Summary
- Release Year: 1993
- Genres: Adventure, Point-and-click
- Platforms: Amiga, DOS, Mac
- Developers: LucasArts
- Publishers: LucasArts
Day of the Tentacle: A Tentacle-Tickling Time-Traveling Adventure
Released in 1993, Day of the Tentacle is a graphic adventure game developed and published by LucasArts. It is the sequel to the 1987 game Maniac Mansion and follows the adventures of Bernard Bernoulli and his friends Hoagie and Laverne as they attempt to stop the evil Purple Tentacle from taking over the world. The game is known for its humor, clever puzzles, and innovative use of time travel.
Plot
The game begins with Bernard Bernoulli, a mild-mannered science nerd, returning to his childhood home of Purple Tentacle Acres. He soon discovers that his arch-nemesis, Dr. Fred Edison, has created a sentient purple tentacle that is wreaking havoc on the town. Bernard, along with his friends Hoagie Gullihan and Laverne Lincoln, must travel through time to collect the three pieces of the Chron-o-John, a device that can stop the tentacle.
The three friends travel to three different time periods: the Victorian era, the Old West, and the future. In each era, they must solve puzzles and interact with the locals in order to find the piece of the Chron-o-John. Along the way, they encounter a cast of zany characters, including a talking skull, a giant spider, and a robot butler.
Gameplay
Day of the Tentacle is a point-and-click adventure game. The player controls Bernard, Hoagie, and Laverne, and must use them to solve puzzles and progress through the game. The puzzles are varied and often require the player to think outside the box. For example, in one puzzle, the player must use a giant spider to scare a group of cowboys into revealing the location of a hidden treasure.
The game’s most innovative feature is its use of time travel. The player can switch between the three time periods at any time, and use the objects and characters in each era to solve puzzles in the others. For example, the player can use a key from the Victorian era to unlock a door in the Old West.
Characters
Day of the Tentacle features a cast of memorable and quirky characters. The three main characters, Bernard, Hoagie, and Laverne, are all well-developed and likable. Bernard is the brains of the operation, Hoagie is the brawn, and Laverne is the heart.
The game also features a number of memorable supporting characters, including Dr. Fred Edison, the evil scientist who created the Purple Tentacle; Edna Bernoulli, Bernard’s eccentric mother; and Chuck the Plant, a sentient plant who provides comic relief.
Graphics and Sound
Day of the Tentacle’s graphics are charming and colorful. The game’s world is full of detail and personality, and the character designs are expressive and memorable. The game’s sound is also excellent, with a catchy soundtrack and well-acted voice acting.
Legacy
Day of the Tentacle was a critical and commercial success upon its release. It was praised for its humor, clever puzzles, and innovative use of time travel. The game has since been ported to a number of platforms, and it remains popular with adventure game fans today.
Day of the Tentacle has been ranked among the greatest adventure games of all time by many publications. In 2011, it was inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame. The game has also been referenced in popular culture, including in the TV show The Big Bang Theory and the movie Wreck-It Ralph.
Conclusion
Day of the Tentacle is a classic adventure game that is still enjoyed by gamers today. Its humor, clever puzzles, and innovative use of time travel make it a must-play for fans of the genre.
Review Score
9.5/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
