SHP Forums

Me needlessly rambling... before I reveal the next game.
(Ye might already know if ye look closely at the thumbail)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsJ9FWp ... ierraGames

I think you know my answer to what I think you should play next. But it's needlessly mazey.

Ah, Black Cauldron. Another game I'd never played ... and it looks like I can't play it now, since it's not on GOG or Steam. *shrug* But apparently Steam has The Black Cauldron movie ... and you don't have to pay for it?!? I wasn't aware that was legal.

Alas, among GOG's Sierra games, there are very few I hadn't played -- except ones I'm not interested in: Phantasmagoria 1 and 2, Shivers, Lighthouse, Codename: Iceman ... all very worthwhile, I'm sure, but either insanely difficult or very boring (according to Tawmis's playthroughs!)

The only ones remaining are Torin's Passage and Conquests of Camelot. Oh, well.

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 6:35 pm I think you know my answer to what I think you should play next. But it's needlessly mazey.

I think you just wanna hear me bitch about the maze.

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 6:35 pm Ah, Black Cauldron. Another game I'd never played ... and it looks like I can't play it now, since it's not on GOG or Steam. *shrug* But apparently Steam has The Black Cauldron movie ... and you don't have to pay for it?!? I wasn't aware that was legal.

Probably free with ads. Youtube has a metric ton of movies free with ads, such as FernGully (I always loved that movie!)!

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 6:35 pm Alas, among GOG's Sierra games, there are very few I hadn't played -- except ones I'm not interested in: Phantasmagoria 1 and 2, Shivers, Lighthouse, Codename: Iceman ... all very worthwhile, I'm sure, but either insanely difficult or very boring (according to Tawmis's playthroughs!)
The only ones remaining are Torin's Passage and Conquests of Camelot. Oh, well.

I've not done Shivers yet; and I don't think I called any of the games boring. Phantasmagoria 1 is amazing, 2 is good - right until the end, Lighthouse is a nightmare, Codename: Iceman is great - but insanely difficult.

I am looking forward to Torin's Passage (will probably do that after Black Cauldron to keep that "kid" between the two), and then I may do Quest for Glory II (and swear), and then do the Camelot Series (keeping the fantasy theme going).

Black Cauldron can be downloaded for free from Al Lowe's website, http://allowe.com/downloads/games.html . I think Black Cauldron just runs in DOSBox like that.

Black Cauldron is AGI. Use AGILE.

Collector wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 9:28 am Black Cauldron is AGI. Use AGILE.

Does AGILE have screen recording like DOSBox?
Because I'd need to capture the footage as I play.

Tawmis wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 1:19 am

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 6:35 pm I think you know my answer to what I think you should play next. But it's needlessly mazey.

I think you just wanna hear me bitch about the maze.

The maze really isn't that difficult. All you have to do is make it to the money changer and back again to the map seller. Then you can buy a map and teleport around Shapeir effortlessly.

Tawmis wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 1:19 am

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 6:35 pm Alas, among GOG's Sierra games, there are very few I hadn't played -- except ones I'm not interested in: Phantasmagoria 1 and 2, Shivers, Lighthouse, Codename: Iceman ... all very worthwhile, I'm sure, but either insanely difficult or very boring (according to Tawmis's playthroughs!)
The only ones remaining are Torin's Passage and Conquests of Camelot. Oh, well.

I've not done Shivers yet; and I don't think I called any of the games boring. Phantasmagoria 1 is amazing, 2 is good - right until the end, Lighthouse is a nightmare, Codename: Iceman is great - but insanely difficult.

Then, whoops? *blush* I thought I remember you saying that Lighthouse was boring? But I've never played it, so I wouldn't know how boring or not it is.

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 4:18 pm

Tawmis wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 1:19 am I've not done Shivers yet; and I don't think I called any of the games boring. Phantasmagoria 1 is amazing, 2 is good - right until the end, Lighthouse is a nightmare, Codename: Iceman is great - but insanely difficult.

Then, whoops? *blush* I thought I remember you saying that Lighthouse was boring? But I've never played it, so I wouldn't know how boring or not it is.

Hah. Not boring. Just insanely complicated and a mess. Lighthouse, to me, having replayed it - goes above and beyond - any form of difficulty presented in Codename: Iceman. I'd much rather do Codename: Iceman start to finish, once a month, than try Lighthouse once a year.

Eek. More insanely difficult than Gold Rush!? Or "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"?

How is Lighthouse a mess? Just wondering. And what makes C:I so difficult? I was thinking of tackling it next, but if it's so unbearable, maybe I shouldn't bother?

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Mon Feb 27, 2023 2:07 am Eek. More insanely difficult than Gold Rush!? Or "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"?
How is Lighthouse a mess? Just wondering. And what makes C:I so difficult? I was thinking of tackling it next, but if it's so unbearable, maybe I shouldn't bother?

The thing with Gold Rush that's complicated is the random deaths (disease, for example) that can happen - even if you did everything correct. I guess the other part that's difficult is purchasing the right stuff for the version of the trip you're taking. Panning for gold is a pain, because it too, is randomized (if memory serves me right). As for HHGttG... I only played the original text adventure - and yes, that was a nightmare. But I think text adventure games overall tend to be more difficult than graphical games. But that one took the cake for text adventure. The 30th year edition at least provides pictures of the room and area, making it easier to visualize.

Lighthouse is a mess, because you're often dealing with very weird technology that is a lot of trial and error... the game has some puzzles that are not very logical... you need a map for the railway... It's like Myst... but 10 times more difficult. And 100 more puzzles.

And Codename: Iceman is difficult - mostly because the game, often times, feels like it's trying to dead end you. There's an area where you had something to someone (won't say what in case you play) - and if you leave and try to get entrance - even though the front gate person JUST SAW YOU A SECOND AGO - they won't let you in or escort a guard up or anything. Just things like that. And the bottle game (which is not required, you can find an alternative later) is a pain because you can only restore so many times before it calls you a cheater and the guy leaves (the game continues, however). And the sub sequence is fine... until you get to combat. Then you need to have the manual ready to know what depths to dive at and such and which missiles to use at which times.

Geez. Yes, I've tried Myst, but it confused the %&@* out of me. And Lighthouse is even more illogical? Wow. (And yet, some people carp about the "cat moustache" puzzle in GK3).

Codename: Iceman sounds just as illogical. I've heard about a situation where you have to present credentials to a gate guard, and he takes them, but if you leave, you don't get your credentials back and you can't come in. Is that right?

Yes, I've seen pictures of the bottle game (here on SHP, funnily enough).

The sub sequence sounds like they wanted it to be realistic. But sometimes, too much realism can torpedo a computer game. Pardon the pun.

If Gabriel Knight 1 was completely realistic, then the motorcycle cop at Jackson Square would have a buddy as backup ... and might caution (or fine?) Gabriel for bothering the mime. Or DEFINITELY arrest Gabriel for messing about with the cop's motorcycle. That's just one scene.

Adventure games should not be realistic. There has to be an element of suspended disbelief. In LSL1, a policeman arrests Larry for indecent exposure -- but the rest of the time, you don't see any policemen in Lost Wages. If LSL1 was realistic .......... oh boy. The taxi driver would have to clean his cab (and grumble "I wonder who ratted on me?!"), the apple-seller would be arrested for indecent exposure, the drunk who sells you a knife would be in a drunk-tank, etc., etc...

There's a reason they're not. Adventure games aren't supposed to be realistic (and normally, they're not - at least, not if the realism interferes with the fun). This might be why games like Codename: Iceman are considered to be so difficult. What do you think?

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Mon Feb 27, 2023 2:46 am Geez. Yes, I've tried Myst, but it confused the %&@* out of me. And Lighthouse is even more illogical? Wow. (And yet, some people carp about the "cat moustache" puzzle in GK3).

Having replayed it - I actually think the acquiring of the hat is more tricky. Because you see it before you need it; and if you try to grab it, Gabe says he doesn't need it. You can't actually get it until the idea of imitating Mosely to get the motorcycle comes about. So if you try to get the hat before then and it says you don't need it - doesn't seem logical you'd go back and try to get it later.

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Mon Feb 27, 2023 2:46 am Codename: Iceman sounds just as illogical. I've heard about a situation where you have to present credentials to a gate guard, and he takes them, but if you leave, you don't get your credentials back and you can't come in. Is that right?

That's the one. It was probably me bitching about it.

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Mon Feb 27, 2023 2:46 am The sub sequence sounds like they wanted it to be realistic. But sometimes, too much realism can torpedo a computer game. Pardon the pun.

Yeah, the sub sequence isn't fun, over all. But Sierra had a few of those "arcade" sequences (Space Quest had them, Leisure Suit Larry had them, Police Quest has the driving sequence) - so it's not like it's unique to Codename: Iceman. However, I am not sure if you don't "check the missiles" if they will function if you need them. But there is missiles you need to check.