Video Game Classics: Maniac Mansion
Video Game Classics: Maniac Mansion
Some games will live forever as Classics. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be taking a look at 1987’s iconic and comedic adventure puzzle game Maniac Mansion, which debuted on the Commodore 64 and Apple II. It was later ported to several other computer platforms and the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Not only one of the first Point 'n Click adventure games by LucasArts to use their popular language control utility called the ‘Scumm Engine’, it has also become iconic for its thrilling B-movie horror plotline.
This revolves around a bunch of friends that are trying to rescue a girl that has been abducted by a mad scientist, who lives in the creepy old Edison house on the edge of town.
As the game opens you are also told the tale of a meteorite crash that happened 20 years ago. There have also been mumblings of strange experiments and creatures living amongst the mansion’s family.
Planning to rescue Sandy, you play her boyfriend Dave, who enlists the help of his friends to sneak in and get her out. These characters include a new wave musician, an amateur photographer, an aspiring novelist, a cowardly nerd, a punk rocker and a surfer dude.
Players start by choosing two of these friends to accompany Dave, and can then switch between these three characters at will, in order to solve strategic and complicated puzzles.
Throughout the game, your desired actions are carried out by selecting verbs on the lower half of the screen and applying them to objects.
Interestingly, each character has a distinct personality and may produce a different means of tackling a problem from the rest of their pals. As a result, many of the puzzles can be overcome differently depending on the character being used.
However, if the Edison Family captures any of the kids, they are thrown in a dungeon and must be rescued by another character that still has their freedom.
Maniac Mansion is beloved for its use of comedy and focus on a bizarre plot and outrageous puzzle-solving elements. Even today, fans continue to discover new things about it when trying to unlock all of its 15 possible endings.
