Maniac Mansion Review (PC/C64/NES/Apple II/Amiga/Atari ST)

[iheartbong]

This game rules like Slayer.

[Madness832]

One thing: All is not lost if all your characters get locked up (& you don't have the key). One kid pushes the loose brick to allow the other(s) to escape.

[Joeyboots80]

BTW is that the C64 or the Apple II version you're playing?

[evilguy0]

Neither, it's the original DOS port that came with Day of the Tentacle for PC.

[Andthatswhymacssuck]

@evilguy0 Isn't it just strange how they didn't even make the music any better

[evilguy0]

@Andthatswhymacssuck I think it deliberately uses the PC Speaker sound to make it more nostalgic.

[HardWarUK]

@evilguy0 Maniac Mansion didn't come WITH DOTT, It came IN DOTT!

[HardWarUK]

I also think it's very insulting to viewers of retro reviews to talk about graphics or sound compared with today's games. Would you or any reviewer review a B/W classic movie and say how it's not as good as a modern movie in colour? Or what about a classic mono record from the 50's no being as good as a stereo record of the 60's or surround sound records of the 90's+?!

[evilguy0]

@HardWarUK Your analogy doesn't really make any sense. B/W movies hold up to modern Colour movies really well. What about the case of movies such as 'The Third Man', where cinematography is so superb barely any films surpass it? B/Wh in no way should hinder your enjoyment of a movie in itself. In a game however, if I see something on screen and have no idea what it represents because of the graphics then that can influence your overall enjoyment of a game. Therefore in a review it has to be said

[HardWarUK]

@evilguy0 No. Just do some research or say 'graphically equal to games released at the time'. Because, just like today, all major games companies tried to compete on a graphic/sound front and so there is zero benefit to point out to a viewer that 'the graphics are crap compared with today', because firstly he knows that from looking at the video and secondly he would have enough sense to know a game in 1987 is not going to match a game of 1997, let alone 2007!

[evilguy0]

@HardWarUK if it was any other game I wouldn't have pointed it out but in a graphic adventure game where graphics are one of the key parts of the game, the graphics should be mentioned. dude, I am perfectly aware of what graphics looked like back then (I play a lot of DOS games and a ZX Spectrum) but if the graphics are act as an obstacle then they should be mentioned...(I also dig retro music as well...just not horrible PC speaker stuff...C64 ftw)

[Joeyboots80]

The nes version was not the best imo. Amiga and PC were superior versions. The nes was a great port though and it made do with the limited nes hardware.

[bean420man]

the NES version was the best in my opinion. This game was also funny. Where else could u nuke a hamster or tell someone to use the toilet and get a funny response.I don't know how many long days I spent playing this

[ThePuppetgirl12]

please watch my maniac mansion videos thanks

[evilguy0]

I am perfectly aware that I screwed up badly in saying that were some dead ends in this game. I have now been informed (several times) that infact you can escape from the dungeon. However it wasn't really that obvious so I didn't know at the time (I try to play adventure games with no faqs as far as possible).

However there are some combinations of kids that make it easier to complete the game than others. Which you would never guess because you'd need play as them all first.

Ok? Sorry.

[OutlawTomFantastic]

Weren't there some combinations of kids that would not even allow you to solve the game? If you happened to pick some sucky useless kids at the start you were getting nowhere and wondering why.

[evilguy0]

There is definately a combination that will help you beat the game much easier than any other.

[OutlawTomFantastic]

But if you choose the wrong combination is it possible that you can't even beat the game? Or is there a solution no matter who you choose?

[TheRocketman72]

yes there is a solution because i have played point n click and adventure games for as long as i can remember. u just have to think...Think...THINK! THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINK! To quote to Obi-Wan, "Use the Force, Luke!" lol

[Evilmonkey66699]

okay just to clear somethings up first: The Scumm Engine is not the intrepter/interface it's the game engine it's stands for "Script creation utility for Maniac Mansion" it was a tool they used to create puzzles and enviorments, ect. with out having to use any computer code

second: there is no dead ends in Maniac Mansion there's a loose brick in the dungeon that you press and it opens the door but you need at least 2 kids in the dungon.

[evilguy0]

1. Yes. SCUMM has a different interface from all other games at the time. That's why I call it the SCUMM interface. I'm perfectly aware it was the game engine for all LucasArts 2D adventures games (3D ones used GrimE, whatever).

2. I'm aware of that now. However I suck at adventure games and didn't want to use a walkthrough.

Also how unobvious is that?

[Mindman111]

He's not even right. Of course there are dead-ends in the game, like forgetting to take the film if you chose Michael, Dave and Jeff.

[LeeBondo]

I have got this boxed and complete for the NES. I also did complete the DOS version tho i had to use a guide, took me a while but it felt good....like going balls deep on your mum!

[Iainofthemeteor]

um you can blow up the on nes in fact there is an invisible keypad that does does nothing but explode it

[Ashkihyena]

Actually, there is a loose brick in the dungeon that you can push to open the door if you don't have the key.

[evilguy0]

Thanks! I've been wondering about that for a while.

[Ashkihyena]

No problem, I just recently completed my own LP of the NES version, so yeah, I knew about the brick in the dungeon.

It might be easier to see in the other versions, but in the NES game, it looks like all the other bricks so its hard to point out.

[DJandManaphy]

Weird Ed is the best! :D

[Talif1]

coolest game i was screaming like a girl when i get gaught in the kitchen :D

[derblicker]

thats what im talking about. I think its the most played and known game ever in that time and

ended with the brilliant 2nd part

[skyrunner14]

Isn't there a loose brick or something in the dungeon that unlocks the door if you don't yet have the key? Or was that only in the NES version?

[evilguy0]

Not sure...the 20 year old graphics don't make it obvious :P

[goopa123]

yes, there is

[Pr0jectWeird1605]

man, this game had the greatest music

[natlinxz]

I really liked this game...a lot...a whole lot...maybe too much!

But I played Monkey Island and HATED IT!!! I don't know why, I thought I would like it. :(

[Wiilovewii]

This game and Day of the Tenticle suck big time! I can't believe how overrated these games are! O.o

[evilguy0]

I know. Both of these games suck. We should start a hate club. The MANIAC MANSION SUCKS HATE CLUB! Wouldn't that be great! We could burn pictures of the games and stamp on the floppy disks right in front of Maniac Mansion fans eyes.

[/scarcasm]

Why do they suck? Please, if you are going to say something rules/sucks at least give a decent reason.

[Wiilovewii]

It is more of a taste thing. You see, I didn't play this game back 'then'. I had an Amiga but I must have missed this game. So, this game was hyped so much but I couldn't find myself liking this. Heck, I don't even die for Monkey Island series. I know Lucas Arts was tight but I don't know. They just don't seem to tie me over. Be it the story lines or the characters.

[Wiilovewii]

Particularly Manic Mension and Day of the Tenticle characters and story line and cheesy jokes appalled me. Don't I have a right to say 'I don't like this?' I don't truly need to justify it. It may not be the technique, it simply could be me and my taste.

eg: You could like an RnB song but you couldn't make me like it no matter how much you hyped or described how awesome it is because it won't do anything to my feelings. It simply ould be your taste.

[evilguy0]

I didn't play it back then either. I wasn't born when this game came out. I don't love this game but for such an old adventure game (1980s) it is actually suprisingly good (as many old adventures are pretty unplayable by todays standards such as King's Quest as it has such a dodgy interface (text parser)).

I can understand how it is a matter of taste it is just if I was going to express my opinion on the game I'd avoid using the phrase "suck big time". I didn't think you'd reply TBH.

[Wiilovewii]

I replied for I am a no troll. I am passionate about Amiga gaming and love adventures in general.

[evilguy0]

I reliase that now, but wasn't too obvious before.

[Wiilovewii]

It's okay. It is the weakness of written communication imo.

[czuket]

I recommended this game on Commodore 64  and NES

[jewsandarabwaterpark]

I thought you were going to do a comparative analysis between all the system versions! Anyways, classic game. One of my favorites ever. I think there's three ways to finish it. I beat it just two. :(

[delet0]

Pretty cool review. There was a way out of the dungeon; there's a loose brick on the wall that opens the door if a kid pushes it (so you need at least two kids in there to get one out).

[genocyde83]

I still love this game but pissed me off to find out I could beat this game in about 10 min. Alot of stuff in the game is just useless but you never know that until you play it.

[areyoucallingmeauser]

My only problem with this game is I have already played it. You can't really get repeatable feelings of suspense and mystery. But it definitely leaves a sense of what is possible and unexplored in the modern games.

[evilguy0]

Have you completed it? I find it super hard!

[NetzelDaniel]

Also ich habe dieses coole Spiel damals noch auf einem Amiga 1500 gespielt! War ganz schön schwer. Wenn man am Anfang schon die falschen Charakter gewählt hatte konnte man das Spiel vergessen! Das war ÜBEL!

[evilguy0]

I can't speak German but I have not played the Amiga version of Maniac Mansion. I would like to buy an Amiga...I think...

[KyaputenHarokku]

Man kann mit allen Figuren das Game lösen, aber mit einigen ist es leichter als mit anderen.

[GameStore22]

How do you get this game for PC? Can you give me the Site?

[evilguy0]

I got it with Maniac Mansion 2: Day of the Tentacle. You get it free with the game.

[foch41]

there was music in the pc version, i love this game best ever!

[evilguy0]

I meant there was no music apart from the theme tune on the PC version.

[gamemaster14neo]

I always found the versions without music just boring.

[shineph]

My favorite version : the NES one, the musics were something, and the packaging very nice.

[evilguy0]

Yeah there is no music in any of the versions apart from the NES version.