will always be a bit more special to me for that reason. The art style is very unique and beautiful to look at. I also think the underlying story is stronger and the characters more original, plus Laura has more personality.

TCB's story may be simpler and the characters more archetypal, but that was intentional. It's a delightful parody of murder mystery tropes that creates an incredibly engaging atmosphere. The EGA artwork is unsurpassed.

Semi-Happy Partygoer wrote: ↑Fri Jun 29, 2018 4:19 am I hold both LB games in equally high esteem. They're incredibly well-designed, evocative and suitably creepy. I never tire of either of them.

That being said, I was introduced to Dagger first, so it will always be a bit more special to me for that reason. The art style is very unique and beautiful to look at. I also think the underlying story is stronger and the characters more original, plus Laura has more personality.

TCB's story may be simpler and the characters more archetypal, but that was intentional. It's a delightful parody of murder mystery tropes that creates an incredibly engaging atmosphere.

Agreed, but TBC was the first for me.

Semi-Happy Partygoer wrote: ↑Fri Jun 29, 2018 4:19 am The EGA artwork is unsurpassed.

I have always said that TCB has the best EGA artwork of any game, bar none. It is Douglas Herring's masterpiece.

I've played neither but I saw a reference when playing Outpost today. One of the consumer goods you can produce are Laura Bow 2 hint books. Are these games worth giving a go if you've never heard of them before?

BlueBMW wrote: ↑Sat Oct 09, 2021 10:09 pm I've played neither but I saw a reference when playing Outpost today. One of the consumer goods you can produce are Laura Bow 2 hint books. Are these games worth giving a go if you've never heard of them before?

I can't recommend the first LAURA BOW: THE COLONEL'S BEQUEST enough, personally.

I like the second one, but the first one to me, had everything right.

TCB has the best EGA art of any other game.

BlueBMW wrote: ↑Sat Oct 09, 2021 10:09 pm I've played neither but I saw a reference when playing Outpost today. One of the consumer goods you can produce are Laura Bow 2 hint books. Are these games worth giving a go if you've never heard of them before?

Absolutely, the games are gorgeous, filled with content and really difficult.

I'd recommend them, but you need to remember that they are products of their time (TCB made in 1989 and DoAR made in 1992) and also represent the 1920s setting without falling victim to the insanity of modern-day identity politics.

In other words, there's content that might be considered "racist" or "sexist" if you're a particularly fragile and easily triggered person.

That said, if you can take any form of media for what it is and view it through the lens of the time period it was made and the time period it's supposed to represent without throwing a temper-tantrum (like many people today seem to do at the slightest provocation) then I'd definitely recommend these two games.

Personally, I like DoAR better overall, but TCB is definitely closer to a traditional "who dunnit?" in an old mansion. Both are worth playing, however.