Your adventure gaming in 2011: From the good, and the not so good, let's talk about what we played here.

My list:

Azada 2

Much like the first game, an enjoyable casual puzzler. The mini-adventure scenarios were a neat addition.

Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst

Return to Ravenhearst was a surprising but pleasing leap forward from the first Ravenhearst game, being more of a light adventure game than a HOG. And I'll never get tired of exploring spooky old houses in games. Looking forward to trying the next Ravenhearst game at some point.

Drawn: The Painted Tower
Drawn Dark Flight

Another refreshing change from the typical casual game. Love the art design and the variety of environments. And while the puzzle tended to be basic, there were a few surprisingly challenging ones (thinking mainly of the sun you had to paint by mixing color in various channels).

Back To The Future

The beginning of the decline for Telltale games, in my opinion. Great story, dialogue, and voice acting, but very limited game play even by episodic standards. Very buggy as well, based on the headaches I (and others from what I read on the Telltale forum) had in getting it to run. It felt more like an interactive movie than a game, and was entertaining enough when considered as such. But I paid money for a game, not a movie.

Gray Matter

A frustrating game in what it could have been with some more polish. Good plot,  interesting main characters. Graphically very uneven. Subplots that were hinted at went nowhere. Puzzles were a mixed bag as well, though I really enjoyed the Daedalus Club section. It's a decent game, but not the great one you would expect from a Jane Jensen production.

Out of Order

Very good, fairly challenging and lengthy freeware game. Pretty funny as well.

The Blackwell Legacy
Blackwell Unbound
The Blackwell Convergence

Rather easy and on the short side, but gripping storywise, good writing and strong main characters. I really need to play the fourth game in the series.

The Tiny Bang Story

Another graphically pleasant but quite casual puzzler. I basically liked it, but found it somewhat buggy in my case as the game let me advance before collecting some key items.

Puzzle Agent 2

Much like the first game, worth playing for Graham Annabel's weird and wild world, but not much else.

Secret Files: Tunguska

Didn't care for this at all. The cooperative sections were slightly more interesting than the bulk of the game, but that's about the best I can say for it. Lousy writing, boring protagionists, some truly bizarre puzzle solutions with rather cruel results.

Hmm, not a lot of good grades I see here GF, and I respect your opinions. Book of Unwritten Tales?

I have quite a number of various games that I will be starting very soon. Sadly BUT is the only one that falls within the AG category. Still it will get its chance to maintain my pastime for good adventures.

Hi CB

I must tell you that I am a tough grader and there are very few games that I would even consider giving an A grade to. Use this knowledge when reviewing my grades. Also these grades are of my personal enjoyment level. As far as an opinion of Book of Unwritten Tales, not interested, not my type of game.

You played no adventure games in all of 2011?

Not played a whole lot of adventure games last year

Time gentlemen, please! 

Gray matter 

Leisure Suit Larry in the land of the lounge lizards

King's quest 1-3

Gemini rue

Trauma

 Professor Layton and the curious village 

Still life

Tex Murphy: Overseer

And there were probably a few more that I can't remember right now.

Didn't play many adventures myself this year, or many games at all for that matter. I seemed to wonder around for a couple of hours in dozens of games, but I only managed to really dedicate myself to far fewer than I did in previous years.

Black Mirror 2 B

Still Life A-

The Next BIG Thing B

I liked it a lot, but it'd have to be at least 2 hours longer for a better grade.

Sam and Max Season 3 B+

I absolutely loved the first 2 seasons, they get A+ from me. The third Season is a great adventure, but I just didn't have as much fun as I did with the previous ones, and I can't quite put my finger on the reason .

Kaptain Brawe in a Brawe New World B-

No voice-overs, which is better than bad voice-overs IMHO. Charming art, pretty short but the second half has some decent puzzles that can take a while to figure out.

CSI: Fatal Conspiracy B-

Nothing new here, it plays exactly the same as the last couple of games in the series. There is a stronger element of an overarching storyline within the different cases, and the main villain is more interesting than most. By now, most adventure gamers know whether they like this series or not. For those that do, this is a very well-made "more of the same". For those that don't, there is nothing here that could change their mind.

Gemini Rue B+

An excellent first effort, with a stong cyberpunk vibe, interesting plot and solid voice acting. It is story-driven to a fault, with most puzzles offering token resistance, just enough to keep Gemini Rue from being an interactive novel. I feel it is slighly overhyped, though I am glad that it gets some attention from gaming media that have all but forgotten adventure games. Definitely worth playing for all gamers but the ones who hate heavy emphasis on story over challenge. 

And that's it. I intent to play Black Mirror 3 and Still Life 2 very soon, while their predeccesors are still fresh in my mind.

I can't remember finishing many full adventure games. Mostly I've been playing casual adventures due to lack of time and higher puzzle density in the casual games. But these are the adventure games I can remember finishing, and to the best of my memory I finished them in 2011 and not earlier.

Black Mirror 2 and 3 -- Really Parts 1 and 2 of the same game. I enjoyed BM3 more -- mostly because over half of BM2 took place in Biddeford, Maine instead of the Black Mirror area, and also because BM2 ended on a cliffhanger (UGH!)

Secret Files: Puritas Cordis -- I liked the first Secret Files game better. Although this one had some improvements, the story just wasn't as interesting.

Memento Mori -- Better than I expected. I can't remember why they named it that though.

Art of Murder: Hunt for the Puppeteer -- Kind of disappointing storywise but OK otherwise. Like the other adventure games by City Interactive, it was a bit formulaic, though much better than their casual games.

Nancy Drew: Ransom of the Seven Ships -- One of the worst Nancy Drews I've played. You have to play and replay games of manual dexterity and luck with obnoxious monkeys to get necessary inventory items.

Tiny Bang Story -- Did not like this because the items were way too small and it was headache-inducing trying to find them. The graphics and colors were pretty, but I spent most of my time clicking on the blueflies for hints. 30 blueflies for a hint means lots and lots of blueflies. Lots and lots of clicking. This isn't an adventure game at all so I'm not sure why I'm listing it.

Everything else I haven't finished yet -- or haven't started.

Where can I buy Dead Mountaineers Hotel  ?  I didn't know it was finally released, but I'm very happy to see that it has.

Originally Posted By Traveller

Where can I buy Dead Mountaineers Hotel  ?  I didn't know it was finally released, but I'm very happy to see that it has.

Steam $9.99

The english releases of Dead Mountaineer's Hotel and A Stroke of Fate are Steam exclusives as far as I know. Perhaps other digital stores will offer them as well, but certainly no boxed version.

Reviews for DMH sadly range from extremely to mildy negative. Haven't seen one for a Stroke of Fate.

I spent most of my 2011 gaming hours on OGs however I did manage to squeeze in a short list from earlier in the year.  None really stood out as I recall, as for the best I guess it would be a tie between Gray Matter and Lost Horizon. :/

Baron Wittard

Black Mirror 3

Edna and Harvey: The Breakout (got bored never finished)

Gray Matter

Lost Horizon

Rockin' Dead

Originally Posted By Traveller

Where can I buy Dead Mountaineers Hotel  ?  I didn't know it was finally released, but I'm very happy to see that it has.

Before you do, make sure you check out a Let's Play on youtube of the first few minutes and see if you can tolerate the horrendous voice-acting. I couldn't - it's the worst I've ever heard in a game, bar none. Of course, that doesn't stop the game from being good, but just take a look and you'll see what I mean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5QFvblL3uY

Originally Posted By walsh (6 JAN 2012 4:15pm)

Originally Posted By Traveller

Where can I buy Dead Mountaineers Hotel  ?  I didn't know it was finally released, but I'm very happy to see that it has.

 

Before you do, make sure you check out a Let's Play on youtube of the first few minutes and see if you can tolerate the horrendous voice-acting. I couldn't - it's the worst I've ever heard in a game, bar none. Of course, that doesn't stop the game from being good, but just take a look and you'll see what I mean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5QFvblL3uY

OMG... no no no.   The voice actor doing the owner of the hotel... It's like they just called some guy off the street to quickly come and read some amaturish script off of pieces of paper.  Only, the guy never learnt to read properly..     

The inspector isn't exactly good, but at least seems able to read.

Ugh, I had such high hopes for this game. 

Thanks for the warning.  I wonder if that old man features all the time?   :s

 Since I didn't like all the interjections made by the person who did that recording, I looked for other vids of the game, and it seems that the voice-acting in the German version is stellar in comparison  

Oh, and will you believe it... 2011 went by and I don't think I managed to play a single AG proper...  well, I can't think of one yet..  :S

I haven't been tempted by Dead Mountaineers Hotel yet as there have been so many negative comments. I don't normally take any notice but as it's  download only I think I'll wait until it's really cheap!

Games I've played in 2011 (not so many) include Heavy Rain, Memento Mori, 15 Days, Alter Ego, Blackwell Deception & A New Beginning - all of these get an A grade from me for the interesting stories & sheer enjoyment of playing!

Other games which get lesser grades from me are The Book of Unwritten Tales 

N.B. I've got a smiley where I don't want one, can't get rid of it so please ignore!

I played very few adventures this year. The void was filled with Casuals and reading.

Here's my list. The Casuals are in blue. The ones with an * are those I particularly liked.

2011

*Mystery Case Files - 13th Skull CE

Nancy Drew Warning at Waverly Academy - Jan 22- Feb 27

The Filmmaker - Aug 7/10 - March 6/11

Rhem 3 - March 7 - March 26

Rhem 4 - March 26 - April 10

*Tiny Bang Story -

Blood Oath

*Fall Trilogy 3 - Revelation

Gravely Silent House of Deadlock

Midnight Mysteries 3- Death on the Mississippi

*Hidden Expedition Uncharted Islands Collector’s Edition

Nightmare Edition The Witches Prison

*Urban Legends The Maze

Echoes of the Past Citadel of Time

*Mystery Case Files Escape from Ravenhurst

Hallowed Legends Templar CE

Nightmare Realm

Dark Tales Edgar Allen Poe Murders in Rue Morgue

*Hidden Expedition Devil's Triangle

*Haunted Halls Green Hills Sanitarium

*Patricia's Quest for Sun - jigsaw

Azada in Libro

I have no idea how to edit this post, sorry for the way it turned out.

There is something terribly wrong with the technical aspects of this site! If you try & edit anything everything gets in the wrong place & nothing works! Aside from that I've tried accessing some of the other places in JA & just drawn a blank - it's been going on for a few months now.

Originally Posted By CB (6 JAN 2012 3:11pm)

 

Baron Wittard

I forgot to mention that one.

Here's my 2011 Games Played List:

--Completed games:

Jazz & Faust,

Quior Moir (I want to die), a free game about a robot that wants to die b/c his maker made a mistake (don't remember what it was, but this game had a happy ending),

Cosmos Quest 1: Search for a sun (IIRC),

Liath,

Nikopol

--Partly Completed games:

Black Mirror,

Black Mirror 2,

Baron Wittard,

Alter Ego,

Ark of Time,

Vera Blanc,

Cosmos Quest 2,

Originally Posted By colpet (7 JAN 2012 11:45am)

I have no idea how to edit this post, sorry for the way it turned out.

Colpet-

I edited it for you by taking out the size markings.

The snowy pre-release screenshots of Dead Mountaineers Hotel enticed me but after watching that youtube vid I now realise I would hate the game.  If only these game developers would find themselves some writing students to edit their work, I'm sure they'd get a much better product onto the market.  The voice acting is REALLY awful - there ought to be an industry award for such ghastliness. 

Here's what I played and my scores -

Last Half of Darkness: Society of the Serpent Moon A+

Black Mirror 3 C

Carol Reed: Blue Madonna A-

A New Beginning C

The Lost Crown A+

Baron Wittard: Nemesis of Ragnarok A

Tex Murphy: Overseer A

Portal 2 A-

Drawn: Trail of Shadows B-

LA Noire B+

The Next Big Thing C

Gemini Rue B

Yoomurjak's Ring A+

If I had to pick the best game of 2011 it would be between Last Half of Darkness and Baron Wittard. I enjoyed the LHOD more but it was a little too easy in parts, and Baron Wittard was excellent too but had some (rare) boring sections.

I think this was one my  worst years in terms of adventure games. As far as I can recall, I only played:

Gray Matter

Black Mirror 3

Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper (though I think I played most of it late 2010)

Alternativa (not finished)

I hope this year will see more releases...