Uninvited

The Good
It's a bit less difficult than the Déja Vu games or Shadowgate and short enough to have a quick, fun playthrough of. It's pretty violent and morbid, which I suppose is a strength, the ending is a bit like The Exorcist and there's other horror clichés. Of course point and click games were still quite new in 1986(the Japanese were also making them).

The Bad
Even with its shortness, I think the problem solving is too difficult, the solutions don't always make much sense. The point and click can get fiddly too, actually causing you to die or ruining your game, because of the way the computer registers your click e.g you can accidentally burn your box of matches, which you need to win.

The Bottom Line
I'd recommend this over the other MacVentures to anyone who wanted to see the start of point and click adventures. It's good for a few playthroughs.

The Good
Here is another classic graphic adventure game published for the NES. This time the player must explore a haunted mansion and do battle with all sorts of supernatural creatures to save your sister.

The Bad
Yes, this game is generally easier then Shadow Gate or Devju. The transition from the computer to the NES is by no means bad, but the game rarely offers much in the way of true horror, despite being set the classic location for a supernatural tale.

Some changes are due to hardware limitations and some stuff was probably done at the "request" of the Big 'N. Nintendo had some strict rules - think the Hollywood Hays Code - and well, survival horror was not something the company wanted on a Nintendo system.

It's not unforgivably bad, but it never really sets the mood or pulls you into the story or makes you want to learn more about the mansion's mysterious tales of magic and monsters.

The main villain is little more then your standard "evil video game wizard" who has very little role in the game itself and is probably one of the easiest final bosses in video game history.

The Bottom Line
This is probably the sort of adventure game for novice gamers. It is easier then other adventure games published by the folks at ICOM, and the storyline does not require too much dedication or depth. It is not a bad game by any means, but the more experienced adventure gamer will likely find it to be a somewhat silly and unsatisfactory adventure.

The Good
I loved the creepy feel and the puzzling gameplay. You DO get the feeling you're being watched!! While it could get on your nerves a bit, the constant playing of the eerie music eventually adds to the experience. After all this isn't supposed to be a NICE experience, in a haunted house with EVIL lurking about! You're supposed to be a bit freaked out, yes? I loved the very well hidden rooms and puzzles. Some of the puzzles are not solvable until you find something 2, 3 or more panels or rooms ahead, and then you have to figure out how to use what you've been given. Sometimes a mistake can instantaneously cost you your life and the game, so be VERY careful! Are you sure you want to do THAT? lol! For a textual type RPG it is very creepy! Lots of areas to explore, with many more to find!

The Bad
It is a text game, but even so, some of the graphics are nasty. And the music, while appropriate for the game does tend to grate due to the repetition. You should be able to drop more stuff, after you have used it as intended, and it gets tedious scrolling through all the stuff to get what you're looking for. The game won't let you drop some things, even if you will never need them again. I suppose it adds to the mystery, not knowing if you'll need it again or not, but overall it bogs down the scrolling!

The Bottom Line
With gaming on the eve of another quantum shift with the next gen consoles here or about to come, this game does pale in comparison. But, if you take it for what it was and where it came from, it is a great title! Lots of gameplay, lots of hidden levels/rooms to explore and mild to tricky puzzles to figure out! A great little gem from the "past"! If you find a copy, grab it. It still has some fun for the buck and is and will be a valuable rarity for any collection!